Littlejohn Law LLC - December 2020

Littlejohn Law LLC - December 2020

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM

740-314-4829

12/20

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

When the hard times come, you can either complain about them, or you can learn from them. With all the challenges and hardships that 2020 threw at us, I’ve been fortunate enough to look back on this year and pick out a few key lessons I learned through all of it and find some ways to apply them in 2021. TAKING WHAT WE LEARNED THIS YEAR INTO NEXT YEAR AT ANY POINT IN TIME, YOUR LIFE CAN CHANGE. COVID-19 absolutely wrecked 2020 for a lot of people. Anyone who had goals to grow their business or grow their equity was forced to reckon with the fact that we can never predict the future. However, we can either disdain this fact, or we can make our peace with it and move forward with a more positive mindset. The fact of the matter is that most of us still have our health, our strength, and our families. Even when the world is falling down around us, we can’t lose sight of the ways we’ve been blessed. THERE ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR WORLD. When small businesses couldn’t do “business as usual” anymore, many of them took it as an opportunity to get creative. Restaurants were renting food trucks to bring their food to their customers, instead of vice versa. Mom and pop grocery stores set up delivery services. My father set up Zoom classes for his martial arts studio. Even though there was a lot of fear of the unknown, many businesses LESSONS FROM 2020 AND GOALS FOR 2021... TURNING A PANDEMIC INTO A PLANDEMIC

exercised their ingenuity and found ways to keep going.

IDEAS ARE GREAT, BUT EXECUTION IS KEY. When we have ideas for how to innovate and grow our business, we can sometimes get so inundated by them that they simply remain ideas. Many times, coming up with innovative solutions to problems isn’t the hard part — it’s mustering the will to execute them and deviate from what we normally

do. I tend to avoid executing ideas that make me uncomfortable or scared, but this year I’ve found that when you execute those new ideas, even in the face of adversity, great things can happen. ALWAYS CHOOSE FAITH OVER FEAR. With every important decision we make, a thousand things can go wrong. I’m not trying to be pessimistic by saying that; it’s just something that we need to make peace with. We can’t let our fear of what could go wrong petrify us. We have to have faith that, despite all the possible negative outcomes, the outcome that we want, the best outcome, can still happen. We just have to act in faith that it will. GOALS FOR 2021 I don’t want to let the lessons I’ve learned in 2020 go to waste. So, moving forward, there are two ideas I want to execute that I believe will add value to our law office for our clients, even though I’m a little apprehensive about them. The first goal is to narrow down our practice areas. We want to make sure we’re providing our clients with the best service possible in a few key areas of law, namely estate planning, probate, business, and real estate. Our second goal for 2021 is to hire another attorney. This goal is one that makes me a little uncomfortable because it means more bills and another person on the payroll, but I think the added value of expanding our availability to our clients will be more than worth it. It’s been a great year, all things considered. I’m looking forward to what next year will bring.

–Edward Littlejohn

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

A LOVED ONE’S GUIDE TO MANEUVERING THE PROBATE PROCESS

Once you have gotten through the initial whirlwind after the death of a loved one, it will be time to get down to the business of settling the estate. In most cases, at least part of the estate will have to go through the probate process. Depending on the assets your loved one leaves behind and their wishes for how they should be distributed, the Ohio probate process can be straightforward and easily managed by yourself, or it could be complicated and best handled by an attorney. To help you figure out where you stand, we invite you to request a free download of

• When it might be necessary to litigate • How to identify the hidden costs of probate • What it costs to hire a probate attorney In other words, we cover the probate process from start to finish. You won't find a more

our helpful guide to the Ohio probate process. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN FROM OUR COMPREHENSIVE PROBATE GUIDE

Yes, you can Google "Ohio probate" and find lots of articles, advice, and dire warnings. You could also rely on a friend or neighbor who has already been through it to tell you what they did. However, if you really want to manage this process in the most efficient and effective way for yourself and the other heirs, we recommend getting our free guide. We tell you everything you need to know with no strings attached.

comprehensive guide to Ohio probate from a more reliable source. DON'T WAIT — REQUEST A FREE COPY TODAY!

By reading this helpful and convenient book, you will learn:

• How to gather the necessary information to start the probate process • How to pay the debts of the estate • When an estate can avoid a full administration with the probate court • When you need a lawyer and when you probably don't • How we can help you through the probate process

We know you are going through a difficult time right now, and we want to help. Once you've submitted the contact form below, you will immediately receive an email with a link to download a copy of our book. If you have any questions once you've read it, please don't hesitate to call us. We offer telephone consultations and will help you decide if you need a lawyer to walk you through the probate process.

• Answers to probate FAQs • Questions you need to ask • Costly mistakes you can easily avoid

Give us a call today 740.314.4829!

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: EXQUISITE CREATIONS BY JOEL

Custom-design pieces from an experienced florist are a must for a variety of occasions. A year or so ago, a client sent us a Christmas wreath from Exquisite Creations By Joel. It was amazing. This is the place to go for your silk flower arrangements for all your special and “just because” occasions. Located at 735 Main St., Wintersville, OH 43952 Phone 740-275-4380

2 | 740-314-4829 This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And remember, Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.

SEE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US! “All the personnel at Littlejohn Law are friendly, courteous, and professional! I have most recently had the pleasure of working with Nicole, who is highly qualified and accessible, and who took care of my real estate problem in a timely fashion. I strongly recommend using Littlejohn Law for all your real estate and investment needs. I am always extremely pleased with the legal help they have given me!”

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

We’re getting ready for the new Christmas — making sure everyone stays safe during the time leading up to Christmas and New Year's. But, before we get to that, I can’t believe I didn’t share Kyzlee’s first wedding. No she’s not getting married, but she was a flower girl in my sister-in-law’s wedding.

– Five-star Review from Randi

NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S FRUITCAKE

Inspired by SimplyRecipes.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp baking soda • 1 cup sour cream • 3 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit of your choice, chopped • 1 cup nuts of your choice, chopped

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided • 1 stick butter • 1 cup sugar • 1 egg, room temperature • Zest of 1 orange • 1 tsp salt

Angela brings her daughter to work.

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with greased baking paper. Ensure the piece running the length of the pan stands 1 inch above each side to form “handles.” 2. In a small bowl, mix baking soda and sour cream. 3. In a second bowl, combine fruit, nuts, and 1/4 cup flour. 4. In a third bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, zest, and sour cream mixture. Then, add remaining flour and salt. Mix, then add fruit mixture. 5. Pour batter into lined pan. Fill up a separate loaf pan halfway with water. Bake both pans in oven for 1 1/2–2 hours or until a skewer leaves the cake clean. 6. Use “handles” to remove cake from pan and cool completely on a rack before serving.

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

4 LESSONS FROM 2020 AND 2 GOALS FOR 2021

A LOVED ONE’S GUIDE TO MANEUVERING THE PROBATE PROCESS

2

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

3

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN

SEE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US!

NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S FRUITCAKE

4

3 NEW BOARD GAMES TO TRY THIS WINTER

SNOWED IN FOR CHRISTMAS? IT’S BOARD GAME TIME!

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the games are so delightful …”

HALF TRUTH: BRILLIANT MINDS MEET HERE If you’re a fan of Trivial Pursuit, you’ll love Half Truth. At its heart, it’s a trivia game, but it ups the stakes by giving players the opportunity to bet on how many correct answers they’ll get. Really though, there’s only one thing you need to know about this game, and Thrillist said it best: “It's the brainchild of legendary Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield and 74-time Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings.” What a pedigree! Everyone 12 and over will want a seat at the table. GETCREWD: A PLAYGROUND FOR MOVIE BUFFS getCrewd is a card game that comes in a retro-style film can, and that single trait speaks volumes. In this PG-13-rated game, you play a film producer in search of the perfect actor, director, and crew to make your movie happen. However, the deck will keep throwing obstacles in your way, including everything from flash floods to writers’ strikes. If you have a competitive side, you’ll love this mad scramble to the finish line.

Those might not be the exact lyrics from the famous Christmas carol, but it’s true that decks of cards and various board games get many families through the holiday season. You can only rewatch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” so many times before the jokes grow stale. While new movie releases can be fun, many have been stalled this year because of the pandemic. Luckily, board games are still coming out on schedule. If you’re on the hunt for alternatives to Monopoly, Clue, and Scrabble, check out these fresh 2020 games, which all come recommended by the experts at Thrillist. THE ALPHA: A NATURE LOVER’S DREAM GAME If your childhood dream was joining a wolf pack like Mowgli in “The Jungle Book,” this is the board game for you! The Alpha is a beautifully illustrated strategic game where players act as pack leaders and compete with other players to acquire territory and snag the best food. Gameplay is done in rounds that include four stages: stalk, chase, resolve, and advance. The game is rated for 3–6 players ages 10 and up.

With these games in your cabinet, you won’t even notice the snowbanks outside!

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