Littlejohn Law - January 2021

Littlejohn Law - January 2021

Build It, Protect It, Preserve It.

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740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com

January 2022

A New Year for New Beginnings

We have made it to January, so it’s time to put 2021 behind us and look forward to new opportunities and experiences. People often use January to set up goals, plans, and resolutions they hope to achieve throughout the year. While it’s incredibly important that we all have goals and plans for the future, resolutions can be a little bit trickier. How often have you heard someone make a resolution for the new year that sounds something like “I want to get back in shape and lose any extra weight for the new year”? Most of the time, these people get into a great routine for the month of January, but by the time February rolls around, they have stopped going to the gym. This is one of those resolutions that we’ve all made at some point or another and failed to live up to our expectations. I know I’m guilty of it. Resolutions often turn into nothing more than wishful thinking. Every year, the most popular resolutions we hear are to exercise more or to add another hobby. Our days are already extremely busy, so it’s no surprise that when we try to add something new, it inevitably fails. Instead of adding something new to your routine this year, try and subtract something that is affecting your growth. Instead of making a resolution to work out more, try to cut out coffee or extra sweets from your diet. If there’s one thing I plan to subtract from my life this year, it’s the stinking thinking. We all have people in our lives that are habitually negative thinkers and are often considered Debbie Downers.

Negativity is infectious, and I often find myself struggling when I hear others talk poorly about something. For the new year, I’m aiming to eliminate any stinking thinkers from my life so that I can focus more on the positives. I have a method that works pretty efficiently if I am personally having negative thoughts or feelings. I’ll get a notecard and write down any negative thoughts, feelings, or actions that have been affecting me over the past few days. Once I have written everything down, I will take the notecard outside and light it on fire. Watching these negative words burn away is liberating. It’s something I do from time to time but will be making a better effort to do more often throughout 2022. Every new year is the perfect time for new beginnings. We often think that we have to do or accomplish more than we did the previous year for it to be successful. That’s not necessarily true and can often lead us toward a negative mindset if we’re unable to accomplish what we set out to do. If you’re planning to make some New Year’s resolutions, I implore you to try and eliminate something that’s been holding you back instead of adding more things to your daily routine. It can help you feel healthier and happier while also giving you a more positive outlook on your future.

740-314-4829 –Ed Littlejohn 1

10 People to Thank CLIENTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS

January is National Hobby Month, and since it falls at the beginning of the year, it’s the perfect time to try something new! Hobbies add variety to your life and ensure you aren’t just living to work, so to speak. The best way to find a hobby you enjoy is to be open to new things. Whether it’s gardening, reading, drawing, running, fishing, crafting, or even beekeeping, finding an activity you enjoy is important. Here’s why! Hobbies are stress relievers. Hobbies offer a healthy escape from your busy lifestyle by keeping you engaged in something you find pleasure in. Instead of just relaxing on the couch and turning off your mind for a bit (which is totally acceptable sometimes), hobbies allow you to remain mentally productive while winding down at the same time. Hobbies also provide eustress . Believe it or not, one type of stress is deemed beneficial: eustress. If you aren’t overly stressed and are feeling a little under-stimulated, a hobby can provide activity for both your mind and body to keep you feeling excited about life and ready to take on new challenges and adventures. Hobbies offer a social outlet. Some hobbies involve group activities, such as bowling, sports teams, book clubs, and even wine tasting. Connecting with others offers the social support humans depend on to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some great friends who share the same passions as you! Hobbies develop patience. When you take on a new hobby, you are tasked with learning something new. Whether you’re practicing a new instrument, learning a different language, or figuring out how to make jewelry, a learning curve is involved. Building new skills takes patience, a very important attribute for success. Finding a hobby that suits you may take some exploration and trial and error, but it is all in good fun! Make it your goal to try something new or learn a new skill each month until you find something that sticks. Once you do, you’re sure to find that hobbies are both enjoyable and enriching! LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: Valley Wine Cellar Valley Wine Cellar is locally owned and THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A HOBBY Skills That Enrich Us

PART I

I can’t believe it has been 10 years since I started the law firm, and in that time, I’ve met and worked with so many wonderful clients. I’ve had some time to reflect on some of those highlights, and I thought I’d share them in upcoming newsletters. Here are a few to get the series started. 1. Invaluable Experience For eight years, I worked as a part-time assistant prosecuting attorney for Jefferson County. While doing so, I was able to home in on my trial skills. This experience has been invaluable for my career. 2. No More Family Law a. Early on in my career, I helped a single mom, who lost custody of her daughter and only had visitation rights for seven years, get full custody of her daughter. Oh, and did I mention that she skipped town and skipped out on paying the balance of her bill? This taught me many lessons about the practice of law. b. My final two “family law” cases showed me the ugly side of custody and divorce. I represented two single fathers, in separate cases, in separate counties, and in both cases, the mom was using the kid/children as a bargaining chip. That in and of itself really pushed me away from doing any family law cases. It made my decision to stop doing them a lot easier, too! 3. Probate and Estate Planning My love for probate and estate planning started early on in my career. One of my first clients was a family member who was close to 85 years old and in need of an estate plan. But what she really needed was for me to become a lawyer 10 years sooner. So, from then on, I made it a point to make sure people have access to good information as it relates to probate and estate planning — because where there’s a will, there’s a way, and when there’s no will, then there’s probate. a. Our client’s father passed away and then, less than 45 days later, his youngest brother passed away. This was a favorite probate case because it was in Pennsylvania and it was a challenge for my team and me to navigate the Pennsylvania and Ohio probate laws. b. Another favorite was a husband who came to us as a last resort. He wanted a second opinion about how his wife’s sister received everything based on a fabricated handwritten last will of his wife. This case was very rewarding as my team and I were able to separate fact from fiction and help him receive what he was entitled to. This is only part one of a three-part series. For more memories from prior clients and cases, make sure you check out our February and March newsletters!

operated by Mary Decker, a longtime resident of the Ohio Valley. It’s located right in the heart of the business district in Wintersville. Did you know they also have wine tasting events and a wine bar?! Call 740-264-5100 for more information about their offerings and events.

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3 Reasons You Need to Get an Estate Plan

You’ll make life easier for your family. Without an estate plan, your assets will go to probate court, which can be incredibly stressful for your family and can often lead to fights and debates. We’ve all heard horror stories stemming from probate or a family member’s death when one member of the family believes they got the short end of the stick. But your passing should be a time for your family to grieve, not fight. Having an estate plan is one of the best ways to ensure that your family is taken care of and won’t fight over assets. You’ll keep your affairs private. A lot of our clients live private lives and do not want their situation aired out to the general public. If you don’t have an estate plan, you will have to go through probate court, which means everything will be publicized and documented. If this is something that concerns you, reach out to our office to get your estate plan started. You’ll gain peace of mind. While we’ve already explained that your family will gain peace from your estate plan, it will also grant you peace of mind. You’ll rest easy knowing that your family is taken care of in case something unexpected occurs. You will have taken the necessary steps to ensure that they can not only survive, but thrive after you’ve passed.

Too many people forgo getting an estate plan because they either don’t want to think about it or are afraid of the financial obligations. To put it simply, getting an estate plan is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. While it might be difficult or uncomfortable to discuss our mortality, everyone needs to have a plan in place in case something unexpected happens, and it’s nowhere near as expensive as it may seem. Having an estate plan is the best way to ensure that your family can survive and thrive after you have passed or become incapacitated. Here are the three biggest reasons you should have an estate plan.

What’s New With Me and My Own?

Chicken and Leek Filo Pie

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a pan over low heat, melt 1 oz butter. 3. Add leeks and carrots and cook for 15 minutes, until softened but not colored. 4. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. 5. Gradually add chicken stock,

Over the holiday season, I went to my cousin’s wedding with the best wedding date ever: Kyzlee. (Sadly, Kellee had to stay home with a sick baby.) Kyzlee danced the night away. I’m still wondering where she learned all of her good dance moves!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 oz unsalted butter, divided • 2 large leeks, finely sliced • 2 large carrots, finely chopped • 1 tbsp flour • 14 oz chicken stock, warmed • 2 tsp Dijon mustard • 3 tbsp heavy cream • 12 oz cooked chicken, cut into chunks • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley • 12 sheets frozen filo pastry, thawed

stirring until sauce is smooth, then let simmer for 10 minutes.

6. Stir in mustard and heavy cream, then add cooked

chicken and parsley. Transfer to a large ovenproof dish.

Shout out to Angela Shreve, executive assistant to Attorney Littlejohn and the go-to transaction and estate planning paralegal, for her two-year workiversary! She started out as a client care specialist and has continued to add value to the Littlejohn Law team and to our clients.

7. In a pan, melt remaining butter. 8. Put a single filo sheet on a board and brush with melted butter. Scrunch up pastry sheet and place on top of chicken mixture. Continue until pie is covered. 9. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the filo is golden and chicken mixture is bubbling.

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352 Frank Layman Blvd. • Wintersville, OH 43953 740-314-4829 • LittlejohnLawLLC.com

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

1

New Beginnings

2

Clients Over the Last 10 Years: Part I

Local Business Profile

3

3 Reasons You Need an Estate Plan

Family Update

Chicken and Leek Filo Pie

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The Importance of Fruits and Vegetables for Kids

Help Your Kids Grow Up Strong and Smart Get Fruits and Vegetables Into Their Diets

You probably heard your parents tell you to eat your vegetables so you can grow up big and strong. But did you know that eating fruit and vegetables can have a positive impact on a child’s mind? A recent study from across the pond in the United Kingdom set out to put this theory to the test. The study was published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Researchers sent surveys to more than 50 schools across England and received responses from 11,000 students. The survey asked schoolchildren about their mental health as well as their dietary choices. The average mental health score was 46.6 out of 70 for high school students and 46 out of 60 for elementary students. When looking at the children’s dietary habits, only 25% of high school and 28% of elementary school students reported that they ate the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. About 10% of high school and 9% of elementary school students reported eating no fruits or vegetables at all. Those students who ate the recommended portions of fruit and vegetables scored on average 3.73 units higher in regards to their mental well-being than those who did not eat any.

While this newfound research provides a link between improved mental well-being to fruits and vegetables, there are many more benefits that come with eating the daily recommended portion. There is a plethora of minerals and vitamins hiding within our favorite fruits and vegetables that help with lowering cholesterol, reducing and maintaining a healthy weight, and protecting against diseases such as some cancers, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. They can also curb the

appetite to stop you or your kids from reaching for an unhealthy snack. And they taste great!

Whether it’s to improve mental well-being, grow stronger, or just add variety to your diet, you can’t go wrong by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your and your family’s diets.

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