Littlejohn Law LLC - November 2019

Littlejohn Law LLC - November 2019

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM 740-314-4829

11/19

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

of the day they signed an armistice agreement with Germany. The agreement ended all fighting between sides. After World War II, countries picked different names for the day. Some countries, like France and the U.K., call it Remembrance Day.

A couple years ago, I was at a football game. I don’t remember the teams exactly, but I do remember one very specific moment that sticks with me to this day. It was before the game even started, right after we finished with the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. The entire crowd started chanting “USA! USA! USA!” over and over again. It was just another reminder of the pride I feel to live in the greatest country in the world. But this country is more than just patriotic crowds at football games. A big part of what makes the United States so incredible is the brave men and women who have defended it and those who still defend it today. I am, of course, referring to our veterans and current service members. Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, and, while I’ve always been aware the day is meant to celebrate those who served in our Armed Forces, there are a couple of things I didn’t know about the holiday until recently. The first thing I learned was how Veterans Day differs from Memorial Day. While Veterans Day celebrates the living who have served, Memorial Day honors those who died while serving. The second thing I learned is the United States is not the only country in the world to celebrate Veterans Day. The day actually used to be called Armistice Day, and members of the Allied Forces in World War II celebrated it because it was the anniversary APPRECIATING OUR VETERANS AT LITTLEJOHN LAW THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

Since then, American Veterans Day has been a day to celebrate all veterans, living or dead, who fought for their country. Every time I stand up and put my hand over my heart, I try to give thanks for anyone who is a veteran of the U.S. military. They risk their lives so we can have all the opportunities and freedoms we enjoy today.

While I never served myself, several of my uncles were in the Air Force, and I have a cousin who recently graduated from the United States Naval

Academy. I am honored to have them as my family and proud of the choice they made to serve their country. To any of my clients who have served and are reading this, I just want to say thank you for your service.

As a way to show our appreciation here at Littlejohn Law, during the month of November, we are waiving the 30-minute consultation fee for all veterans and their family members who come through our office. In addition, if any veterans need help obtaining any veterans benefits, we will help you however we can at no cost to you throughout the month.

If you have a family member or friend who has served, don’t forget to thank them this Veterans Day. And have a happy Thanksgiving!

–Edward Littlejohn

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM | 1

WHAT’S NE Watching Kyzlee grow like a weed. She really enjoys being outside on the slide and having picnics.

Whenever the topic of estate planning comes up, people invariably mention creating a will. And with good reason — having a will is a foundational aspect of your estate plan. However, a will is only one small part of effective planning. In fact, if your plan consists of a will alone, you’re guaranteeing your family will have to go to court when you die. There’s a saying in the lawyer world of estate planning: “Where there’s a will, there’s a probate,” and it’s no laughing matter. In our view, a primary goal of estate planning is to keep your family out of court and out of conflict no matter what happens to you. Yet, with only a will in place, your plan can fall woefully short of that goal, leaving your loved ones — and yourself, if you become incapacitated — susceptible to getting stuck in an unnecessary, expensive, time-consuming public court process. RELYING ON A WILL ALONE (PART 1) THE REAL COST TO YOUR FAMILY

Jeff’s enjoying the Nascar races.

Edward’s enthusiastic about what Littlejohn Law has coming for 2020.

intervention, this is not true. For your assets to be legally transferred to your beneficiaries, your will must first pass through the court process called probate. The probate process can be an extremely distressing for your loved ones. The proceedings can drag out over months or even years, and, in most instances, your family will have to hire an attorney, generating hefty legal bills that can quickly drain your estate. Moreover, probate is public, so anyone can find out the value and contents of your estate. They can also learn what and how much your family members inherit, making them tempting targets for frauds and scammers. And, if you think you can just pass on your assets using beneficiary designations to avoid all of this … well, that’s just asking for trouble.

Here’s why having just a will is not enough.

Your family must still go to court.

While you may think having a will allows your loved ones to inherit your assets without court

Part 2, presented next month, will show the other pitfalls of only having a will.

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT MAXIMUM POTENTIAL DOG TRAINING

Phone: (740) 632-5227 Website: www.maxpotentialdog.com

Founded by police K-9 handler Rob Cook, Maximum Potential Dog Training offers dog training and rehabilitation services. He offers one-on-one obedience training, board and train packages, and in-home behavior issue consulting. His goal is to help your dog ownership experience reach its MAXIMUM POTENTIAL by helping you improve your relationship with your dog. Give him a call today at (740) 632-5227!

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 that Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.

2 | 740-314-4829

WITH ME AND MY OWN?

CALENDAR OF EVENTS UPCOMING VIP EVENTS These SEMINARS AND TELECONFERENCE CALLS are FREE. That’s right; there is no charge. We just ask that you preregister, so we can make sure there’s enough space. We want to make sure people make good decisions about their legal situations.

November: Real Estate Call — How to Get Along with Your Neighbor.

December — Estate Planning Client Appreciation Dinner.

January — Small Business Call — Start 2020 Off Right.

If you see a seminar or teleconference that’s interesting to you or your family, be sure to preregister by calling 740-314-4829 or visiting LittlejohnLawLLC.com. We’ll send you more information as we get closer to the meeting but only to those who have preregistered. If you have a topic you would like to learn more about, be sure to attend one of our seminars or teleconferences. Send your email requests to [email protected].

LEFTOVER THANKSGIVING DOG TREATS

Inspired by TwoHealthyKitchens.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, plain and mashed • 3/4 cup water

• 1 egg • 2 cups cooked turkey, finely chopped • 2 cups whole wheat flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a medium bowl, combine sweet potatoes, water, and egg. Add turkey and flour and stir again until dough is thick and sticky. 3. Use a rubber spreader to spread dough evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut dough into small rectangles using a knife or pizza cutter. 4. Bake for 30 minutes, until the dog treats are lightly golden brown. 5. Remove from oven and let treats cool completely. Break treats apart along score lines. 6. Serve fresh or store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM | 3

352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM 740-314-4829

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

APPRECIATING OUR VETERANS AT LITTLEJOHN LAW

2

RELYING ON A WILL ALONE (PART 1)

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN

3

UPCOMING VIP EVENTS

POST-FEAST DOG TREATS

4

GRATITUDE-THEMED GAMES FOR KIDS

ENGAGE YOUR KIDS ON THANKSGIVING

With These Gratitude-Themed Games

GUESS WHO? To play gratitude-themed Guess Who?, have each participant write down their name and something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in a bowl. Then, at the dinner table, have each person draw a random slip and read what it says without saying the name while everyone else tries to guess who wrote it. While Pictionary may get your kids talking about what they are thankful for, Guess Who? will tune them into what others around them are thankful for too. PICK-UP STICKS Like regular pick-up sticks, the goal is to remove a stick from a haphazard pile without disturbing the others. However, by using colored sticks that represent different kinds of thankfulness — such as places, people, or food — you can make players think outside the box. This will ensure you get a wide range of creative, thoughtful answers whenever the kids pick up a stick. These modified games are great for helping your kids realize how much they have to be thankful for. Use these to spend some fun, educational, quality time with your family this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is an excellent time to teach children about gratefulness. By planning some fun, gratitude-themed games, you can impart a valuable lesson and spend some quality family time together. Get your kids in the holiday spirit by adding a Thanksgiving twist to these classic games.

PICTIONARY Want to bring out your kids’ creative sides? Pictionary is the perfect way to encourage artistic expression and grateful thinking. Try adding a rule where players have to

draw something they’re grateful for. This will get your kids thinking beyond turkey and stuffing and give them an imaginative way to express their gratitude. Plus, who doesn’t love a good art contest?

4 | 740-314-4829