Stivers Law - April 2022

Stivers Law - April 2022

APRIL 2022

305 - 456- 3255 | PROBATEF IRM.COM

The Rumors Are True: I Spent 2 Years With the Peace Corps!

Two months before my college graduation, I got a letter from the Peace Corps that would change my life.

The people were amazing. Even though they didn’t have much — only a few houses had running water and electricity, which is considered poverty even by Honduran standards — they were incredibly friendly and giving. An older couple, Don Gabriel and Dona Pastora, who lived across the street, regularly invited me over for handmade tortillas and beans, or gave me bowls of oranges, mangos, and bananas in season. Eventually, I discovered things the town could use. I helped the local community leaders write and win a grant that we used to build a latrine with closed-off restrooms and water reservoirs for washing clothes and plates. I helped source seeds for a new women’s co-op group so they could supplement their income with produce from home gardens. When I wasn’t working on those legacy projects, I even taught English and geography at the local schoolhouse and helped paint a mural. Seeing the impact of those legacy projects was really fulfilling, but it was still tough to leave El Socorro after two years, and even harder to leave Don Gabriel and Dona Pastora. Honduran society is very machismo and tough, but we were all holding back tears when we hugged goodbye in 2010. Twelve years later, I still think about the village all the time and hope they’re doing well. There probably aren’t very many lawyers out there who have also served in the Peace Corps, but I see a lot of similarities between the work I did just out of college and what I do today. It’s all about helping people and making their lives easier.

“You’ve been reassigned,” it said. “Your flight to Honduras will leave in July.”

I couldn’t believe it. Applying to the Peace Corps is a monthslong process, and at first, the higher ups had told me I’d be leaving later in the year for a French- speaking country. The letter I was holding moved up the timeline. I could put my Spanish minor to use! Two months later, freshly trained in Washington, D.C., I arrived in front of a mud house in El Socorro, Honduras, that looked like something out of National Geographic. The whole town of 300 people turned out to see me — the white guy with conversational Spanish who was supposed to help them, somehow.

It was an awkward start to a beautiful two years.

I was the only volunteer in town, and the Peace Corps didn’t give me much guidance apart from “get to know people and find out what they need.” I pitched in with the work on the coffee farm up the mountain, played soccer and music with the locals when our work was done, and went house to house to sit with each family in turn. We spent hours just hanging in our hammocks and talking.

I’m sharing this today because it’s Volunteer Recognition Day on April 20, and I think there’s a huge value in volunteering if you can. My time in the Peace

Corps helped me appreciate what I have and gave me perspective. I’ve seen how tough things can be, and I know I’m lucky to have my suit-and-tie profession. Right now, I’m on the hunt for more ways to give back close to home. If you already volunteer with a cause or support a local charity, I’d love to check them out! Send me an email with their name and website. You can reach me at [email protected].

PROBATEF IRM.COM | 1 –Justin Stivers

Cycling Is the Perfect Activity for All Ages JUST LIKE RIDING A BIKE

You likely learned how to ride a bike as a kid — according to a 2013 survey, about 94% of American adults did. Even if it has been a while since your last ride, most people agree you never forget how, and you don’t have to be in great shape to get started. Outside of walking, biking might be the most accessible exercise for all ages and ability levels. The beauty of biking is that it can be as relaxing or challenging as you want. The average kid learns to ride at around 5 years old, so the basics aren’t complicated. Biking helps young children get outside and gives them a taste of being a "big kid." As a result, it’s excellent for their self-esteem as well as their fitness. Cycling is also perfect for adults who are new to exercise or need a low-impact activity. A short ride on a flat surface will get the heart rate up without feeling too strenuous, making it optimal for beginners. Older adults and people with knee

problems also use biking as an alternative to other forms of exercise because it’s easier on their joints.

Meanwhile, those looking for a challenge can easily find one. If you want a strenuous workout, it’s easy to ride farther, increase the resistance on your bike, or pick a steeper bike trail to explore. Biking is only a cakewalk if you choose to make it one. Since it’s perfect for all ages, cycling is the ideal outdoor activity to do with your family, allowing everyone to be involved in quality time together while promoting their health. To get started, make sure everyone has a bike they can use comfortably and a helmet that fits, plus understands bike safety. Once the basics are taken care of, you’re ready to hit the trails or explore the neighborhood. Even if you never learned how to ride, there’s no time like the present. You might feel a little silly at first, but the benefits of cycling will serve you — and your family — well for the rest of your life.

4 CAN’T-MISS LOCAL EVENTS Put This Spring Fun on Your Calendar!

Vizcaya Village Farmers Market Weekly on Sundays from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Miami Latin Food, Beer, Wine & Spirits Festival Saturday, April 23–Sunday, April 24; times vary

If you’ve never been to this weekly farmers market, you’re missing a fantastic experience! Take the whole family for a morning exploring Vizcaya’s historic farm and village and buying treats and produce from local vendors. Attending the market is free, and there are even 30-minute tours of the property at 11 a.m. each market day. Visit Vizcaya.org and click “Calendar” to learn more.

Make sure you arrive hungry and thirsty at this party at Coconut Grove! Tickets start at $29 and give you access to Latin food, beer, wine, and spirits along with live music and other entertainment like cultural exhibits. To learn more and buy tickets, visit BeerWineSpiritsFestivals.com.

Cooking With Wine Class at Taste Buds Kitchen Friday, April 29, from 6–8 p.m.

Flamenco Festival Miami XIII Sunday, April 10–Saturday, April 23; times vary

Need a break from the kids and your worries? Grab your partner or a friend and head to Taste Buds Kitchen Miami West for their 21-and-over Cooking With Wine Class. The class is BYOB (bring-your-own-bottle), and the meal you’ll make — including baked Salmon en Papillote, Bacon and Leek Risotto, and Red Wine Poached Pears with whipped cream — is entirely gluten free. Visit TasteBudsKitchen.com to grab your $60 tickets and check out the other classes on offer for adults and kids.

After two years of waiting and cancellations, Flamenco Festival Miami is back! The festival includes multiple events starring world-class dancers, musicians, and singers from April 10–23 at the Adrienne Arsht Center. Highlights include a concert by Miguel Poveda on Sunday, April 10; “Stars of Flamenco: Mercedes Ruiz, María Moreno and Eduardo Guerrero with guest singer María Terremoto" on Thursday, April 21; and a performance by Manuel Liñán and his dance company on Saturday, April 23. Snag individual tickets and packages at ArshtCenter.org.

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It’s Easier Than You Think HOW TO TRANSFER A CAR TITLE AFTER THE OWNER’S DEATH

Thank You for Your Referrals in February!

Melinda Grimaldi Grimaldi Law Firm Hollywood, Florida Justin Grosz Justice for Kids, at Kelley Kronenberg Fort Lauderdale, Florida Bernhard Schmeilzl Graf & Partners Munich, Florida Carlos Villanueva The Keyes Company Coral Gables, Florida Ailed Portell The Haggard Law Firm Coral Gables Florida

Justin Shapiro Leesfield Scolaro Miami, Florida Elizabeth Estrada Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada Miami, Florida Brian Stivers Stivers Financial Knoxville, Tennessee Ron Rodman Friedman Rodman Frank & Estrada Miami, Florida Patrick Montoya Colson Hicks Eidson Coral Gables, Florida

Smart estate planning can save you from the hassle of the probate process, but some assets — like cars — are trickier to transfer than others, even without probate in the picture. Fortunately, transferring a car title isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. If you had joint ownership of the car, then your name should already be on the car’s title. All you need to do in that case is visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and provide a copy of the title and the deceased person’s death certificate to have it transferred into your name. If you aren’t part-owner of the car but the estate simply doesn’t need to go through probate, you can go to the DMV and submit three key pieces of paperwork to transfer the title:

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The copy of the deceased person’s will A copy of the deceased person’s death certificate A copy of the HSMV Form 82040 (found at FLHSMV.gov/pdf/forms/82040.pdf)

Saliska Saati Quest Workspaces Miami, Florida

•

The HSMV Form 82040 is also known as the Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration. To complete it, you’ll need signatures from any other heirs or beneficiaries to the deceased person’s estate. This ensures you’re all on the same page and no one is trying to take the car in secret. Things get a little bit more complicated if the owner of the car died without a will or if the car is part of an estate that does need to go through probate. In those cases, you may need a specific type of copy of the will (a sworn or certified copy) and/or an affidavit stating the estate the car came from is debt-free. For a step-by-step guide to transferring a car title specifically tailored to your situation, give our team a call at 305-456-32255 or visit ProbateFirm.com to schedule a consultation. We can walk you through the ins and outs of the process and help with probate if needed.

No one is sure where April Fools’ Day originated, but some

believe it to be inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer’s story in The Canterbury Tales called “Nun’s Priest’s Tale.”

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110 Merrick Way, Ste. 2C Coral Gables, FL 33134 305-456-3255 ProbateFirm.com

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How Volunteering Made Me a Better Lawyer

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Get Outdoors With the Family Through Cycling

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4 Miami Events to Check Out This Spring

Your Probate Car Questions, Answered

Thank You for Your February Referrals!

The Ketchup Pill Craze

If you have a belly ache, one of the last things you’re likely to reach for is the ketchup bottle. But did you know that ketchup was once utilized as a cure for indigestion? In 1834, Dr. John Cook Bennett came up with a recipe for tomato ketchup that he advertised as a cure for indigestion, jaundice, diarrhea, and rheumatism, according to his research. The ketchup was even packed into pills, and his research made its way into well-respected American newspapers. Before this, many Americans were under the impression that tomatoes were poisonous and avoided them like the plague. According to the Smithsonian magazine, in the 1700s, Europeans thought tomatoes were poisonous apples. Entrepreneur Alexander Miles discovered Bennett’s research and partnered with Bennett, calling the ketchup pill “extract of tomato.” The craze over the ketchup pills grew, and many other entrepreneurs began creating their own versions of the “extract of tomato” pills. Some versions didn’t contain any tomatoes at all and, instead, were filled with laxatives. Americans began believing these ketchup pills were the key to ultimate health. Not Just a Condiment

that the pills could even cure scurvy, a disease caused by a deficiency in vitamin C, and broken bones, the claims were dispelled and the ketchup pill craze died down by 1850. Modern research today shows that tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which is linked to reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. They also are abundant sources of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. While Bennett’s research was exponentially exaggerated, we can say it wasn’t completely inaccurate. KETCHUP ONCE CURED ALL

Today, Heinz, the leader in the ketchup industry, sells 11 billion single-serve packets and over 650 million bottles annually.

So, would you like a ketchup pill with those fries?

Scientists then began to look into Bennett’s research claims, and just when wild claims surfaced

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