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FEBRUARY 2025
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Happily Ever After Starts Here Estate Planning Tips for Newlywed Couples
In a few weeks, couples from across the country will go out for a night of romance during Valentine’s Day. Many will have a nice dinner before seeing a movie, getting drinks, or enjoying another of their favorite activities together. Some will even take the extra step of ensuring their Valentine’s celebration is memorable by proposing. After months or sometimes years of planning and preparation, the couple will recite their vows in front of their friends and family before heading off on their honeymoon and experiencing their own happily-ever-after moment. You can expect to feel many different emotions during and after the ceremony. Of course, stress and even a little uncertainty persist right up until the moment, but as soon as the couple lays eyes on each other on the big day, happiness spreads through everyone present. That happiness quickly turns to excitement as the celebration continues, and the couple retires for the night. After the couple returns from their honeymoon, they experience an overwhelming feeling of relief. However, this isn’t a time to sit back and wait for life to happen to you. It’s time to start planning again, but you should be Estate Planning this time. The following weeks after a wedding are among the most critical to create or update your Estate Plan, as you’ll want to ensure everything is as easy as possible for your spouse if the worst were to happen. As a reminder, work with an experienced
else as the beneficiary. This is also a good time to review your life insurance policy, regardless of whether it’s through your employer. Not only will you need to update the beneficiary to the Trust, but you may also want to increase your coverage to ensure your family remains financially stable if something happens. You’ll also want to establish your powers of attorney. This needs to be a serious conversation. While it might make sense to name your spouse your durable power of attorney so they can make financial decisions on your behalf, deciding your health care power of attorney may be more challenging. Your spouse may not be comfortable making a difficult choice if you become incapacitated, and they might be unwilling to follow your desires. Have an honest conversation and make a decision that aligns with your wishes. These are great places to start when creating or updating your estate plan after your wedding, but you may need to take many more actions unique to you and your situation. Thankfully, we’re here to help ensure your estate plan has everything it needs to properly reflect your and your spouse’s wishes!
Estate Planning attorney when creating or updating your estate plan. While DIY options exist, they might not be enough to avoid probate or cover all your bases. I will walk you through some of the most necessary updates couples should make after saying, “I do.” If you don’t already have a Trust, now is the perfect time to establish one. Once it’s in place, we’ll look at your existing accounts and name your Trust as the beneficiary or transfer on death designation. You’ll want to start with your basic checking and savings accounts before moving
Happy Valentine’s Day!
on to investment accounts, retirement accounts, military benefits, and any other assets that currently name someone
-Barry Siegel
1 561-955-8515
Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb. 17) is about spreading love without expecting anything in return. In honor of the occasion, our team would like to share their experiences with random acts of kindness. The Power of a Simple Gesture Real Tales of Kindness and Compassion BARRY D. SIEGEL, ATTORNEY AND PRESIDENT OF THE SIEGEL LAW GROUP, P.A.: “I have been fortunate to experience and witness many random acts of kindness. I have been privileged to benefit from acts of kindness, such as someone stopping to offer to jump-start my car. I have passed this good deed on by helping others in the same predicament.”
Togetherness Over Romance Your Guide to a Family- Friendly Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day can be a difficult holiday for many parents. While they’d love to go out for a romantic dinner and enjoy a date night with their spouse, they have to think about the kids, too! Finding a babysitter for Valentine’s Day can be incredibly challenging, so shift gears and spend the day as a family instead of a couple. You can find plenty to do to ensure your Valentine’s Day is fun and exciting for every family member. Here are three activities to try that will help make Valentine’s Day memorable. WRITE LOVE LETTERS. Valentine’s Day is a holiday all about love and romance, making it the perfect time for your family to share what they love about each other. Give your kids and yourself time to write love letters to each family member, writing down what they love about that person and some of their favorite memories. It’s a great way to spread joy and show everyone how loved they are. MAKE SOME SWEET TREATS. Valentine’s Day often includes desserts and candies; your event should be no different. Instead of taking the kids to the store to pick out their favorite chocolate bars or Valentine’s treats, consider baking something special. Make heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast, or bake sugar cookies and allow everyone to decorate their treats with sprinkles and frosting. You can even bake a red velvet cake or another Valentine’s favorite if you feel adventurous. GIVE GIFTS TO EACH OTHER. While Christmas and birthdays are often associated with gift-giving, you can also give your kids and spouse special gifts on Valentine’s Day to brighten their mood and ensure they feel loved. Flowers, stuffed animals, and chocolates are the go-to Valentine’s gifts, but you don’t necessarily have to stick to the script. Your family will be thrilled by any gifts they receive!
JIM HERB, ATTORNEY: “Years ago, I appeared before a probate judge in Palm Beach County, and another lawyer addressed the court. The judge said he would not give her the order she was requesting. When I left the courtroom, I found her crying. She was from Miami and did not want to come back to Delray again. She explained that the other probate judge who was on the bench at her last hearing told her to submit something in a certain form. However, this time another probate judge was substituting in, and he wanted it done a different way (which actually was the right way). I went back into the courtroom and explained the situation. The judge was compassionate enough to sign the order for the young attorney. She was very happy. I even received flowers from her a few days later.” SOLIMAR RODRIGUEZ, ATTORNEY: “It takes nothing to be nice and of service to others. I recently picked up something from the floor at the supermarket, which an attendee saw before running over to thank me. I would have thought being nice was common sense; however, it seems like it isn’t. If you look closely, individuals go above their comfort daily to do something nice for others, like holding the door or saying good morning. I think these acts have an impact on so many people. When you do something nice for someone, and they do the same in exchange, it creates a chain of good deeds and happy people.”
RENEE MANCINI, LEAD INTAKE SPECIALIST: “When my sibling and mom passed, my sister and I went to the store where a complete stranger came up and asked if they could give me a hug. That brightened my day and made me feel like my loved ones were with me.”
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Don’t Leave Your Trust to Chance Why Choosing the Right Trustee Matters
You have to make many crucial decisions when creating and updating your Estate Plan. Most Americans already know they have to determine how their assets will be distributed, but you’ll also have to decide who will take on some crucial responsibilities. In addition to financial and medical powers of attorney, responsible for making medical and financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, you’ll also need to name a successor trustee if you’re creating a trust. A Trustee is the individual or entity you appoint to manage and administer your trust in accordance with your Estate Plan. Many responsibilities exist within this role, which is why it’s so vital you choose someone trustworthy. This person will be responsible for managing the assets within your trust, which means they’ll be in charge of investing assets, making distributions, and performing other functions as laid out in the trust.
Trustees must also maintain accurate records for all trust transactions and provide updates to all beneficiaries. They will also have to ensure the trust stays tax-compliant and file a tax return for the trust. Trustees are also required to exercise care and loyalty while being transparent about every action they take regarding the trust. Trusts can be an incredibly beneficial tool when creating your Estate Plan. You should not haphazardly throw a trust together using a do-it-yourself program. It could be negated and completely irrelevant if you don’t execute it properly. By working with our team, we’ll make sure your Estate Plan reflects your wishes, take the critical extra step of funding your trust with your intended assets, and answer any questions about trusts,
Trustees, and anything else related to your Estate Plan! Call us today if you need to create or update your Estate Plan. We’ll help you gain peace of mind about the future!
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Inside This Issue
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Why Estate Planning Should Be Your First Task as Newlyweds
Family Activities That Will Make Valentine’s Day Special
A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way
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Why Appointing a Trustee Should Be One of Your Most Thoughtful Decisions
Check Out Our Seminars!
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Fridge Maintenance 101
Keep It Cool! Simple Maintenance Tips for a Cooler, More Efficient Refrigerator
A little TLC for your refrigerator can go a long way in keeping it running smoothly, saving you on energy bills and, ultimately, from buying a new one sooner than you have to. With just a few easy maintenance steps, your fridge will stay cool, efficient, and fit to do its job! CLEAN THOSE COILS. Did you know your fridge’s coils, usually behind a lower panel on the back, play a key role in cooling? These coils release heat as refrigerant passes through, but dust, pet hair, and debris can build up over time, making your fridge work harder. Slide your fridge out twice a year, open the lower panel, and use your vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment to clear out dust. Want to give it a final wipe? Use a dry towel, as moisture could damage the coils. Just be careful not to bend anything — blocked airflow could prevent your fridge from cooling properly. DON’T IGNORE THE GASKET. That rubber seal, or gasket, around your fridge door may look minor, but it’s essential for keeping cold air in and warm air out. If the gasket doesn’t seal tightly, your fridge has to work harder to
maintain its cool, costing you extra energy. Inspect it for cracks or wear occasionally, and wipe it with warm, soapy water to remove any crumbs or spills. If it’s looking cracked or brittle, head to your local hardware store for a replacement — it’s an easy fix that makes a big difference. REMEMBER YOUR FILTERS. If your fridge has a water or ice dispenser, its filters need regular changing, too. Over time, old filters can clog and require repair, so a good rule of thumb is to swap out these filters every three months, around the same time you’d replace other filters in your home. KEEP IT FULLY STOCKED. An empty fridge isn’t as efficient as a full one! Refrigerators need thermal mass (i.e., cool items) to stabilize temperatures. When you open the door, cool items help absorb warm air, so your fridge doesn’t have to work as hard.
These simple steps help your refrigerator stay energy-efficient and fully functioning to keep your food at the perfect temperature!
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