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Legal BriefsExperienced Probate Nightmare?Avoid Probate With A Trust.MBy Kathleen Cassidy Goodman, PLLCany people have a horror story regarding their family’s probate experience and an outrageouscost to probate the deceased family member’sWill. InTexas,probateisrelatively simple as long as the Will is prepared by a knowledgeableTexasattorney. Ifyouhave an out-of-state Will or a “homemade” Will, then your family may face some probate problems.However, those who have faced probate problems usually seek to avoid the time and expense of probate. One method to avoid probate pitfalls, is a Trust. In my experience, one a family member has a Trust, the subsequent generations always resort to a Trust too. If setup correctly and operated as directed, a Trust may greatly simplify the financial details following the death of a loved one.Additionally, a Trust is the method some parents, or a spouse, use to protect their loved ones from being taken advantage of or to protect their beneficiaries from themselves. While a Will is used to transfer your assets to individuals upon your death, a Trust can contain provisions that limit the amount of money a beneficiary is to receive. You can even set out the method to disburse your gift to them over time.You may have concerns about a beneficiary’s ability to manage his or her affairs, or you may have a vulnerable child. With a Trust you can limit a beneficiary’s ability to access all of their inheritance all atInventors - continued from page 10patent system can be seen today in thefact that each new patent application must meet three criteria before being issued a patent. A patent must be: New, not obvious, and useful. While Jefferson was the most prolific of any presidential inventor, he wasn’t the only President to have some success at inventing.In two separate boating incidents, one as a teenager on the Mississippi River and one on the Great Lakes, President Lincoln got his boats stuck in shallow waters, known as “shoals.” These two experiences inspired Lincoln to invent a solution to help him navigate his boat through shallow waters.A wooden model of this invention, which Lincoln made himself, is in the Smithsonian Institution. The invention was never sold to the public, though.In 1858, Lincoln called the introduction of patent laws one of the three most important developments “in the world’s history,”along with the discovery of America and the perfection of printing.During the Civil War, he took a personal interest in the development of new types of weapons: iron ships, the observation balloon, the breech-loading rifle and theHappy4th Of July Tax & Financial• Tax Services• Bookkeeping & Payroll • Consulting ServicesServices22211 W IH-10, Suite1206 San Antonio, TX 78257(210) 650-2944www.oldoaktax.com“Because you have more important things to do!”$30 OFF A Dream Clean$20 OFF Your First Checklist CleanBoth cannot be combinedwith other offers & Exp.7/31/2023Professional, Friendly, Fully Bonded & Insured 210-372-9970 www.maidaffordable.com“ 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.netone time. You can distribute a small amount of a beneficiary’s inheritance at regular intervals, to prevent them from making bad choices or being taken advantage of by others.Another valuable benefit of a Trust is that a Trust is not normally filed with the Courts and the details, and the amount of your estate may be kept private. Yes, a Trust is more expensive initially, but if properly prepared and operated during your life, your beneficiaries will be able to avoid probate and the associated fees.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.commachine gun.President Washington was also asuccessful inventor, and in 1772 he received a trademark for his brand of flour.Since there haven’t been very many Presidents who were considered inventors, I guess you could fish for additional Presidential inventions by insisting that President Nixon invented impeachment, and that President Clinton holds the current patent on it.While Thomas Jefferson invented the most new products of all the Presidents, only one U.S. President has ever received a patent, and it wasn’t Jefferson. Do you know which President received a patent?A. George WashingtonB. Abraham LincolnC. Teddy RooseveltD. Harry TrumanANSWER: President Lincoln was issued Patent # 6,469 for “A Device for Buoying Vessels Over Shoals” on May 22, 1849, while still a Congressman in Illinois. If you guessed George Washington, you were close; he is the only President to receive a trademark, which he received in 1772 for his brand of flour.How To Express Your Appreciation To Military PersonnelBe it small and subtle gestures or more grandiose efforts, there are many things people can do to show their appreciation for military personnel.• Display the flag. Displaying your nation’s flag outside your home is a great way to express your patriotism and support for the people who defend that nation each and every day. Both the United States and Canada have established protocols for displaying their national flags. Adhere to these rules to indicate you respect what the flag symbolizes and appreciate the sacrifices the people who defend it make to ensure you have a safe place to display it.• Start an oral history of local veterans’ experiences. An oral history project is a great way to show veterans their sacrifices have not been forgotten and an even better way to ensure they never will be. Work with local government officials or military support organizations to begin an oral history project. Request assistance from officials at local universities or libraries for everything from funding the project to ensuring it is accessible to a wide audience. There’s no limit to the scope of an oral history project. Organizers can begin by asking veterans to share their experiences in the military, what compelled them to volunteer and why it’s important that future generations follow their example.As the project progresses, the scope can be expanded (or narrowed) but organizers should ensure local veterans remain the focal point.• Help injured veterans. Many military service personnel who serve overseas return from active duty with injuries. Individuals who want to express their appreciation for military personnel can offer to help injured veterans. Whether it’s mowing an injured veteran’s lawn in the summertime or running errands for them when their injury causes fatigue, no gesture is too small or too big when it’s motivated by a desire to help someone who was hurt defending your country.• Remember veterans when voting. Issues that affect veterans’ lives are often decided at the polls. Individuals who want to express their appreciation for military personnel can speak with local veterans about the issues that affect their everyday lives and what they can do come Election Day to ensure those issues are being addressed.The efforts of military personnel are worthy of appreciation. Individuals can do many things to express that appreciation and remind active and veteran service members that their sacrifices have not been forgotten.July 2023www.heloteshighlights.com11