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Legal Briefs“ Like A Good Neighbor, State Farm Is There”Serving Helotes and surrounding areas since 2001State Farm Insurance Kellie MooreMon. - Fri. 9am - 6pm • Open Sat. 9am - 1 pm • After hours by appointmentStop by for a Free quote and receive a FREE GIFT!10744 Braun Rd. San Antonio, TX 78254 (210) 688-7707 www.kelliemoore.netChoose A Trust Instead Of A WillIn the Event Of Your IncapacityPBy Kathleen Cassidy Goodman, PLLCeople frequently select a Will over a Trust because they make the assumption that Trusts arereserved for only the wealthiest of people. This is not correct. Initially, a Trust may be more expensive to create; however, a Trust can eliminate or greatly reduce the costs associated with probating a Will at the time of your death by avoiding the need for probate. But a Trust offers many other advantages over a Will.One of the reasons many people prefer a Trust over a Will is that in the event of your incapacity, a Trust provides resources and direction that a Will and your Power of Attorney cannot provide. Essentially, with a Trust you continue to manage your property during your lifetime and designate how your property will be managed during your incapacity and upon your death. Similar to a Will, you are able to designate who will be in charge of your assets upon your death.But, the reason a Trust is preferable to a Will is in the event of your incapacity, you can set out specific instructions detailing what will happen when you no longer have mental capacity. In the event you are no longer able to articulate your desires, your Trust will dictate what will happen upon your incapacity with the rules you have outlined in your Trust.When you create your Trust, you canThe Eyes of Texansdictate the specific terms regarding your care. For example, you can direct your Trustee to allow you to remain in your home, be provided 24-hour care, allow your care- giver to take you to the movies or travel if possible. In your Trust you can direct that your utilities, cable, yard care, and groceries be paid for from your Trust. While a power of attorney may set out who makes your decisions, a Trust sets out not just who is in charge, but what that person must do to care for you in the event of your incapacity. With a Trust you don’t have to rely upon your POA’s discretion for your care, you can make your decisions in advance.Kathleen 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.comWhat’s Its Current Value?• Insurance Appraisals• Appraised While You Wait & Watch • Fair Market Appraisals• Estate Appraisals• Over 35 Years of Jewelry ExperienceSchedule An Appointment!12274 Bandera Road, Ste. 236www.sanantoniojewelryappraisers.com210-316-8758Want toTalk?Try Our Chat Line.( 2 1 0 ) 7 5 6 - 5 5 51Monday-Friday 5pm-9pm Saturday-Sunday 9am-9pmWould you like to chat with someone who’ll listen? Silver Connect is a free chat line for adults age 50 and older. Our volunteers would love toreassurance and resources.Gambling Ads Are Backed By Vegas CasinoTBy Lou Dugganelevision viewers in Texas have been seeing a surge of ads promoting the legalization ofcommercial casinos. These ads are part of a campaign by the Texas Destination Resort Alliance (TDRA), a political action committee backed by Las Vegas Sands (LVS). The ads call for a constitutional amendment to allow Texans to vote on whether they want to develop destination resorts in major Texasremains challenging. Key political figures, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have expressed skepticism about the support for such legislation among lawmakers.Texas has been debating the legalization of sports gambling for several years, and discussions have intensified recently. Governor Greg Abbott has expressed support for legalizing online sports betting, acknowledging that many Texans are already participating in it through offshore sites.Despite this support, Texas has yet to legalize sports gambling. The Texas Constitution prohibits the expansion of gambling, requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the legislature and apublic vote to amend the constitution. In 2023, a bill to legalize sports betting passed the House but was not taken up by the Senate.Efforts to expand gambling, including casino gambling, have also faced significant legislative hurdles. Recent proposals to legalize casino resorts and sports betting have made some progress but have not yet been approved.The debate continues, with various stakeholders, including major sports franchises and gaming companies, pushing for legalization. However, the legislative process remains challenging, and it is uncertain when or if these changes will be implemented.cities.The goal of these ads is to build publicsupport and soften the political ground for expanded gaming in Texas. The TDRA argues that Texas is losing significant revenue to neighboring states where gambling is legal, and that allowing casinos could generate funds for public services, create jobs, and boost tourism.Despite the push, the political climateMarch 2025www.heloteshighlights.com11RegisteredGemologist Appraiser