Hegwood Law - April 2021

Hegwood Law - April 2021

HEADLINES HEGWOOD

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APRIL 2021

THE REAL ORIGIN OF THE EASTER EGG HUNT

If you are reading this on April 1, you are probably extra cautious about what to take seriously. I understand the feeling — my son found out on April Fools’ Day that he was going to be a father, and he told me the same day. It took him quite some time to convince me it was true! However, this is one article you can definitely take seriously. I recently became curious about egg hunts and how they became associated with Easter. I had to share what I found! Although Easter egg hunts seem completely unrelated to the religious origins of Easter, it may surprise you that eggs have a notable history within the church. In pre-Christian societies, eggs were associated with spring and new life. Many Christians adapted these beliefs to make the egg a symbol for the resurrection and the empty shell a metaphor for Jesus’ tomb. Then, during the medieval ages, consuming eggs became forbidden during Lent (the 40-day period before Easter). This made eggs an important part of any Easter Sunday celebration, which people enjoyed with feasting and merriment, especially for families that could not afford meat. Eggs were also frequently given to the church as a Good Friday offering. Besides common folk, royalty also partook in the Easter egg fun! In 1290, Edward I purchased 450 eggs to be decorated with colors or gold leaf, then distributed to his household.

Dur ing the 16th century in Germany, Protestant reformer Martin Luther began the Easter egg hunt tradition for the first time at his church. Men would hide the eggs, and the women and children would go find them. It was a nod to the story of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and how a woman discovered the empty tomb. It was further popularized in the Victorian age by none other than Queen Victoria herself. As a 14-year-old girl in 1833, she wrote in her diary: “Mama did some pretty painted and ornamented eggs, and we looked for them.” Her diaries throughout her life, including adulthood, reference Easter egg hunts and the enjoyment her family experienced with them. The Easter Bunny only became associated with Easter eggs sometime in the 1700s, as German immigrants moved into Pennsylvania. They told stories of an egg-laying hare named Osterhase, who would leave behind the colored eggs for the children to find. By the mid- 20th century, the fable evolved as companies began to promote their products during Easter, saying that the Easter Bunny also gives out chocolate and other treats. As of this writing, we are still unsure whether we will be able to enjoy a traditional, egg-filled Easter with the entirety of our family. The vaccine is not yet widespread. However, I love any chance to reminisce and spend time with my family, and I cannot wait to do just that very soon.

Now, the role of the egg in religious history makes sense — but how did the Easter egg hunt begin?

If you need an appointment, go to Calendly.com/hegwoodlaw and schedule your appointment online!

-Kim Hegwood

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UP IN FLAMES The Fyre Festival’s Legal Fallout for Influencers

Influencer marketing has long been a legal gray area, but recently settled celebrity lawsuits related to the Fyre Festival — a failed luxury musical festival — have definitely added some color to the debate. The idea for the Fyre Festival came from rapper Ja Rule and his business partner, Billy McFarland, a 25-year-old CEO of a luxury concierge service. The duo created the event together and touted it as the world’s most expensive music festival. They had also launched an attractive marketing campaign that included celebrity promotions by Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and other influencers. All the while, the organizers knew the Fyre Festival was doomed from the start. In lieu of a multiday, luxury experience, thousands of people were scammed and left stranded in the Bahamas instead. "[The organizers] had six to eight weeks to pull off something that should have taken close to a year," says Chris Smith, who directed a Netflix documentary on the festival. "But what was most surprising to me was going to the Bahamas and seeing the aftermath of what was left behind and the effect on the people there." The local economy was devastated. "They had engaged with so much of the local community to try and pull this off. There were hundreds of day laborers working," says Smith. "Fyre had such a high profile that I do not think anyone could have assumed that it would not work out."

As the Fyre Festival fell apart, Gregory Messer — the trustee in charge of overseeing the bankruptcy for Fyre Media — looked into the finances. He began to suspect that there had been “fraudulent transfers” between the founders and many of the event’s promoters, and he began to sue the celebrities and influencers that drove the hype behind the festival. For example, McFarland and Ja Rule reportedly paid Kendall Jenner over $275,000 to publish an Instagram post promoting the festival. Although Jenner denied liability, she did not disclose on the post that it was paid and sponsored. Messer’s attorney further argued that Jenner had not told her Instagram followers that she’d pulled out of the festival after learning of its disastrous problems.

Althoughmore legal parameters will likely spring up in the future to further define the limits of influencer marketing, this will certainly make any celebrity think twice about accepting money to promote events and brands. And that’s definitely for the best!

5 HILARIOUS PRANK IDEAS — EVEN DURING QUARANTINE 5 Positivity Tips for OptimismMonth!

One of the best ways to bond with our loved ones is to create new memories together. What better way to do that than with pranks? Even if it feels like your usual April Fools’ Day pranks are off the table during a pandemic, you can have fun with friends and family in harmless ways, no matter how far away they are. No. 1: Sign them up for an unusual mailing list. If someone in your family is a cat lover, it might be hilarious to get them on a dog fun-fact email list. It is a harmless prank, but you will still want to choose a legitimate organization, like the Ferret Association of Connecticut, which provides several newsletters, if you are curious. No. 2: Text a ‘typing dots’ GIF. Send them an animated picture of the typing dots graphic, andmake them wait for your next message for eternity … until they break the silence and realize it is fake, of course!

watch the horrific expressions of your loved ones. This works even from a distance — just take a video to share!

No. 4: Serve breakfast, ready and frozen! Your partner or kids might think you are doing an act of kindness by preparing them breakfast ... but, instead of it being hot and ready, you can serve it frozen. Put a bowl of cereal with milk and the spoon in the freezer for a couple hours, then put it on the table and watch people struggle.

No. 5: Turn that screen upside down. During quarantine, you are likely spending more time on the

computer. You can turn a Windows 10 computer screen upside down by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Down Arrow! Watch them panic, but to fix it before they get really mad, just press Ctrl+Alt+Up Arrow. No matter what you are doing on April 1, we hope you have fun with it! Have a safe, silly April Fools’ Day, everyone.

No. 3: Eat pudding like it is mayo. Replace all of the mayo in a mayo bottle with vanilla pudding and

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DO NOT THINK — JUST GO GREEN! 3 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Impact on the Environment

Living a sustainable, zero-waste lifestyle is all the rage these days. Celebrities like Mark Ruffalo, Jessica Alba, and Emma Watson continue to make big waves by supporting eco-conscious causes and by boasting their eco-friendly products. Not everyone has the budget or the ability to go as eco-friendly as our celebrity counterparts, but “going green” isn’t as difficult as you may think. This Earth Day, try adapting some of these easy eco-friendly tips into your daily life! Reduce your reliance on single-use items. Swap out items like paper towels, plastic water bottles, shampoos and conditioners, straws, plastic bags, and other single-use products that fulfill a need for you once and then end up in a landfill. Instead, find creative ways to avoid these single-use products. You can cut up old

shirts to use as rags, fill up reusable water bottles instead of buying throwaway plastic ones, and use cloth bags instead of plastic sacks at the grocery store. If you are looking for new products, consider shampoo bars or refillable bottles for hair care products from companies like Plaine Products or EcoRoots. Eat less meat. We’re not saying you have to give up your cheeseburgers or ribs, but opting for fewer meat-focused meals could create big impacts on a global scale. According to the Center for a Livable Future, if just 32% of Americans opted for meatless meals one day each week, it would be equivalent to reducing the impact of emissions from 1.6 million cars each year. Swap meat for beans, tofu, cauliflower, squashes, or a vegetarian soup. Delish.com has a great selection of vegetarian-based meals if you are ready to start. Shop locally. When you venture into “Meatless Monday” or search for products that reduce your single-use footprint, consider shopping locally. According to Transport & Environment, shipping could contribute to 10% of all carbon emissions by 2050. One way you can help reduce the reliance on global shipping is by focusing on locally sourced products and foods. Shop for produce at the local farmer’s market, seek out local crafters for gifts, and buy your clothes from local retailers who purchased the materials locally. Large store chains can also have local sections that make this endeavor easier! To get started, check with your local chamber of commerce for a list of shops to visit.

MOLTEN PEPPERMINT-CHOCOLATE CAKES

WORD SEARCH

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, cubed • 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped • 2 eggs • 2 egg yolks • 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract • 1/8 tsp salt • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • Powdered sugar

directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 F. In a small heavy saucepan, heat butter and chocolate over low heat until blended, stirring constantly; transfer to a large bowl. 2. Add eggs, egg yolks, sugar, extract, and salt to chocolate mixture; mix well. Stir in flour. Pour into 4 greased 6-ounce custard cups or ramekins.

3. Place custard cups on a baking sheet. Bake 10–12 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160 F and edges of cakes are set. 4. Remove from oven; let stand 1 minute. Run a knife around sides of cakes; turn out onto dessert plates. Dust with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

ARBOR ARIES

DIAMOND ENVIRONMENT GARDEN KITE

BASEBALL CHERRIES CHOCOLATE DAISY

RAINBOW SHOWERS

Source: TasteOfHome.com/recipes/molten-peppermint-chocolate-cakes/

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HEGWOOD LAWGROUP Trusts | Estates | Probate | Elder Law | Family

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 The Real Origin of the Easter Egg Hunt

2 The Fyre Festival’s Legal Fallout for Influencers 5 Hilarious Prank Ideas — Even During Quarantine 3 Go Green in 3 Easy Steps Molten Peppermint-Chocolate Cakes

4 How to Divvy Up Assets Without Splitting Up the Family

HOWTO DIVVY UP PERSONAL ASSETS

When planning your estate plan, we know one of your biggest concerns may be to keep your family together. We have five tips for doing just that. First, direct specific items you want to be sold. If you have one or more possessions that have much greater value than others, it can be difficult to make your distributions equal. As an example, in one family, the parents saved one painting by a famous artist when they fled Europe during the Holocaust. The children sold the painting and split the proceeds equally, since it would not have been fair for any one of them to receive the painting, and none had the resources to buy out the other two. The painting was auctioned at Christie’s, the proceeds were split between the siblings, and they ultimately avoided an argument that could have lasted for generations. List the most important items in your estate plan. While your will could get very long if you tried to list all your possessions, you may have a few family heirlooms or valuable artworks that you want to stay in the family. It may be easier for all concerned if you say who should get what specific item. In connection with this tip, Hegwood Law Group includes a Memorandum Regarding Personal Property as

part of your estate plan. This document allows you to direct which personal belongings are to be distributed to a specific person.

Give assets away now. Perhaps not everything, but the more you disburse during life, the easier it is to distribute the few things that remain upon your death. When you make gifts, make sure everyone knows about it, even put it in writing, so the person receiving the gift is not suspected of ransacking your jewelry box, for example. Get an appraisal. For tax purposes and to guide you in deciding who should get what item, it can be useful to know the monetary value of the items you are giving away, whether during your life or upon your death. This can also be very important for your executor or trustee in order to distribute the assets. Use a lottery. If you do not want to make choices regarding your estate plan, you can instruct your executor to set up a lottery system for distributing your personal assets. Check out our website HegwoodLaw.com for more estate planning tips! Thanks for reading and do not hesitate to ask our expert legal team your questions!

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