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August/September 2024
Don’t Just Survive — Thrive How Encouragement Fuels Your Best Life
Encouragement and support can be valuable tools in our lives. When we receive encouragement from others, we can accomplish great things, push through difficult times, and solve problems that have plagued us for years. Encouragement can come from various sources, including teachers, relatives, coworkers, and even strangers. And each of us has multiple opportunities every day to provide support and encouragement to those around us. Sept.12 is the National Day of Encouragement! This special day allows us to reflect on the support we’ve received and go out of our way to support others. Over the last few years, I’ve faced my fair share of personal struggles. Thankfully, my close friend, Judge David Hamilton, was by my side, offering words of kindness and encouragement to help me shift my perspective and find happiness. When I was at a low point, he told me I had to put myself first. I had no idea what he meant by that. He followed that up by telling me I should get up, put one foot in front of the other, and run in the morning. Those words of encouragement helped this idea click in my mind. I would always exercise at the end of the day because I cared for everyone else’s needs and wants before my own. After implementing his advice, I immediately noticed improvements in my mood, well-being, and outlook on life. His words were empowering and encouraging, which helped me get back to being the best possible version of myself. For a while, it felt like I lost my mojo and was just aimlessly meandering through life, but after hearing my friend’s encouragement and making changes, I’m back on top! My kids and family are all healthy, and work is going well, so I have no reason not to be at my best. Putting myself first wasn’t the only guidance and encouragement David offered that helped me get my groove back. He also told me that I needed to love myself because if I didn’t love myself, nobody else could either. That hit home, and I realized that putting myself first was a reminder to love myself.
Some of you reading this may not have a close friend who can offer guidance like I do. That doesn’t mean you have to sit and wallow in your despair. Instead, use David’s advice to boost yourself up and climb out of any negative thoughts you may be having. Love yourself, and put yourself first from time to time. It’s not easy when you have kids, but it’s essential for your overall well-being. Maybe you don’t want to run in the morning, but going for a simple walk might help all the same! And when that doesn’t work, you can always turn to God for guidance. My team likes to joke that I regularly go to the high mountains to find an answer to a problem, but in reality, I’m taking my issues to the Lord and spending time with God. Remember that everyone has their own struggles, even if they don’t publicly display them. Be kind and encourage others. You never know how much of a difference it could make!
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ople to Thank
Family Feud? HOW UNDUE INFLUENCE CAN TEAR FAMILIES APART One of the greatest fears we can experience is someone taking advantage of our aging parents. We’ve all heard a horror story or two about an elderly parent’s new spouse convincing them to leave all of their possessions to them instead of their children. It’s led many to wonder what they could do if they find themselves in a similar situation. Through an undue influence claim, you can challenge a will or estate planning document you believe was influenced by an outside party. In our line of work, we’ve seen many parents change their will at the end of their lives. Those left off will often contact us or another law firm, claiming that their parent had dementia or wasn’t in the right mental state to make those changes. From there, we have to prove that undue influence is at play.
With summer break tragically ending (as it does, sadly, every year), it is time to get back in the groove and prepare for the new school year. If you want to help your kids get over the first-day jitters and start out strong, employ these tips to make their first day back at class so successful that others will want to study it. Getting a Head Start According to research by the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity, students lose as much as 25%–30% of the knowledge they accumulated the previous school year over summer break. Reading and math skills are particularly affected and see the highest regression rate. And the higher the grade level, the more students are likely to forget. The best way to combat this summer slump is to keep learning. Reading books and practicing arithmetic at least three times a week will help kids maintain what they have previously worked so hard to learn. Shopping Spree Students also want to come to school prepared! Shopping for school supplies is a great way to get everything they need for the year ahead, including a snazzy new outfit for the first day, notebooks, organizers, and favorite brands of pens and pencils. It’s also important to write names in notebooks to make them easier to identify if they end up in the lost and found! Mental Map No one likes getting lost. Whether returning to the same school as last year or heading into a new environment, finding one’s way can be daunting. If your kids arrive at school early, they can figure out where each class is and plot a path beforehand. Getting a feel for where they need to go throughout the day can be a great way to help them feel more prepared and comfortable. Many schools also have physical maps, which can be a great resource to store in a backpack if they ever feel lost. Tips for a Successful First Day of Class Back to School
There are three requirements for undue influence. The first is that the person in question is vulnerable, whether
it’s due to declining mental function or some other situation. Then, there needs to be someone in a position to exert their influence over the vulnerable person. And finally, the terms need to benefit the individual exerting influence. It’s not easy to prove undue influence, especially when you don’t have any direct evidence. We recently worked on a case where an individual’s father was basically in a vegetative state. He had two children, and a month before he passed, one of the children produced a new will that stated that everything would go to them instead of both children. They submitted the new will to probate court, which will be used to divvy out the assets. Proving undue influence in this case was difficult. To figure out if this was the father’s intent, we had to get medical records and his doctor to state that the father didn’t have the requisite mental capacity. Unfortunately, there are good days and bad days with dementia, and you can’t always prove the changes were made on a bad day. If you have an estate plan and want to make changes, let your children know so everyone is on the same page. Dealing with loss is hard enough without any extra challenges.
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UNDERSTANDING THE 4 CRITICAL ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS Lessons Learned From Celebrities’ Mistakes
Celebrity deaths can be tricky for those directly involved and saddening for those who never met them. While
Celebrities who die without a will or estate plan create ample turmoil. Bob Marley, Prince, and Jimi Hendrix are examples you can research, but their stories remind us how important it is for all of us to have an estate plan. If you were to pass away without a will or estate plan in Ohio, probate would first look to transfer your assets to your spouse or children. They may look to your parents or siblings if you don’t have a spouse or kids. Probate looks for grandparents if you don’t have siblings or your parents aren’t alive anymore. It gets increasingly more complicated from there. To avoid unnecessary stress on your loved ones, you must maintain four critical documents as part of your estate plan. The first is a living trust, as this document ensures that your assets transfer outside of probate court. The next is a will; this serves as a catch-all outside the living trust. The other two documents are a healthcare power of attorney and a financial power of attorney. These documents allow someone to make decisions on your behalf regarding your finances and health. Having these documents in your estate plan will maximize privacy and ensure your wishes are honored. If you have any questions about these documents or want to create a foolproof estate plan that protects your family’s future and grants you peace of mind, call us today!
we may have never met these individuals personally, we’ve
spent hours watching them on television, in
movies, or playing sports. Sometimes, it can even feel like we’ve lost a friend. That’s how many felt when “Friends” actor Matthew Perry passed away last year at his
Los Angeles home. But, Perry’s death presents a unique opportunity to understand the importance of having an estate plan, as Perry did not have a spouse or any children at the time of his passing. Thankfully, he had a living trust that named his parents, half- sister, and ex-girlfriend as his beneficiaries.
TAKE A BREAK
LIME CHICKEN WITH CORN AND POBLANO SALAD
Inspired by PureWow.com
INGREDIENTS Chicken •
Corn and poblano salad • 2 tbsp olive oil •
3 tbsp olive oil
• • • • • • •
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 poblano peppers, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced
• • • • • •
1 14-oz can of corn 4 scallions, minced
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp black pepper
Juice of 2 limes
Zest of 1 lime 8 chicken thighs
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a large oven-proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. 3. In a bowl, whisk flour, spices, and lime zest. Dredge chicken in the mix to coat. 4. Add chicken, skin-side down, to skillet, then place skillet in the oven for 30–35 minutes. 5. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil and add poblanos. Sauté 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another minute. 6. In a bowl, add poblano mix, corn, scallions, lime juice, and cilantro. Toss and serve with the chicken. DIRECTIONS
BACKPACK BEES MELON MOON
MUSTARD OLYMPICS PEACH SANDCASTLE
SCHOOL TWINS
VACATION ZUCCHINI
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INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1
From Self-Doubt to Self-Love: The Journey Starts With Encouragement
2
Start Strong This Upcoming School Year
What Is Undue Influence?
3
The Must-Have Documents for Your Estate Plan
Lime Chicken With Corn and Poblano Salad
Take a Break
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Fun Farmers Market Activities for Families
CHILDREN CREATE UNIQUE DAD’S DAY GIFTS It’s Father’s Day! EXPLORING THE FARMERS MARKET ENJOYABLE ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Scavenging for Samples There is no shortage of variety regarding the fruits and vegetables offered at farmers markets. Engaging your family in a scavenger hunt to discover various produce among the local farmers’ stands is a great way to broaden their minds and keep them entertained. Plenty of farmers will offer you and your kids samples of their wares, allowing you to try before you buy. Homeward Bound After enjoying the farmers market, you may want to take what you learned home. Starting a small garden and growing starter plants with your kids is a great way to bond and create lasting memories. Growing and caring for plants and vegetables is a wonderful experience for children and helps them connect more with nature. Do yourself and your family a favor: Explore the farmers market and discover the flavor of your local area.
This time of year, we harvest fruits and vegetables in abundance, and farmers markets across the country are brimming with locally grown goods. Taking advantage of these wonderful events where local farmers and artisans sell the fruits of their labor is a great way to support local small businesses and explore all your area has to offer. Moreover, it is a perfect opportunity to share some wholesome fun with your family, as there are activities and attractions at farmers markets suitable for all ages. Learning Firsthand Your local farmers are a treasure trove of agricultural know-how. Many farmers will happily talk with you or your children about their favorite crop, what’s in season, and their recommendations for recipes that incorporate their produce. It’s a great way to grow your kids’ social skills and get them interested in gardening and farming.
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