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405-843-6100 | 918-615-2700 | ParmanLaw.com February 2025
Navigating the Curveballs of Life WHEN THINGS GET COMPLICATED
Clients and Friends,
and his great friend F. E. Smith formed The Other Club. It was a dining club that met every two weeks in the Pinafore Room at the Savoy Hotel in London during periods when Parliament was in session. Long after Churchill’s passing, Other Clubs were formed in a few U.S. cities to continue the tradition of honoring Churchill. After attending the annual event in Tulsa formed by my friend, John Brock, for a few years, Sam Hammons and I decided to form the Winston Churchill Club of Central Oklahoma. We are in our fourth year of gathering once each year on Churchill’s birthday to celebrate the great man’s life. We don a tux. Some break out their military uniform, others their kilts. The sound of bagpipes ushers in the evening. A great speaker educates and reminds us of the qualities that made Churchill a seminal world leader in the 20th Century. Appropriate toasts, stimulating conversation, and great food round out the evening. Let me know if you would like to be added to the invitation list. It is one terrific evening. On the legal front, things seem to be getting more complicated. People’s lives are complicated. Business matters are complicated. Family dynamics and relationships are complicated. Too often, we submit to lazy thinking. “Oh, they will work it out” or some similar refrain when the only reason for saying that is because thinking otherwise might require a difficult decision. For example, people think setting up financial accounts as “payable on death” (POD) will direct their money to named beneficiaries. Then a beneficiary dies early, followed by the death of the parent who set up the account. Now the family is surprised because the funds did not get distributed as intended. That is an example of what I call “ad hoc” planning. POD accounts are a tactic. They are not a strategy. Effective planning thinks deeper — beyond the obvious and addresses contingencies. Unaddressed contingencies are almost impossible to fix. This is yet another reason we continue
First, Happy New Year and Happy Snow Day! Like all others, the year holds the promise of great things to come and the understanding that not everything goes exactly as we might hope. Life seems to have an ample supply of curve balls to throw our way. And, as it is said, to play in major league baseball, you must be able to hit the curve. So, when the curve ball comes, go with the pitch, and swing away. If at first you miss, keep swinging. Never, ever stop swinging. Great rewards await those who are undeterred by a missed pitch, who step up to the plate again and keep swinging.
The filing requirements for business and corporate entities under the provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act were given a slight reprieve on Jan. 13, 2025. There is a bill in Congress to overturn this misguided law. As happens far too often, this requirement was stuffed inside a National Defense Authorization Act bill in 2021. Legislators who might oppose the inserted measure felt forced to vote for the bill; otherwise, critics might say they oppose measures to improve our national defense. There is nothing new about how this occurs in Congress. Wouldn’t it be nice if each bill was required to receive a stand-alone vote? I am re-reading Andrew Robert’s compelling biography of Winston Churchill. Those who have been to our offices know our three conference rooms are named Churchill, Lincoln, and Truman. Difficult to pick a favorite among those timbers. In 1911, Churchill
to believe our experience, coupled with the Revocable Living Trust, is the most effective and appropriate estate planning tool for families today.
To Your Family’s Peace of Mind,
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SAFEGUARD YOUR LEGACY Benefits of a QTIP Trust for Blended Families
Every family has a unique dynamic and history. If you have been married more than once, you may feel conflicted about the needs of your current spouse versus your children’s needs from previous marriages. However, you can preserve your legacy and provide for all your loved ones in your estate plan without alienating your children or spouse. By incorporating a Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) trust into your estate plan, you can solve the issue equitably, giving both parties the security they need. How QTIPS Work Unlike other trusts, QTIP trusts allow you to name a life beneficiary and a final beneficiary for your property. For instance, you can name your spouse as your life beneficiary, who will have
limited rights to use the property set aside in the trust during their lifetime. Then, you can name your children as the final beneficiaries, who will inherit the property in the trust after you pass away. If your spouse passes away before you do, the property in the trust will be given directly to your final beneficiaries without needing alterations. QTIPs also offer benefits for a surviving spouse. Any income from the trust can go to the surviving spouse for the rest of their life, and estate taxes are not assessed until after the surviving spouse’s death. The Advantages QTIPs are a great way to meet the needs of two conflicting parties of beneficiaries. It is ideal for people who have been married more than once and have children from
previous marriages; few options offer such a flexible trust that allows your children to inherit your property after your living spouse no longer needs it. This can help ease tension and reduce disagreements when settling your estate.
Planning for the Unthinkable Explore Funding Options and Pet Trusts
As a pet owner, the thought of your pets no longer being with you is something you don’t like thinking about. After all, you’ve had them their entire lives. Now, imagine the roles are reversed. What if something happens to you first, and you can no longer care for your pet? It’s a daunting thought, but pet estate planning is designed to ensure your
pet is well taken care of in the event of your passing or incapacitation.
caring for your pet now. Then, take that amount and project how long your pet is likely to live to determine a number. Also, consider reasonable compensation for the person caring for your pet. Life insurance and retirement plans are excellent financial sources for funding your pet’s lifetime care. Establish a pet trust and trustee. Unlike life insurance and retirement plans as funding sources, pet trusts legally shore up the financial obligations of caring for your pet. Ultimately, the money you leave the caretaker isn’t a lump sum they can spend anywhere; it provides accountability for how they spend it. Your caretaker can be the trustee, too, but it could create a conflict of interest. A professional trustee is probably best to ensure funds are distributed according to your wishes.
Who will care for your pet? Before discussing the legal and financial aspects of pet planning, the first step is to consider who will get physical custody of your pet. Like planning for children, you must be comfortable with the caregiver. Have they interacted with your pets before? How do they treat their pets? Family and friends will likely be your go-to, but never assume they will take on the responsibility of your pet. Whomever you’re considering, be sure to have an intentional conversation with them about your wishes. Determine the finances for the lifetime of your pet. How much is enough? First, do the math to figure out how much you spend
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Weird Stories From World War II GHOSTS AND GOLD
World War II, the largest conflict in human history, saw millions of soldiers engaged in fierce battles across the globe, from the deserts of Tunisia and the muddy fields of Kursk to the streets of Singapore and the tropical atolls of the Marshall Islands. Some oddities go overlooked among the countless acts of heroism, savagery, desperation, stalemates, victories, and defeats. Bizarre events, characters, and plans that sound too outlandish to be true (but are!) prove reality is often stranger than fiction. The Ghost Army Deception is a prominent part of war, but the U.S. Army invented an entirely new way of misleading the enemy. The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, nicknamed the “Ghost Army,” was a unit dedicated to creating a fake army capable of drawing enemy attention and resources away from the rest of the front. Deployed on Jan. 20, 1944, the Ghost Army comprised of around 1,000 men, including artists, fashion designers, and geniuses. The unit utilized inflatable tanks and vehicles, sent out phony commands over the radio, and even created a landfill big enough to convince any aerial reconnaissance that a much larger force was camped at their location. Operation Golden Eye Following the Spanish Civil War, a fascist regime sympathetic to Nazi Germany, led by Francisco Franco, assumed control of Spain. While Spain was neutral during the war — partly due to skillful diplomacy by the Allies — the British Army prepared for the worst. If Spain entered the war and Germany invaded British Gibraltar, they needed a plan to repel the invasion and defeat the Spanish and German armies. The British tasked Commander Ian Fleming of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve with this task. The plan was nicknamed Operation Golden Eye. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Ian Fleming went on to write a series of spy novels starring its titular character, James Bond.
MARGIE’S KITCHEN: A TRIBUTE TO MARGIE TRAMMELL
by Darlene Parman Guest Contributor: Aly Parman
This article is dedicated to Margie Trammell, my late Texan momma who shared her love through cookin’ that can soothe the soul. This recipe is special because, as my daughter, Aly, shares in her following story, it shows how food can connect multiple family histories, generations, and cultures. Enjoy! For our holiday party this year, the Culture Team had the idea to hold a meatball competition. Since I don’t really eat meat, it never occurred to me to participate. In one of our team meetings, we were talking about the event, and I offhandedly said, “The only meatballs my family ever made were my Midwestern grandmother’s (Avis Parman, Larry Parman’s mother) Super Ham Balls … and I don’t even know how to make a meatball.” Apparently, one of my Leadership Team colleagues misunderstood my remark as a challenge because, at a subsequent meeting, he told everyone, “Aly is making her grandmother’s famous Ham Balls for the competition, so you better bring your ‘A game.’” And that’s how a non-meat eater found herself bringing Ham Balls to the department holiday celebration. Lucky for me, mom (Darlene) was visiting right before the competition, so I was able to bring in the “ringer,” and we made Grandma Avis’s Super Ham Balls together. Going into the competition, I assumed all meatballs were essentially the same. Boy, was I wrong. I was shocked at the variety of different meatball dishes at the party! Along with the one classic Italian Meatball dish, there was a Greek meatball dish called Soudzoukakia, a Norwegian meatball called Chetcaca, Thai Coconut Turkey Meatballs, and my Midwestern Super Ham Balls — just to name a few. There was even … Continued on the insert ...
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Oklahoma City: 405-843-6100 Tulsa: 918-615-2700 Parmanlaw.com
13913 Quail Pointe Drive, Suite B Oklahoma City, OK 73134
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Never Stop Trying — Some Advice
Build Thorough Estate Plans With QTIP Trusts
Ensure Your Pet Is Cared For
Margie’s Kitchen
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2 Bizarre Stories From World War II
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Why Brando’s Housekeeper Sued His Estate
Brando’s Beneficiaries HOUSEKEEPER SUED ESTATE OVER BROKEN PROMISES
Who Were Brando’s Beneficiaries? The problems with settling Brando’s estate did not stem from a lack of preparation: He had a valid will they followed. Instead, those not included in his document created the issues. Marlon Brando was married three times and had 11 children and 30 grandchildren. However, he reportedly cut most of them out of his will, leaving the bulk of his estate to his producer and several associates. Housekeeper but No House In addition to his long list of progeny, Brando excluded his longtime (about 10 years) housekeeper and personal assistant, Angela Borlaza, from his will. According to Borlaza, her star employer had promised to leave her his home in Winnetka, California, after he died. However, despite Borlaza’s insistence that he made his promise verbally, no record of it existed anywhere
Marlon Brando, considered by many to be the greatest actor of the 20th century, appeared in timeless classics like “Apocalypse Now” (1979), where he played the villainous Colonel Kurtz, and “The Godfather” (1972), where he stole the screen as Don Vito Corleone, the soft-spoken and poignant mob boss. However, in stark contrast to his illustrious film career, after Brando’s passing in 2004, settling his estate — considered worth more than $25 million — was a disaster. Near the end of his life, Brando reportedly made amendments to his will that favored business over familial connections — with allegations from some of his primary beneficiaries that he was not in the right state of mind to make these changes. Needless to say, the contents of his will caused considerable controversy, infighting, and numerous lawsuits.
in his estate plan. Regardless, Borlaza sued Brando’s estate for $627,000, the estimated value of the home at the time, but ended up settling for $125,000.
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Out and About in the Community
In November, Parman & Easterday united with thousands of participants in support of the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer's. This is the Association's biggest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds benefiting research and programs for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. To support the Alzheimer’s Association, call 405.319.0780 and they will “walk” you through the process. Thank you for your support of this wonderful cause.
Upcoming Education Events: For those interested in learning how estate planning can benefit your family and as a refresher for Clients… Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning Made Easy and Painless: Learn How to Protect Your Loved Ones, Hard-Earned Money, Belongings & More Tuesday, March 18, 2025 Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center 2501 Conference Dr., Norman, OK 73069 OR Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Central Oklahoma Home Builders Associations 420 E Britton Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73114 RSVP at 405-286-9009 (24-hr hotline) or www.okcprogram.com Over the holidays, Scott Parman (left) joined fellow Rotarian, Jim Shane, ringing the bell for the Salvation Army - a tradition the OKC Rotary Club has contributed to every year since 1943!
Left to right: Scott Parman (Client & Community Relations Director), Larry Parman (Founding Attorney), Maris Moore (Attorney), and CB Moore (husband) celebrate completing the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Dates We Will Be In Our Tulsa Office: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Thousands of supporters raise their “awareness flowers” before the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Office Address: Memorial Place 7633 E. 63rd Place; Tulsa, OK 74133
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Call us at 918-615-2700 or 405-843-6100 to schedule your complimentary Client Trust Review or if you have a family member or friend who would like to visit with us.
FREE Book for Your Loved Ones & Friends! Do you have loved ones or friends who may benefit from discovering how estate planning can provide them the same Peace of Mind you enjoy? If so, show them how much you care by gifting them a FREE copy of Larry Parman’s best- selling book, The Straight Shooter’s Guide to Estate
a dessert option…a sweet coconut and crispy rice ball decorated in red sprinkles. It was my favorite work holiday party yet as I learned so much about my colleagues that I never knew. I learned about their families, their traditions, and the stories behind the different recipes. Everyone was so engaged and excited to share something about themselves and learn something about others. Mostly it reminded me that a recipe is more than a list of instructions…it’s a thread to cultural history, family history, and regional histories that can link us to generations that came long before ours. I didn’t win the contest, but getting to know my colleagues at a deeper level and share love through our recipes was a huge win. And, of course, I have a few new recipes I cannot wait to try. We hope this recipe gives you the same opportunity to enrich your relationship with family, friends, and yes, even work colleagues.” Super Ham Balls 2 lbs. ground cured ham 2 lbs. ground beef 1 ½ cups Carnation evaporated milk 2 eggs 2 cups graham cracker crumbs Mix all ingredients well and form into small balls (about 1 1/2 inch diameter) Place balls in a flat baking dish. 2 cans of tomato soup 1 1/2 cups brown sugar packed 1 scant cup vinegar 2 tablespoons mustard Spoon sauce over meat balls. Bake at 325 for 1 hour. This will fill one 19 x 13 pan or two 6 x 9 pans. Sauce These freeze beautifully. Always on hand for unexpected company. If you have a recipe you’d like us to share in Margie’s Kitchen, please mail it to us or email Info@parmanlaw.com. We’ll feature it in our newsletter or on our website!
Planning: A No-Nonsense, Straight Forward, Easy-to- Read Book Explaining Wills, Trusts, & Estate Plans for the Rest of Us . This book will help them understand the basics of Estate Planning and discover how it can benefit their personal and/or family’s security, quality-of-life, and well-being. To have this free Gift shipped to them lickety-split, call us at 405-843-6100 or have them call us at the same number. Or email us at info@parmanlaw.com. “My experience with Parman & Easterday was good – much easier than I anticipated. Your staff is efficient, very prompt, and they completed the work and product on time as promised. This was my second attempt at a Living Trust. The first failed because I felt overwhelmed with the process and what was required of me. I never had that feeling at Parman & Easterday. That alone was important to me.” -Jimmy Bruza; Oklahoma City, OK To host Parman & Easterday as a guest speaker to educate your group or organization (ie. church, civic, business, social, fraternal, political, school, etc.) – either in-person or via webinar, call Scott at 405-843-6100. Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts. -Winston Churchill Our Wonderful Clients Speak Out: “Much Easier Than I Anticipated…”
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