Scott Counsel PC - April 2020

Scott Counsel PC - April 2020

www.scottcounsel.com 856-281-3131

APRIL 2020

Why You Should Create or Update Your Estate Plan NOW And What Sets Scott Counsel, PC, Apart

Since the beginning of 2020, COVID-19, more commonly known as the coronavirus, has rapidly spread throughout the world. While it’s always important to have an estate plan in order, now more than ever is the time to either update or create your estate plan — especially if you’re over 60 years old. Seniors are at a heightened risk of contracting the coronavirus, so if you’re in this demographic, then it makes sense to be prepared for whatever happens. The last thing we want to do is scare anyone, but we do want the vulnerable members of our community to have their affairs in order. Creating or updating your estate plan can seem like a monster of a task, especially in this season of uncertainty, but don’t worry. Below is a breakdown of some of the key areas you should focus on when you review your plan with an experienced legal team. YOURWILL AND TRUST At bare minimum, you need to have a last will and testament in place should the unthinkable happen. Attorneys can use this document to pass on most of your assets to designated beneficiaries. It can also designate guardians for any minor children, as well as an executor to carry out the will’s terms. If your estate plan is a little more complicated than simply naming beneficiaries for your assets, then look into setting up a revocable trust. This will allow you to put your assets in a separate entity, where you

can put conditions and restrictions on who gets what assets and how they would receive them.

BANK AND INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS As with your assets, you should designate beneficiaries for IRAs, 401(k) plans, life insurance policies, and standard savings accounts. Many people forget to do this, and since a revocable trust may not cover them, it can create undue stress for any family members left trying to figure out what to do with those accounts. If you have not assigned beneficiaries for these accounts, then contact your financial provider. They will have the necessary forms ready to go. POWER OF ATTORNEY This part of the estate planning process might be the most important in light of the ongoing pandemic. Power of attorney forms designate trusted family, friends, or business associates as decision-makers should you become ill or incapacitated. For example, a financial power of attorney will allow someone to manage your finances on your behalf. This person can withdraw money from your accounts, pay your bills, and make court appearances for you. A health care durable power of attorney will allow someone to make health care decisions for you if you become sick and are unable to make those decisions for yourself.

question: Why should you choose Scott Counsel? Well, that’s an easy question to answer, and it very much involves what I do at our office. I am a social worker, and I work as a part of a care coordination team that includes a dementia practitioner, a neurologist, and other certified social workers. Our team’s job is to use our expertise to determine exactly what our clients’needs are and howwe can use our resources to best help them. Let me assure you: Most estate planning firms do not have a teamof experts like ours. Because of our team, we’re able to offer a level of care for our clients that can’t be beat. Aside fromour in-house expertise, we also have strong connections with care providers throughout the state. This makes it easy tomaintain relationships with our clients and update themon their situation wherever they are. I will always make myself available for my clients. You can count on me to address any needs you have.

-Christa Ciocco-Fries

Just about any estate planning attorney could help you update your estate plan, which begs this

Christa’s Corner

As a social worker for elders, I have met some really amazing people and uncovered unbelievable histories during my psychosocial assessments. At this developmental stage in an older adult’s life, they often seek meaning and purpose. They also ponder about what to leave in a will to their children or relatives. Older adults often feel like they need to leave money or property to the next generation, but I feel like a great gift to be left behind is a legacy. Having your matters in order is important, but have you ever considered a “legacy will,” where you entrust your inner wealth, your important values, worldview, life lessons, and experiences? My aunt Loretta Duckworth wrote a book about our

families’ generations of immigrants before her death that was not shared with the family until months after her passing. There were so many lessons learned and traditions adopted from those readings. She left us a legacy will. There is no amount of money or property that could measure up to those stories and connections. If you are reading this as an adult child, encourage your elder parent to leave this type of imprint. It could be a simple as a recipe, a story never told, writing, taping, illustration, or photo scrapbook about personal reflections on life experiences. If you are the elder reading this, please believe that your legacy is very powerful and a compass for generations to come.

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SOMETHING IN THE WATER WHY ROB BILOTT TOOK ON DUPONT

Rob Bilott never should have agreed to represent Wilbur Tennant’s case.

property provided water for all the cattle and wildlife in the area. Since the sale, the stream had become frothy and discolored, and the animals that drank from it were sick, malformed, or dead, including 153 of Tennant’s 200 cows. When Bilott stumbled upon a letter from DuPont to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the real horror story began to emerge — one that went far beyond the boundaries of Tennant’s farm and into the drinking water of every American. The letter mentioned a mysterious chemical called PFOA, and Bilott requested documentation from DuPont to find out more about it. However, the company refused, so Bilott requested a court order. Soon, dozens of disorganized boxes filled with thousands of 50-year-old files arrived at Bilott’s firm.

The cattle farmer had presented evidence of the strange malady plaguing his cattle to lawyers, politicians, and veterinarians in Parkersburg, West Virginia, but no one took Tennant’s case seriously.

in the mess of documents, but soon, his time as an environmental lawyer helped him see the bigger picture. It became clear that DuPont had orchestrated a massive cover-up regarding their use of PFOA. PFOA is used in the manufacturing of Teflon, and the company had knowingly exposed workers and the Parkersburg water supply to it. Bilott filed a class-action suit as a medical monitoring claim on behalf of the people of Parkersburg, and, as of 2011, a probable link between PFOA and six health conditions, including two types of cancer, has been found.

But when Bilott saw the evidence for himself, it was clear that something was wrong.

The videos and photographs Tennant had collected showed cattle with patchy fur, growths and lesions, white slime coming from their mouths, and staggering gaits. Tennant told Bilott that the abnormal behavior and physical deformities had started after his brother Jim sold his property to DuPont, a chemical company with a big presence in Parkersburg. Jim’s property bordered on Wilbur’s, and a stream running from Jim’s

He was worried he wouldn’t be able to find anything incriminating or even conclusive Because of the medical monitoring claim, plaintiffs can file personal injury lawsuits against DuPont. So far, 3,535 people have. If it weren’t for Bilott and Tennant, the public might have never known the dangers of PFOA. DOYOUR PART TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL And Maintain Green Living Spaces for Everyone

Have you ever walked through a park and seen a plastic bottle or wrapper lying on the ground? If so, did you pick it up and properly dispose of it? You might not have realized it, but in that moment, you took a small step toward keeping your community — and, by extension, America — beautiful! April is Keep America Beautiful Month, and folks who celebrate aim to help each community in every state stay clean and green. Created by the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful, this holiday offers a perfect opportunity to roll up your sleeves and work

to better the place you live in. Here are three ways to show your appreciation for a green America this month.

the perfect activity for you! Plogging combines jogging and picking up litter, which takes care of your health and keeps your community clean. Anybody can do it: Just throw on your running shoes, grab a bag, head out the door, and pick up any stray bits of trash you see on your morning jog or evening walk.

TAKE ACTION ONLINE.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world, it might be difficult to get outside and participate in a few community cleanup programs. But that doesn’t mean the public still can’t participate in Keep America Beautiful Month. April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and to celebrate, Earth Day Network is providing digital events for everyone around the world to take part in. Follow Earth Day Network’s social media accounts and stay updated on efforts to keep the Earth green or participate in an event yourself! For more information, visit EarthDay.org.

IMPROVE RECYCLING THROUGH EDUCATION.

An important goal during Keep America Beautiful Month is to spread awareness about recycling. There are various ways to educate those around you about recycling and encourage them to do their part. At work, for example, you can volunteer to lead a recycling initiative by printing off guides and fostering discussions onwhy recycling is so essential. At home, you canmake a commitment with your family to fulfill the three R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse, recycle.

START PLOGGING.

To discover more ways to participate in Keep America Beautiful Month, visit KAB.org today!

If you’re passionate about staying active and cleaning up your neighborhood, then this is

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TAKE A BREAK

Few things change faster than the internet, and how we connect with the internet is constantly evolving. When it comes to wireless capabilities, fourth-generation (4G) networks have been the norm for 10 years. But 4G couldn’t meet demands forever, and there’s already talk of a fifth-generation (5G) network taking center stage. So, what makes 5G different from 4G, and how will it affect consumers and their internet-enabled devices? SO, WHAT IS 5G? A New Horizon in Wireless Technology

WHAT ARE THE BASICS?

Simply put, 5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology that enables mobile devices like cellphones and stationary devices like desktop computers to send and receive >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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