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Legal BriefsI Know I Need A Will, But I Don’t Know Where To BeginIBy Kathleen Cassidy Goodman, PLLCn these uncertain times, many of usare suddenly faced with the realityof our own mortality. Putting off preparing your Will is something most people do for years and even decades. But with the Corona Virus situation, more and more people are coming to the realization that putting off the preparation of their Will has gone on far too long.Even though you may have decided that it is time to stop the procrastination, a new excuse frequently emerges, namely, “I don’t know what the attorney will need to prepare my Will.” Most people believe they need to gather all of their important papers, deeds, account balances, and itemize all of their valuables prior to meeting with the attorney. This is not necessary.For the initial consultation, the only thing the attorney will need is your presence. At the initial meeting you and the attorney will discuss your family structure, your assets in general terms, and to whom you want to leave your assets. It is relatively painless and generally takes about 30 minutes to outline what needs to be done for your personal situation.Based on your conversation with the attorney, most Wills can be prepared without any other documentation being presented to the attorney. Occasionally, if you have numerous pieces of jewelry, art, or collections that you want distributed to different individuals, then you may have some “homework” before your Will can be prepared.If your only specific distributions involve sentimental gifts, such as Grandma’s pink quilt or pictures of long-deceasedHOA’s- continued from page 10complaints about another homeowner; thereby pitting neighbor against neighbor. 6. According to real estate firm Orchard. com “seventeen percent of HOA residents say restrictions on exterior home improvements are the worst aspect of living in a community association.”7. Some HOAs do not vet their vendors well and poor-quality maintenance is the result. Quality vendor selection is important to the appearance and operation of an HOA.8. HOA boards are made up of volunteer residents. They are human; without proper leadership and guidance they can make mistakes, misspend money, and abuse power. Again, according to Orchard.com, “the number one reason HOAs face lawsuits is a failure to maintain the basic upkeep of the community for reasons of corruption or incompetence.”It is interesting to note that a 2022 survey conducted by Zogby Analytics for the Foundation for Community Association Research reports“89% of residents rate their overall community association experienceCompare our CD Rates Bank-issued, FDIC-insured6-month> edwardjones.com |Member SIPC 1-year3-month4.75 %APY* 4.45 %4.75 % Call or visit your local financial advisor today.Aldo A MartinezFinancial Advisor14893 Bandera Road Ste 2 Helotes, TX 78023210-695-4433APY*APY*Ask About Our DropsWe sellWe sellautomaticautomaticgarage doorgarage dooropeners!openers!March 2023www.heloteshighlights.com11family members, then we provide a blank form for you to take home with you to fill in these gifts. In this Memorandum of Personal Belongings, you can handwrite the sentimental gifts and the name of the individual you want to receive each gift.In our office and in most attorney’s offices, the initial consultation is now taking place via Zoom or by telephone. However, it is necessary to come into the office to actually sign your Will.What We Treat• Hay Fever, Nasal & Eye Allergy• Asthma• Sinusitis• Eczema & Hives• Food & Drug Allergy • Pet Allergies• Immune Disorders• Stinging Insects• Contact DermatitisKathleen Cassidy Goodman is an attorney in areas of estate planning, probate, civil litigation, and business law. She can be reached at her office in Helotes at (210) 949-1000 or for more information, visit www.bexarlaw.comWe Can Help!as very good or good (67%) or neutral (22%).” Certainly impressive.However, this data also reflects a flip side. Of all participating respondents to the survey 22% chose“neutral”and 11% chose a lessor answer. Thus, 33% (1 in 3 respondents) chose to rate their HOA experience neither “good” nor “very good.” So, if the Zogby data accurately describes the HOA experience and if such data is translated to the HOA- USA estimate of 40 million US households, this non-“good” rating experience of 33% is shared by more than 13 million households nationwide.Next month: HOAs---The UglyLocally Owned & Operated Mon.- Fri. 7am-7pm Sat.- 9am - 5pmSales & Service All Makes & Models(210) 942-8272urbangaragedoorco.com$39.99 GARAGE DOOR LUBE & TUNE Help garage doors run smooth! URBAN GARAGE DOOR CO.No cash value. Expires 3/31/23$32 OFF REPAIRS(Excludes electronics)URBAN GARAGE DOOR CO.No cash value. Expires 3/31/23$100 OFF ANY NEW GARAGE DOOR URBAN GARAGE DOOR CO.* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 02/06/2023. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawalmay not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC). FDI-1867L-A © 2022 EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. AECSPADTired of suffering from Allergies?11840 Alamo Ranch Pkwy, Suite 80 San Antonio, TX 78253Veteran Owned BuisnessGot Garage Door Problems?We Can Help!John Freiler, MD210-764-6567 Premierallergytx.comNo cash value. Expires 3/31/23