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AUGUST 2022
Working Hard Becomes a Habit THE EFFORT PAYS OFF
August 5th is National Work Like a Dog Day, and when I think of the phrase “work like a dog,” to me it means going the extra mile to achieve better results. I think of values like determination and perseverance and of those Iditarod dogs pulling those sleds for hours over long distances. I think of famous quotes about hard work like Thomas Jefferson, who famously said, “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more of it I have.” I’ve always been a hard worker, and when I think about my childhood, I reflect back on my mother. She has one of the strongest work ethics of anybody I’ve ever seen in my life. She was a high school English teacher for about 40 years, and she would do everything, every day, without any breaks in between. I remember seeing her sit at our dining room table late at night grading papers after a long day of teaching, picking my sister and I up from school, taking us to soccer or basketball practice, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, and helping us with our homework.
My mom is the type of person who always needs to be doing something. Even to this day, there is no downtime for her. So, when you’re exposed to that strong work ethic every day at a young age, it really sets an example for how much one can accomplish on a daily basis. Growing up, I wasn’t the most naturally gifted athlete, nor was I one of the smartest kids in school. I was above average in both areas, so I had to put in extra work to achieve better results for myself. I
was very self-motivated and had a chip on my shoulder, maybe not to prove other people wrong, because I don’t think there were doubters per-se (I’m not trying to act like Michael Jordan who got cut from his high school basketball team), but to prove myself right. I may not be able to control how physically gifted or smart I may be, but I can control how hard I work and use that to my advantage in the classroom or on the field to outperform the competition. My mother was a great role model growing up, and the example she set with her strong work ethic is reflected at Douglass & Runger today. We have standards here at our firm, but I also have certain standards set for myself and those standards are high. I refuse to lower my standards because somebody else might not be doing the same — just like my mom taught me. There are only a certain number of hours in the day, and we waste so much of that time complaining about things we cannot control or fiddling away at our computers and whatnot. But if you stay intentional and focused on the task at hand, you can actually accomplish much more than you think. So on August 5th, please sure to recognize someone you know who goes that extra mile! Oh, and be sure to get much needed rest if you’re the one “working like a dog”!
She was superwoman in my eyes, and all I could think about is, “Wow, this lady never takes a break.” I went to a different school than where she taught, and when I would turn in my assignments, my teachers wouldn’t return papers or projects for weeks. And here’s
“SHE WAS SUPERWOMAN IN MY EYES, AND ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT IS, ‘WOW, THIS LADY NEVER TAKES A BREAK.’”
my mom, working late hours at the dining room table to grade her students’ tests and papers on the same day the papers were submitted or the tests administered. I’d always ask her why she was sitting there doing that, because I guarantee that my teachers weren’t doing the same. I’m paraphrasing here, but the gist of what she would say in response was something like: “Just because your teachers don’t do it doesn’t mean I can’t. I’m going to get this work done and get the assignments back to my students in a timely manner so they know where they stand.”
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CHOOSING JOY EVERY DAY 3 WAYS TO FOSTER A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
In today’s society, we are faced with tragic stories and upsetting information, no matter where we turn. This can quickly lead us to a negative mindset where we believe things can’t be fixed and will only get worse, so it’s even more important now to establish a positive mindset. Though it might be easier to bury your head in the sand, fostering positivity in your life will provide you with many benefits. But doing so is easier said than done. If you’re unsure where to begin, try out some of these methods to help you get started. Focus on the silver lining. When something bad or unfortunate happens, we are quick to think about the negatives and how they will impact us in the future. Instead, we should be searching for a silver lining. You can
find a positive in any situation, but you’ll have to put in the effort to flip your perspective.
that you can’t accomplish certain things, you will feel worse about yourself — or even believe them. You need to block the negative people from your life and surround yourself with those who think optimistically. Establishing a positive mindset in today’s world may be difficult, but it is not impossible if you develop a strategy and follow through with it.
Keep a gratitude journal. When we think about gratitude and thankfulness, our minds usually think about Thanksgiving. But we don’t need to wait for a special day to show gratitude. Things happen to us every day that we should be grateful for. If you’re struggling to acknowledge your blessings, keep a gratitude journal and write a few things you are thankful for each day. Over time, that thought process will seep into your daily life. Surround yourself with positive people. The people we associate with play a huge role in our mental well-being. If you’re constantly around people who put you down or tell you
Navigating the Probate Process THROUGH EXPERIENCED TENNESSEE PROBATE LAWYERS
When someone dies in Tennessee, typically someone from the deceased’s family must begin the process of administering the person’s affairs soon after their death. This administration oftentimes requires court supervision and is referred to as probate. There are many potential difficulties that may arise throughout the probate process, but a Tennessee probate attorney can help minimize those difficulties and successfully navigate you through the process. What is probate? Probate is the process by which assets that are titled individually in a deceased person’s name are transferred to either their heirs at law if they don’t have a will or the beneficiaries of their will if they have one. The process allows a court to exercise supervision over the manner in which the deceased’s assets are distributed, debts and taxes are paid, and affairs concluded. It may be necessary whether the deceased passed with a valid will in force or they passed intestate, without a will.
Probate assets are any assets that the decedent owned that were titled in a decedent’s name only at the time of their death. These assets can include the following: • Tangible personal property, including furniture, jewelry, automobiles, and other household items • Intangible personal property, such as bank accounts or retirement accounts • An ownership or interest in a partnership, LLC, or corporation • Brokerage accounts or life insurance policies that either fail to name a designated beneficiary or name the individual’s estate as the beneficiary What are non-probate assets? Non-probate assets are those that are owned or held jointly with another person or persons or assets that have designated “payable on death” beneficiaries. These assets do not form part of your estate at death and pass by operation of law to the surviving joint account owners or payable on death beneficiaries.
Think of it like this: If you have a bank account with your spouse, it’s titled in both your names. When one person passes, the other account holder becomes the sole owner of the assets automatically.
These non-probate assets can include the following:
• Property held with the decedent as tenants by the entirety or in a joint tenancy • Brokerage or bank accounts held in joint tenancy, with a payable on death or transfer on death beneficiaries • Property owned by a living trust • Retirement accounts, including 401(k)s and IRAs that have named payable on death beneficiaries • Certain investment accounts, including annuities that have named payable on death beneficiaries The probate journey can be confusing and difficult, but the experience probate attorneys at Douglass & Runger are ready to help you through the process. If you have questions about the probate process, please give us a call at 901-388-5805 .
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Plan and Be Prepared PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
Restaurant-Style Chicken Marsala
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Are you craving chicken Marsala? Now’s your chance to cook it at home!
Life is unpredictable, and we may never know if tomorrow will come. If you happen to die unexpectedly without a will, what will happen to your assets?
INGREDIENTS • 1 cup flour, for dredging • Salt and pepper, to taste • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-inch thick
Because you died without a will, the court has no direction as to how the deceased intended their affairs to be handled. The only option is to distribute the assets in accordance with Tennessee law. Tennessee’s Involvement in Estate Property When someone passes without a will, they die intestate. In Tennessee, the intestacy laws determine who inherits your assets and how those assets will be divided. The only assets requiring probate administration are assets that are titled in a deceased’s name only at the time of death, so jointly owned bank accounts or accounts with “payable on death” beneficiaries do not require probate administration, as those assets pass by operation of law to the surviving account holder or designated beneficiaries. Surviving Spouse and/or Descendants These intestacy laws also determine how the decedent’s property will be distributed to a surviving spouse or how it will be distributed among the surviving spouse and surviving children. If you have no children, the surviving spouse will inherit your entire probate estate. If you are unmarried at the time of your death, but you have children who survive you, your children will equally inherit the entire probate estate. If you are survived by a spouse and children, your spouse and your children will take under your estate, and many times, but not always, depending on the situation, the parties will inherit an equal share. No Surviving Spouse and/or Descendants For situations in which someone dies unmarried and without children, things may become complicated and require some detailed analysis. Think of this as a family tree! If you have no spouse or descendants, you go up the branches to your next of kin. First, the Court looks to see if your parents survived you. If so, then your parents would inherit your estate. If you parents predeceased you, then we look to see if you had siblings who survived you. Sometimes the analysis becomes quite complex and cousins may inherit! At Douglass & Runger, we have seen situations where very distant relatives who had little to no relationship at all with a decedent ultimately inherit the decedent’s estate.
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 4 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced • 8 oz mushrooms • 1/2 cup Marsala wine • 1/2 cup chicken stock • 2 tbsp butter
DIRECTIONS 1. In a bowl, mix flour, salt, and pepper until evenly distributed. 2. Add chicken to flour mixture and coat all sides. Shake off any excess. 3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add chicken to the skillet. Work in batches if pieces don’t all fit in the pan. Cook each side for 5 minutes until golden brown. 4. Remove chicken to a platter. 5. Lower heat to medium. Add prosciutto to pan and sauté for 1 minute. Add mushrooms and sauté until browned, about 5 minutes. 6. Add Marsala to skillet. Let it come to a boil, then add the chicken stock and simmer for 1 minute. 7. Stir in the butter and add chicken back into the skillet. Let simmer gently for an additional minute, then serve. INSPIRATION “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” —Confucius
For that reason, it’s important to have estate planning documents in place in the event of an unexpected passing. The attorneys at Douglass & Runger want to help give you
peace of mind knowing that your assets will pass to the intended parties. If you are in need of estate planning documents or have questions about how your property might pass in the event of an unexpected passing, contact us at 901-388-5805 .
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2820 Summer Oaks Drive Bartlett, TN 38134 901-388-5805 www.DouglassRunger.com
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Advertising Material
1 My Mother’s Incredible Work Ethic 2 Dealing With Negativity? Try These 3 Things! Understanding Probate and Non-Probate Assets 3 What Happens if You Pass Without a Will? Restaurant-Style Chicken Marsala 4 4 Reasons to Start Golfing This Summer Inside This Issue
Tee Off This Summer 4 GREAT BENEFITS OF GOLF
Golf is an enjoyable sport anyone can participate in regardless of experience, ability, and age. There’s nothing quite like teeing off on the first hole after a difficult week of work. Though it can certainly be frustrating at times, golf is a fun sport with many amazing perks. Reading the following benefits will make you want to head to your local course, even if you’re not a regular golfer. It’s great exercise. Playing a full 18 holes of golf can be exhausting and for good reason. Swinging a golf club works your forearms, core, shoulders, and back muscles. If you choose to walk the course, you’ll be getting in a great workout as the average course length is about 4 miles. You can also carry your golf bag for an even better workout. It builds character. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned golfer or on the course for the first time, you are not going to have a perfect round. You may miss a putt or end up in the sand
trap, but you decide how you react to the situation. You can get mad and potentially play worse or understand that everything is not always going to work out in golf. That lesson can even be applied to your everyday life. It’ll draw you outside. Most of us can use some additional time outdoors, and golf provides the perfect opportunity. Between rolling hills, picturesque ponds, and lush trees, the golf course is a beautiful setting. Even if you’re playing poorly, you can still enjoy being outside for a few hours out of your day. It’s fun for the entire family. Golf isn’t just for businessmen. Anyone can find enjoyment in the game. It can be a great weekend activity for the entire family or the perfect bonding experience between relatives. There are par 3 courses across the country that offer an easier experience for new golfers, and you can always play nine holes instead of 18 to cut down on time and conserve energy.
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