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Legal BriefsFamily Trusts Are Not Just For The WealthyEBy Kathleen Cassidy Goodman, PLLCveryone has heard someone referred to as a “trust baby,” and the assumption is that he or she isthe child of a wealthy parent. But that is not always the situation. A Trust may be used by just ordinary people with a house and small savings. Contrary to the wide spread belief, a Trust is a 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 at one 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.Assets held in Trust are usually protected from creditors of the beneficiaries. For example, if you pass away and give your assets to your children in your Will, upon your death they may never see the money. If they are deep in debt, their creditors mayWhat’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.com210-316-8758take their inheritance – the money you worked so hard to obtain.Another valuable benefit of a Trust is that a Trust can be used if you become incapacitated. Even though you are incapacitated, your Trust can continue to manage your private assets without the need for any court involvement. 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.comHelotes Creek - continued from page 4of the nonprofit Scenic Loop-Helotes Creek Alliance neighborhood group. “The Helotes Creek watershed recharges up to 15% of the Edwards Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for 1.7 million peopleacross13counties.”The conservative Washington Times recently ran a commentary from an alliance member. Yahoo News, with national and international reach, also is monitoring the developing story, along with Nextdoor, a neighborhood forum featuring the voices of area homeowners. Instagram posts on the issue have earned more than 500,000 views. Helotes Highlights has run a few related stories, including mention in Helotes Mayor Ron Whitehead’s monthly column.The Scenic Loop-Helotes Creek Alliance’s web site, scenicloop.org, has links to primary coverage in print, radio and television, including its Million Gallon March fundraiser attended by then San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg in February. Later this month, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is expected to weigh in on the permit application that would let the project progress or not. Here is a sampling of media covering since July 1 for Highlights online readers:7/31 — KSAT: https://www.ksat.com/ news/local/2025/07/31/351-million-in- san-antonio-taxpayer-money-wasted-if- proposed-wastewater-treatment-plant- approved-neighbor-says/7/30 – Texas Public Radio: https://www. tpr.org/public-health/2025-07-30/ bexar-county-will-soon-consider-public-improvement-district-for-guajolote- ranch-subdivision7/29 – Texas Public Radio: https://www.tpr. org/podcast/the-source/2025-07-29/the- controversy-over-the-guajolote-ranch- development-wastewater-treament- facility7/26 – Espanol (Spain): https://espanol. news/la-planta-de-tratamiento-de- aguas-residuales-propuesta-podria- hacer-que-el-agua-de-san-antonio-no- sea-retrescirable-dice-el-cientifico/7/26 – Germanic (Germany): https:// germanic.news/die-vorgeschlagene- abwasserbehandlungsanlage-konnte- san-antonios-wasser-undtrinkbar- machen-sagt-wissenschaftler/#google_ vignette7/26 – Les Actualites (France): https://lesactualites.news/sante/ lusine-de-traitement-des-eaux- usees-proposes-pourrait-faire- defaut-deau-de-san-antonio-explique-le- scientifique/#google_vignette7/25 – KSAT: https://www.ksat.com/news/ local/2025/07/26/proposed-wastewater- treatment-plant-could-make-san- antonios-water-undrinkable-scientist- says/7/23 –KSAT: https://www.ksat.com/news/ local/2025/07/23/10-bexar-county-state- house-reps-sign-letter-urging-tceq-to- reject-guajolote-ranch-permit/7/1—Yahoo!News: https://www.yahoo. com/news/ranch-owners-spark-outrage- construction-110033683.htmlNutritious School Lunch Ideas For Kidso two children are the same, but many youngsters share a number of similarities. Few young childrenenjoy going to bed on time, and many can’t resist a good trampoline. Kids also have a reputation for being picky eaters, which can be challenging for parents tasked with picking and preparing school lunches.When dining at home, parents know which foods their kids eat and which they push around their plates in the hopes they won’t have to consume them. School lunch is a different scenario altogether, as parents are not around to ensure their youngsters eat a full and nutritious meal. Kids who are picky eaters may not eat any lunch at all. Parents who want to ensure their children get the nutrition they need to do well in school can consider the following school lunch ideas.• Make-your-own sandwich: Kids may be more likely to eat a full lunch if they get to put it together themselves. Parents can put all the elements of a tasty sandwich into youngsters’ lunch boxes, but let kids assemble the meal themselves. Sandwiches are not necessarily the healthiest midday meal, but they are much more nutritious when parents pack whole grain bread,tomatoes, lettuce, and low-sodium deli meat in students’ lunch boxes. If a do-it- yourself sandwich is a nonstarter, consider a DIY taco lunch complete with whole grain tortillas.• Burrito bowl: A burrito bowl with kid- friendly yet nutritious ingredients is another great school lunch option. Red beans are a good source of fiber and the Harvard Medical School notes all beans are rich in potassium. Fiber is filling, so a burrito bowl that includes fiber-rich ingredients, including red beans but also quinoa or brown rice, can help students avoid late- day hunger pangs that can compromisehow they feel and perform in the classroom. Burrito bowls are so tasty that kids may not even realize Mom and Dad have snuck some healthy foods like vegetables into their midday meal.• Parfait: Parfait has all the looks of a tasty dessert without the pitfalls of ice cream and other treats. The nutritional value of parfait depends on the ingredients Mom and Dad choose to include. Protein-rich Greek yogurt paired with some fruit and granola makes for a filling and tasty meal that’s also loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber. An insulated and airtight lunch box packedwith ice packs can ensure the parfait is still cool come lunchtime.• Pasta salad: Kids tend to be especially fond of pasta, and parents can use that affinity to their advantage when planning school lunches. A whole-wheat pasta salad with some cherry tomatoes and diced broccoli makes for a nutrient-rich lunch that kids can enjoy. If broccoli figures to raise youngsters’ ire, consider a nutritious substitute, such as shaved cucumber or zucchini.School lunches can be nutritious and still make kids excited to eat their midday meal away from home.September 2025www.heloteshighlights.com11RegisteredGemologist Appraiser