Take a look at our latest newsletter!
Build It, Protect It, Preserve It.
740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com
April/May 2023
Lessons Learned From the Pandemic Rising Up to the Challenge
Every April, the best runners from across the world will gather in Boston to compete in the Boston Marathon. It’s a challenging event that takes months, if not years, of preparation. I’ve never run a full marathon before but have participated in my fair share of 5Ks. I enjoy the challenge of a 5K, but I don’t usually put any extra prep into it. I just go and run until I make it to the end. In life, we always try to prepare ourselves for new or difficult situations, but we can’t prepare for everything. We’re now three years removed from the start of the pandemic, which was a situation that none of us expected, and nobody was truly prepared for. There were many obstacles to overcome, but we came out stronger. I learned many lessons about my business throughout the pandemic.
In the same vein, we also need to remember that perspective drives performance. When we
thought the world was ending, many of us stopped providing value. The world didn’t end, though, and the pandemic persisted longer than most thought it would. We could have rolled over and waited for time to pass, but that’s not the right perspective to have if you want to be productive and find ways to succeed in life.
Although the pandemic proved difficult at times, the lessons I learned from it have helped me become a better leader and person.
Flipping our perspective to be more positive starts with what we expose our minds to. I challenged myself and my team to read as much as possible during the pandemic. Our brains are like sponges and will soak up all the knowledge we put into them, so we need to continue supplying positive thoughts and ideas to keep us optimistic. One of the biggest lessons we all learn time and time again is that, in life, things happen that are out of our control. We get to decide if they just happen or if they particularly happen to us. The pandemic didn’t just happen to you or me; it happened to everyone. Viktor Frankl once said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” We decide how we react to each situation, and we need to respond in a way that will benefit us the most. There are many lessons to be learned from any challenging situation. Although the pandemic proved difficult at times, the lessons I learned during it have helped me become a better leader and person.
The first lesson was that when facing these types of challenges in your business, you need to find ways to add volume for your clients. Many companies did this. For example, grocery stores started offering delivery services, so customers didn’t need to come into the store to shop. Figure out what your clients need from your business and find ways to provide additional value to their lives, and your business will surely see success. The next lesson learned was to stop making excuses and start saying yes. We run into problems while doing something and quickly state that the task is impossible. Instead, we need to shift our mindsets to produce the desired outcome. Tony Robbins, an author and business strategist, often encourages his readers to watch the questions we ask ourselves. Instead of thinking, “Why can’t I?” we need to ask, “How can I?” By reworking our mindset and thinking about things more optimistically, we can improve nearly every aspect of our lives.
1
740-314-4829
3 WAYS TO DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS It’s Never Too Late for a Good Life! 10 People to Thank
Contrary to popular belief, estate planning is not a “one-and- done” endeavor. Just because you and your spouse sat down with an attorney to write a will when your kids were little, that doesn’t mean you’re set for life. It May Need Updating But how do you know what needs to be updated? Do you even remember what you did 10 or 20 years ago? If you haven’t thought about your estate plan in years, we invite you to schedule a complimentary estate plan review with our team. What Will We Do for You? Our complimentary review starts with a 20-minute strategy session over the phone. We will ask you some questions about your family, assets, and goals for the future. Based on the information you provide, we will make recommendations for what we think you should do next. We will then make arrangements for collecting your current estate planning documents so we can look them over. Our complimentary review will include recommendations about: • The legal documents we think you need • Options for preserving your wealth • Strategies for distributing your wealth after you are gone • The possibility of needing long-term care one day Because we want to give your plan our undivided attention, it will take us about 20 days to complete your review. When we are done, we will send you a detailed analysis of your current plan as well as details about getting it in the shape it needs to be in to protect you and your family now and in the future. Get Your Free Estate Plan Review
Robert Waldinger, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, may have cracked the
code on what constitutes a “good life.” Yes, he says eating healthy and avoiding cigarettes matter, but what is more important is actually nurturing your relationships with others, especially when aging.
And if you think it’s too late for a good life, Waldinger disagrees. According
to him, you are never too old to have a good life, and there are many things everyone can do to deepen their relationships and bring joy into their lives. So, if the relationships we have in our life hold the key to happiness, how do we even go about boosting them? Keep in contact. You can’t become closer to someone you never see, so the easiest way to deepen your relationships is to see people more often. If you have a friend you don’t talk to as much as you’d like, ask them to set a standing coffee date every Saturday or even just once a month. By seeing someone more, you’re more likely to form a deeper connection and become closer over time. But what Waldinger emphasizes is this won’t always happen on its own, so don’t be afraid to ask your friends to meet up more often! Open up. Another way to nourish your relationships is to open yourself up to the other person. You don’t have to share your deepest secrets right off the bat, but try to be vulnerable a little more with the ones you care about. Next time someone asks, “How are you?” when you meet up, don’t lie and say “good” when you’re not. It’s okay to lean on a friend if you’re going through a tough time! This will result in you and your friend wanting to spend more time together because of the support and relief you feel from the relationship. Be present when with your friends. We’ve all been there: A friend is talking to us about something, but we’re miles away, lost in thought. While this happens to everyone and is normal, try not to make it a habit. Waldinger says that by really making an effort to be present with your loved ones, you can make a deeper connection and have a more fulfilling relationship.
What We Typically See
When we review estate plans, we typically see the same things over and over. Wills and beneficiary designations often include ex- spouses or deceased individuals. Important documents such as health care and durable powers of attorney are missing. Assets are left vulnerable to things like nursing home care and estate taxes. Shared property is not properly titled to avoid probate. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Almost every plan we review can be significantly improved with our help. And every family we meet is grateful for the advice we provide with no pressure or obligation to hire us.
2
See pg. 3 to read what a recent estate plan review client said about us.
LittlejohnLawLLC.com
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A SURVIVING SPOUSE
The Right to an Allowance for Support In Ohio, every surviving spouse is entitled to the “year’s allowance,” a single payment of $40,000 from probate assets. If the former spouse passed without a will, the surviving spouse would receive this allowance in addition to their elective share. This fund will also be reduced and split if descendants are not from the surviving spouse. The Right to Remain in the Mansion House Surviving spouses have the right to stay in the home without worrying about creditors. This is called a homestead exemption and prevents spouses from becoming homeless after their significant other’s passing. Ohio law ensures that the spouse is permitted to remain in the house for up to one year from the date of their spouse’s passing without paying rent. Again, this right must be exercised within five months of the first appointment of the administrator. While this is only half of your rights as the surviving spouse, we will discuss the rest in next month’s newsletter. If you need immediate legal advice about your rights as a surviving spouse, then you can reach out to us by calling (740) 346-2899.
If you recently lost your spouse, you’re likely dealing with overwhelming grief and confusion. But even in this difficult time, there are challenging legal and inheritance obligations that you have to attend to. Knowing your rights as the surviving spouse is vital. The Right to Take Against the Will Also known as an elective share or elective right, this law ensures that the surviving spouse can receive a percentage of their partner’s assets even if they weren’t included in the will. The surviving spouse will have five months to decide if they would rather abide by the will as it is or receive their elective share. This share can be up to half of their spouse’s assets but less than that if there are descendants of the deceased who aren’t the surviving spouse’s children. The Right to Receive the Mansion House This right depends on whether the deceased has children or parents still alive. If they don’t, the surviving spouse will receive the entirety of the property. However, if descendants are involved, the surviving spouse will need to split the estate, both real and personal, with them. The amount is entirely dependent on how many children there are. “I met with Attorney Littlejohn to review my estate planning options. He was well-prepared and clearly delineated the pros and cons of four possible options. He thoroughly answered my questions and waited patiently while I took notes. After each option, I repeated the information as I understood it, and he concurred or explained any misconceptions. I felt no pressure to make a quick decision, and I appreciated the time he devoted to assisting me in planning my estate. I highly recommend this attorney and will hire him when I make my decision regarding which option to pursue.” Testimonial
TAKE A BREAK
BUDS CONSERVATION DIAMOND EASTER
LILY PLANTING REFUND REGROWTH
SHOWER SWEETS TAXES VOLUNTEER
Would you like to experience this level of service? Contact us today at 740-314-4829.
3
740-314-4829
352 Frank Layman Blvd. • Wintersville, OH 43953 740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1
Business Lessons Ed Learned From the Pandemic How to Nourish Your Relationships for a Good Life Do You Know What’s in Your Estate Plan? Understand Your Rights After Losing Your Spouse Testimonial Take a Break
2
3
4
Make a Successful Chore Chart
How will it help your family? First, your family won’t need to waste time arguing over whose turn it is to do which chores. Second, thanks to the prominent reminder, everyone will be more likely to do their tasks on time. Third, with all the duties clearly outlined, you can ensure that the distribution of labor is fair for everyone. Finally, you’ll teach your kids task management and help them reap the benefits chores provide. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, your children will gain higher self-esteem, become more responsible, and display increased resilience when facing challenges. How can you make one? You’ll need a whiteboard and a few markers to create a basic chore chart. On the left side of the board, write a list of your family members’ names and their daily chores (for example: “Sarah, set the table”) from top to bottom. Across the top of the chart, write the days of the week from left to right. Then, draw horizontal lines between the chores and vertical lines between the days to create a grid. That’s it! Throughout the week, your family can make check marks in the boxes corresponding to the chores they’ve finished. You can also use magnets to mark completed tasks if you have a magnetic board. To inject a little fun into your chart, use different colors for each family member and decorate it with meaningful drawings and quotes. You can create similar charts for weekly or monthly chores, too!
BY USING A CHORE CHART SAYING GOODBYE TO ‘FORGOTTEN’ CHORES
Every parent knows the struggle: You try to assign chores to yourself, your spouse, and your children, but somehow at least one falls through the cracks. Maybe your son “forgets” to vacuum, or your daughter “thought it was her brother’s turn” to do the dishes. If you’re sick of the excuses, don’t worry — we have a solution. A chore chart will solve your tidy home problem. What is a chore chart? A chore chart is a supersize spreadsheet that maps out all of your household’s necessary chores as well as who is responsible for completing them. It’s a powerful tool to help you divide labor among family members. You can even place the chart in your kitchen or living room to keep your whole family on track.
4
LittlejohnLawLLC.com
Published by Newsletter Pro • NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator