Hegwood Law - February 2021

Hegwood Law - February 2021

HEADLINES HEGWOOD

HEGWOODLAW.COM • 281.218.0880

FEBRUARY 2021

FIGHT FOR YOUR FULLEST POTENTIAL

Celebrating National Get Up Day! Recently, I was fascinated by the U.S. Figure Skating’s holiday, National Get Up Day, on Feb. 1. As part of a motivational campaign, National Get Up Day is intended to inspire us to be unafraid of falling while learning new things or living life to its fullest potential.

It made me think about something else, too: Fear is one of the biggest factors in whether or not we reach our full potential.

In life, a lot of people (including ourselves) are too afraid to do certain things due to fear, specifically fear of failure. But, when you look at successful people, you notice a trend: They do not look at failure the same way most people do. Failure is simply a roadblock to the things they want in life. That is not to belittle the fear of failure they may or may not feel. Think about it: Whenever you are about to have an intimidating or fear-inducing experience, you hear it all the time: “Just push through it!” That is rarely comforting. However, failure for successful people is, in fact, not a pleasant invitation to do better, either. It is a hard requirement. Facing failure does not become easy after having moderate success. Failure and fear hit everyone just as fast and just as hard. As a proud grandma today, I feel lucky I have always looked at things in my life as learning experiences. I do not have regrets, and I do not carry around emotional baggage. Instead, I think: What did I learn from this experience? And then keep on moving. 2020 has been difficult, frightening, and like nothing we have experienced since the last pandemic 100 years ago. But it meant we simply had to learn to do things differently. Our law firm has not been an exception. In the practice, we started to record a lot of our webinars and made a library for them on our website. Now, we have hours and hours of free, useful resources for

our clients and anyone who needs them. We also hired our very first digital marketer, Regan, who does an incredible job keeping up with our social media pages. Just as a testament to things turning around in 2020, it was a bit of an adventure trying to find Ragen — we received an email from a website that showed she was looking for an internship but no way to contact her. We did not panic! Never fear! We put Adam on the hunt to locate her and asked him to see if he could track her down.

Of course, he did! He is another Rockstar Team Member. Adam found her on Facebook and the rest is history!

Anyway, we are very excited to continue serving you this year. Stay warm, stay safe, and we will chat again very soon.

-Kim Hegwood

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IT IS IN THE CARDS Why Valentine’s Day Is the Ultimate Card Holiday

This may be the first year in a long time that kids do not pass out Valentine’s Day cards at school. Going in to the new year, the seasonal section of most stores is lined with cards featuring fun characters from superheroes to unicorns. Handing out cards is now a well-loved tradition, but have you ever wondered how Valentine’s Day became one of the biggest card-giving holidays of the year? Like many holiday traditions, the convention of handing out Valentine’s Day cards goes back centuries. During the 1700s, it became fashionable to trade Valentine’s Day cards with a short poem or verse. The popularity of swapping cards only increased throughout the 1800s. Sometimes, people would go as far as to paint or draw spring-like images on the cards. They were much more elaborate than what we typically see today, though they were still usually very small. But where did those folks get the idea? People of that era were likely inspired by stories that go back even further. There are legends that the originator of this holiday tradition was Saint Valentine himself. One story says that on the night before he was set to be executed, Valentine wrote a small letter to a jailer’s daughter. He ended the note with “Your Valentine.”

It’s unknown whether that story is true, but to 18th century Europeans and Americans, it was inspiring! So inspiring, in fact, that the entire Valentine’s Day industry began to gain traction. A guidebook called “The Young Man’s Valentine” was published in 1797 to help suitors garner the attention of their love interests through the written word. Eventually, books aimed at women were also published, including “The Lady’s Own Valentine Writer,” which served much the same goal. These publications, along with young people writing notes to one another every February, have made Valentine’s Day cards an ingrained tradition, and now people cannot get enough of them!

FORMER ZAPPOS CEO DIES WITHOUT AWILL Over $840 Million at Stake. What Now?

Wills and trusts are not necessarily prepared for your own sake but as a gift to your family after you pass on. It is overwhelming to experience both grief and responsibility for navigating your remaining assets. Imagine if you had over $840 million in assets to sort through and the type of family tension that would cause. It could tear people apart. After former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh was found unconscious after a house fire, the Hsieh family suddenly had this predicament on their hands. The entrepreneur had his first startup in 1998 until he sold Zappos to Amazon in 2009, and he continued to run Zappos until last August. Then, on Nov. 27, 2020, he died at 46 on his girlfriend’s property, thousands of miles from home in Nevada. The Hsieh family has said that they are “unaware of the existence of a fully executed estate plan and have good faith belief that the decedent died intestate.” Hsieh’s father, Richard Hsieh, and brother, Andrew

Hsieh, have asked for an order to allow them to access Tony Hsieh’s accounts and protect his assets, but it will not be so easy. With $840 million, his money is quite a problem. No spouse and no will often means very scattered assets, and it takes time to find all the money. There are no guarantees, and things often fall through the cracks. Also, the tax situation is far from settled. At such a large amount, the IRS will likely benefit largely from Hsieh’s lack of a will.

With a Nevada base of operations, Utah residence, and presumptive California executors, it is going to get messy, and the attorneys in this situation will not be cheap, either.

It is far more affordable and easier to keep your money in the family with a plan. Everyone needs an estate plan because it can keep your family fortune from going to zero. Do not wait. Call us today to ensure a peaceful future for your family long after you are gone!

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SHARE THE LOVE THIS MONTH 4Ways to Support Your Loved Ones This Valentine’s Day

can find, but sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are the simplest. Here are four easy ways to show your loved ones how much you care this February.

up to a loving note from someone they care about could mean the world to them and shift their entire mood for the day.

A Daily Journal Entry

A Text a Day

February and March are usually when New Year’s resolutions begin to falter. To encourage yourself and your loved one, consider starting a daily journal. Leave a journal where you both have access to it and write positive messages inside for the other person. This acknowledgment of hard work is exactly what you both need to continue pursuing your goals this year.

Knowing someone has your back throughout the year, no matter how difficult things can get, is a great source of support and love. In addition to the usual communication you share with your loved one, add in a supportive text each day, whether it’s simply letting them know you’re thinking of them or wishing them luck on a presentation or interview. The best part about these texts is that they can be sent year-round.

Random Gifts

You don’t have to wait for a birthday, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day to give your loved one a gift. Buying small gifts lets your friend or spouse know you’ve been thinking about them. Whether it’s a treat they enjoy, a book, or even a small gift card, these thoughtful gestures are sure to make them smile.

A Morning Message Board

Whiteboards are fun to draw on and make great calendars, but they can also be used to share heartfelt messages with your roommates or spouse. Writing positive messages like, “I hope you have a wonderful day!” or “You matter!” can make all the difference. Waking

Every Valentine's Day, people want to find the best ways to show their partner or even a close friend how much they care. It is easy to get sucked into thinking you have to give them the most expensive or elaborate present you

OREO TRUFFLES

WORD SEARCH

Ingredients

• 1 14-oz package Oreo cookies • 8 oz cream cheese, softened • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

• 2 cups white chocolate chips, melted • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

directions

1. Using a food processor, crush cookies into fine crumbs. 2. In a medium bowl, add all but 2 tbsp crushed cookies, cream cheese, and vanilla and stir until evenly combined. 3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a small cookie scoop, form mixture into small balls. Place on prepared baking sheet and

freeze until slightly hardened, about 30 minutes. 4. Dip the frozen balls in melted white chocolate until coated and return to baking sheet. Drizzle with melted semisweet chocolate and sprinkle

AQUARIUS BLACK HISTORY CANDY CUPID GROUNDHOG HEART LINCOLN

MLK JR PENNSYLVANIA PHIL PRESIDENTS DAY VALENTINE WINTER

on remaining crushed cookies. Freeze until chocolate hardens, about 15 minutes.

Source: Delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/ a48823/oreo-truffles-recipe/

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

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 Fight for Your Fullest Potential

2 What Is the Deal With Valentine’s Day Cards? Former Zappos CEO Dies With Nearly $1B Fortune and No Will

3 A Month of Love and Support Oreo Truffles

4 3 Beautiful, Must-See Outdoor Patio Restaurants in Houston

LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY? 3 Beautiful, Must-See Outdoor Patio Restaurants in Houston

It is probably extra tough to decide what you want to do for Valentine’s Day this year. But have no fear! You can still make some very romantic memories in our socially distanced time, while supporting your local restaurants! Here are a few of our favorites with updated outdoor patios to be comfortable all year-round.

since. Find authentic cuisine from seven regions in Mexico in Upper Kirby and enjoy a dining patio extended into the parking lot with planters and a decking overhead! You will not want to miss their delicious agave spirits either. One Fifth Southern Comfort 1658 Westheimer Road (713) 955-1024

Backstreet Cafe 1103 S. Shepherd Drive (713) 521-2239

Located in River Oaks, Backstreet Cafe offers both a street-facing patio and an inner, open-air courtyard that provides beautiful, climate-controlled outdoor seating to have a pleasant experience any day. The husband and wife team, Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaugt, have created a beautiful menu inspired by Southern, Cajun, Creole, Hispanic, and Asian cuisines.

With the help of Lexus and friends at Tellepsen Landscaping, One Fifth has transformed its outdoor patio into a spacious, beautiful, and comfortable seating area you will love bringing your date to. Award- winning chef Chris Shepard provides Southern food that not only brings comfort but also a sense of the holidays, even when we are isolated during these times.

Arnaldo Richard's Picos Restaurant 3601 Kirby Drive (832) 831-9940

Chef Arnaldo Richards is a third-generation restaurateur — he started cooking in restaurant kitchens at 14 years old and has not stopped

We hope these spots inspire your next date night or even a treat for you and your friends! Have a wonderful February!

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