Nancy Roberson's Article "Facing the Fall of Life" is Published!
The latest edition of Living With Loss magazine features Nancy Roberson's new article in the column titled, "You Don't Know What You Don't Know."
The title for Nancy's first article was "How To Choose The Right Lawyer To Handle Your Loved One's Estate." In that article, Nancy listed the steps to take to choose the right attorney to handle an estate. Read the article here.
Nancy's current article "Facing the Fall of Life" addresses some basic legal and practical issues involved with preparing for death. Read Nancy's latest article here.
To subscribe to Living With Loss magazine, go to www.livingwithloss.com . Nancy Roberson's column will appear in the magazine twice a year. |
Congratulations to our Gift Card Winners!
Amy Cary of Roberson Law with Pine Club gift card winner Amy VanDenabeele of Sinclair Community College at the WiBN Professional Development Conference. Thanks to Walling Photography for the photo.
Over the past year, we have given away over $600.00 in gift cards to restaurants such as Bravo, Red Lobster, Mama Disalvos, China Cottage, Bob Evans, and the Pine Club, to name a few.
Some of the gift cards were given away to people who either registered for the drawings we often have at various speaking events or at conferences at which we have had a drawing for people who visit our exhibit table.
We have also given away gift cards to people who responded to the promotion we offered in our spring newsletter.
So you ask, "How can I get one of these gift cards?" We will be offering this special again in the spring, so be on the lookout for the email about that promotion. If you want to take advantage of this offer now, then you may do so by just calling the office and scheduling an appointment for any time in April and May. The appointment must be for the purposes of obtaining a comprehensive estate plan package that includes a will or a trust. Current clients who schedule an appointment to get their estate planning documents reviewed and updated also qualify. In order to qualify for this promotion, you must mention this offer when scheduling your appointment. Estate plan must be completed/updated and paid for in order to receive gift card. |
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Employee of the Quarter
Judy Williams, our secretary/
administrative assistant, is Employee of the Quarter! Judy has been with Roberson Law for four and one-half years. If you have visited or called our office in the past four years, then you have definitely spoken to Judy.
Judy is hands down the busiest lady in the office, because she works at the front desk playing switchboard operator for all of the telephone lines in addition to performing all of her other duties.
Judy and her husband, Ron, have two children, four grandchildren, and two dogs that might as well be their children. In Judy's free time, she likes to read, cross stitch, and spend time with her family.
Thank you, Judy, for all of your hard work and dedication! | |
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News You Can Use
In This Issue:
- Nancy Roberson's Article "Facing the Fall of Life" is Published!
- The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Wills.
- Congratulations to our Gift Card Winners!
- Nancy Roberson's Upcoming Speaking Engagements.
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The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Wills.
Preparing a do-it-yourself (DIY) will is like "pulling your own tooth with a pair of pliers instead of going to the dentist," according to Timothy E. Kalamaros, an attorney from South Bend, Indiana, recently quoted in a Forbes article by Deborah L. Jacobs titled "The Case Against Do-It-Yourself Wills."
According to Jacobs, proponents of DIY wills argue that they are better than not having a will at all; however, this is only partially true. Without any will at all, if you are a single or surviving parent, the court will appoint a guardian for your minor children, and state law will determine how most of your belongings will be distributed. Whatever is left after taxes will be distributed according to state intestacy laws, which vary from state to state. However, what DIY will advocates usually don't mention is that intestacy laws still apply if a DIY will is prepared incorrectly, which is more often the case than not.
There are three important arguments in favor of seeing a lawyer for a will rather than turning to a DIY company, according to Jill L. Miller, of Jill Miller & Associates, P.C. in New York, and a recent panelist in the American Bar Association's seminar called "Do It Yourself Estate Planning: Why It Costs More Than It Saves."
1. You get what you pay for. DIY wills leave room for error, and there is something to be said for sitting down and talking to a lawyer who can examine issues specific to your individual case, rather than having a standard will that could work for anyone.
2. You pay now or you pay later. If the DIY will is prepared incorrectly, the cost of correcting the problem later on will usually wind up costing far more than seeing a lawyer in the first place.
3. One size does not fit all because every family is different and has its own issues. Seeing a lawyer can help eliminate family conflict by encouraging careful thought regarding issues such as unequal distributions of the estate among children, only naming one child as executor, and whether or not named parties will get along. Careful estate planning can help avoid putting a rift into a family down the road.
So before you turn to the Internet or office supply store for help with your estate planning needs, ask yourself: Is it worth the risk?
Written by Kim N. Cullman, Law Clerk for Roberson Law |
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Nancy Roberson's Upcoming Speaking Engagements:
Fall has been a busy season for Nancy. Thank you to WiBN, the Alzheimer's Association, Patterson Park Church, and the SouthBrook Church MOMS group for the opportunity to present to your organizations.
Friday, December 10, 2010, Nancy will be the speaker for the Montgomery County Probate Court Annual Employee Appreciation event.
Saturday, January 22, 2011, Nancy will give her "Are You Prepared?" presentation to a support group at the Mercy Siena Woods facility.
Call or email Amy Cary at acary@dayton-attorney.com to book your event. As always, we never charge a fee for our professional speaking services.
You may also go to our new speaking engagements page on our website for more information. |
Our mission is to provide excellent, compassionate legal services to help people plan for the unexpected and prepare for the inevitable. |
to view our informative, interactive website and our video on YouTube.
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| All material in this newsletter is Copyright © 2010 by Nancy A. Roberson. All rights reserved. |
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