Littlejohn Law LLC - July 2020

Littlejohn Law LLC - July 2020

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM 740-314-4829

7/20

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

I’ve shared the story of how I became an attorney in this newsletter before, but in light of recent global events, I’d like to share it again. When I was applying for law schools, I received rejection letter after rejection letter. My undergraduate advisor told me that I should just become a paralegal instead. But rather than letting that get me down, it made me more determined to achieve my goal. I ended up getting accepted into the Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University in Lansing. I graduated and the rest is history. However, what you probably don’t know is just how big a risk I was taking going to law school even after I was already accepted. For my entire life up until I went to law school, I had either lived with my parents or lived on their dime. They had saved up enough money over the course of my life to pay for my college education, and they had either paid for or cooked all of my meals. When I was applying for law school, I was living at home. After receiving all those rejection letters, I had already resolved to go to one of the two out-of-state law schools that had actually accepted my application. Before I left though, my dad tried to convince me to take a year off before going to law school. He said that if I retook some classes that I hadn’t scored very ALL I HAD WHEN I WENT OFF TO LAW SCHOOL THE DREAM AND THE DRIVE

high grades in as an undergrad, retook the LSAT, and reapplied to some in-state law schools that had previously rejected my application, he and my mom would pay my way through law school. I had no desire to do any of that. The way I figured, this was my life, and now was my time to start becoming a lawyer. I told my dad that I was still going to go to law school in Michigan, with or without his financial support. We had a pretty big argument about it, but my mind was made up. So, with no money, no job, and no place to live yet — with nothing more than a dream and a drive — I made my way up to Lansing. It was the first time in my life I had no financial support from my parents at all. It might not have been the easy choice or even the smartest choice, but it was the right choice. Because of my new independence, I had a deeper level of dedication and appreciation for my time in law school. I paid for my own apartment, I cooked my own meals, and I made sure I studied hard and kept my grades up. If I didn’t make it through law school, there was no plan B. I would have had to move back in with my parents! Of course, I did in fact graduate. Risking it all and betting on myself paid off. I work so hard for my clients today because I know what it’s like to be considered an underdog before the fight even starts. That’s been the experience of a lot of our clients too. So, even though the first half of this year didn’t go as planned for anyone, I know that the second half can be amazing as long as you have the dream and the drive to go all in.

–Edward Littlejohn

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THE INS AND OUTS OF PET TRUSTS ‘WHO WILL LOOK AFTER SNIFFLES WHEN I’M GONE?’

From time to time, we have clients who want to ensure their pets will be taken care of. The conversation is very similar: “I want to leave my house to whoever looks after my dog/cat/horse/other pet.” First, I must say, we understand the emotional support an animal provides and are willing to help out in any way we can. But, unfortunately, you can’t leave money to a pet. And you can’t make a vague condition, like leaving assets to “anyone who looks after my pet” and expect a court to enforce it. Second, when it comes to estate planning, you must provide clarity on your wishes and desires. Therefore, if you want to leave assets to your pet, then a pet trust is the way to go. Here’s how a pet trust works: 1. You must determine which animals are covered by the pet trust. The more clarity the better. Often, an issue arises when your pet has offspring. Does the money you’ve provided go toward their offspring too? Or is the caretaker free to keep the offspring as their own? 2. You must designate someone to be a caretaker. This is the most important decision you have to make regarding pet trusts. This is the person who will have custody of your pet and be responsible for its day-to-day care. 3. Determine how much money you want to leave for the pet’s care. As you can imagine, the appropriate amount varies widely depending on the pet’s age and condition, as well as the number of pets you have.

4. You must determine the caretaking instructions. There isn’t a boilerplate set of instructions because animals can’t tell their caregiver what they need or like. Therefore, you must take the time to specify everything from their favorite food to toys and sleeping arrangements. As you can see, there are many different aspects to consider when deciding who will take care of your pet. This brings me to two other items of importance: Who will take care of your pet before you die, and what happens if someone challenges the legality of the pet trust? A trust is perfect if you need someone to take care of your pet before you die because a trust takes legal effect during your life, while a will doesn’t have any legal effect until after your death. Wills get challenged all the time. It is rare to see a trust get challenged because most trusts have very specific language as to what should happen and when it should happen within the trust agreement. So, if having someone take care of your animals is important, then give us a call today.

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

ZPLC ACCOUNTING

It’s tax season again. Zeno, Pockl, Lilly, & Copeland, A.C. is not just another accounting firm. They offer world-class service with a personal touch. Offices are in Wheeling, WV, and Steubenville, OH. Call them at 304-233-5030 if you have questions about, or need help filing, your taxes. To schedule an appointment today, call and ask for Julie Ryan.

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! “I have hired Edward on two separate occasions, the first being when I purchased land. I had no idea what to do, but Edward made everything so easy and helped me purchase my land. “The second time, I contacted Edward to settle a situation I had while building my house. Edward listened to all of my concerns and pointed me in the right direction to resolve my issues. After I was not able to solve them myself, Edward took control and became the point of contact for my issues. After a few back-and-forth conversations, he was able to provide a result that was better than I ever expected. Edward went above and beyond what I was hoping for. “Edward is a very caring person. He treated me with respect and listened to our concerns as if they were his own. I will be using Edward for any issues I have come up. I can’t thank him enough for his help.” –Kasey T.

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

We are making changes to the client portal so we can better serve you. Beginning July 1, a client portal will be hosted through Clio Connect. This will be a simple, more efficient process for you to find out what’s going on with your case and see the progression of your case. It will also allow you to have different legal matters and keep all your documents for multiple matters in a central location. To get started, we’ll email you a link. Also, if you want a copy of your file, just give us a call and we’ll put your file on a jump drive for you.

Kyzlee with Aunt Aleshia

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE KEBABS

Kyzlee takes Edward’s phone and snaps some pictures of dad sleeping on the floor while Courage sits in the chair.

Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

This simple recipe can make any breakfast a little more fun. We recommend pairing your kebabs with your favorite kind of eggs.

INGREDIENTS

Kyzlee rides a toy 4x4.

• 7 oz frozen, fully cooked breakfast sausage links, thawed • 20 oz pineapple chunks, drained

• 10 medium-sized, fresh mushrooms • 2 tbsp butter, melted • Maple syrup, to taste

EQUIPMENT

• 5 metal or soaked wooden kebab skewers

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut sausages in half. Thread alternating sausages halves, pineapple chunks, and mushrooms onto kebab skewers. Brush with butter and syrup. 2. Grill over medium heat, regularly turning and basting with syrup, until sausages are lightly browned, about 8 minutes.

Kyzlee with a bunch of stuffed animals.

Edward gives Courage a bath after playing outside with Kyzlee.

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352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

TO LAW SCHOOL WITH NOTHING BUT A DREAM AND A DRIVE

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KEEPING YOUR PET A PRIORITY

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

3

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN

KASEY SAYS IT BEST

GOOD MORNING BREAKFAST KEBABS

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PLANNING A FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT ROOM

MAKE YOUR GAME NIGHTS EXTRA SPECIAL

With a Family Entertainment Room

Families around the world are finding new ways to spend time with each other, and their homes are changing accordingly. Whether your family members are video gamers, movie enthusiasts, or board game fans, everyone can benefit from having a dedicated entertainment room. Here are some tips for putting one together. USE YOUR SPACE WISELY. Consider the advantages and challenges of your available space. You don’t want small spaces to feel cramped, and you don’t want large spaces to feel empty. If your room is small, then design the space to serve multiple purposes, like installing a bar with a TV on the opposite wall. If your room is large, then why not have two or more TVs to let visitors play multiple games or watch different shows? A projector can also be used to maximize a room’s space. It allows you and your guests to utilize an entire wall without requiring much physical space. SET UP SURROUND SOUND. Whether you’re using your entertainment room for movies, music, video games, or all of the above, investing in high-quality speakers will pay off instantly.

You can set them up around the room for clearer, more immersive sound for movies and games, and by spacing out each speaker, you can eliminate cord clutter and tangle. SOUNDPROOF YOUR SPACE. Trying to impress your guests with great sound doesn’t mean that your entire neighborhood has to hear what you’re watching! Soundproofing not only helps shield your neighbors from action game explosions and booming movie scores, but it also improves the sound quality in the room. Thick curtains and carpets, wall-mounted foam panels, or freestanding acoustic panels work for basic soundproofing, but if you plan to utilize your space every day and night, then consider hiring a contractor to help estimate materials and cost for a more sophisticated soundproof space. HAVE GREAT LIGHTING. There’s nothing more inviting than a well-lit space, and this also applies to your entertainment room. Whether you’re playing a board game or putting together puzzles with the whole family, mood lighting can make the experience feel even more cozy and special. Try experimenting with different, stylish lamps or overhead fixtures to light up your space.

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