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Legal BriefsDo You Think You Are Too Young for a Will?Providing TaxSolutions & PreparationFOR PERSONAL & BUSINESS• Bookkeeping • Tax Planning• Individual Tax Preparation• Business Tax Preparation • Accounting • Non-Profit Tax Preparation Hablamos EspañolBook A Consultation (210) 786-3782Email: awilliams@summittaxassociates.comsummittaxassociates.comLIVE / Face Time/ VideoComedianMJ TRUMP• Birthdays• Retirement Parties • Holiday Events• Singing Telegramsand More!YouTube.com/@MJTrump45 GigSalad.com/mjtrump Cameo.com/mj_trump @mj_ trumpBOOK TODAY! (210) 854-3334Your Pet Deserves The Very BestWe Offer:•Daycare •Overnight Boarding•Grooming•Cattery •Beach Club •Dock Diving •Pet Bakery •Award Winning TrainingCome Join The LoveNew Classes THIS MONTH! Join us on FB for pop-up specials & classesk9countryclub.net830-980-8476 31305 Oakview Rd.,Bulverde, TX 78163your local geico agent makes bundling simple.Home + Auto = easyLOCAL OFFICERod Musslewhite210-673-2391¡Hablamos Español!Limitations apply. See geico.com for more details. GEICO & affiliates. Washington, DC 20076. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2022. © 2022 GEICO. 21_633312129IBy Kathleen Cassidy Goodman, PLLCf you have purchased a home – even if you are still making payments, then it’s time for a Will regardless of yourage. If you have children, then you are not too young for a Will. If you have received an inheritance or accumulated assets, even if your hair isn’t gray – then you need a Will. If you are married and your spouse has children from a previous marriage, then don’t wait! You need a Will IMMEDIATELY!People frequently tell me, “I only own my home so I don’t need a Will.” But, in the case where one spouse passes away, and he or she had children from a previous marriage, this assumption can have a devastating impact on the surviving spouse. Married couples may mistakenly assume that if their only asset is their home, and if they pass away, the title to the home will “automatically” be in their spouse’s name. It’s not that easy.If the deceased spouse didn’t have a Will, then before the surviving spouse can sell or refinance the home, the surviving spousewill need to provide sworn, documentary evidence regarding the deceased spouse’s heirs. This can be accomplished with an Affidavit of Heirship. However, with an Affidavit of Heirship, you will need two disinterested witnesses, not relatives, who knew your deceased spouse for a lengthy time. The witnesses will need to swear under the penalty of perjury about the deceased spouse’s family history. It is usually difficult to find two witnesses who know the family history, and who are willing to swear about it.If the deceased spouse didn’t have children from a prior marriage, then the deceased spouse’s interest will belong entirely to the surviving spouse. But if there are stepchildren, then the surviving spouse will own his or her half of the home, and the stepchildren will own the other half of the home. The surviving spouse will have the right to reside in the home, but when the home is sold, then half of the proceeds will belong to the stepchildren! This can beavoided by having a professionally prepared Will.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.comVBy Staff How To Make Your Valentine’s Day Roses Last Longerand recipients may want to do their bests to alentine’s Day spending shows ensure the flowers last as long as possible.little sign of waning. Floral • Unwrap the bouquet from any plastic as arrangements are among the soon as possible to let the flowers breathe.most popular purchases on this special day. According to Rio Roses, customers spent $2.3 billion on flowers for Valentine’s Day in 2022. Valentine’s Day tends to be the busiest day for florists as plenty of people want to surprise sweethearts with bouquets and other floral arrangements. Red roses account for 70 percent of all Valentine’s Day flower purchases.Early in 2023, Finance Buzz researched the average cost of a dozen roses in each state so shoppers could expect what they would pay to gift their loved ones, and the average price for a dozen roses in the United States was $80.16 at that time. Pennsylvania had the most affordable roses and Hawaii the most expensive. Roses can be costly,Also, recut the stems with sharp scissors at a 45-degree angle.• Remove any leaves from the stems that would end up sitting in the water when the roses are placed in a vase.• Wash the vessel to rid it of dirt, dust and any grime to give the roses the best start possible.• Use lukewarm water to fill the vase. Water that is too hot or too cold may shock the blooms and shorten their life span. Fill the vase to three-quarters full.• Use the flower food that comes with the roses. It is a good mix of nutrients to help prolong the life of the roses. A teaspoon of sugar dissolved in water also can be used in a pinch if the roses didn’t come with flower Library - continued from page 13that can range from tax preparation tips to passport application assistance to craft projects for youngsters.• Utilize the research capabilities of local libraries. Card members have access to a wealth of resources at their local libraries, and that includes research databases like JSTOR that might require paid subscriptions if users try to access them on their own. These databases can help individuals grow their knowledge about the world they live in and prove invaluable to students young and old who are conducting research for school projects.• Open doors to new career opportunities.Many libraries offer career counseling services free of charge. These can befood.• Change the water every few days, especially if it is cloudy. This is a good time to re-snip the stems and add more flower food to the lukewarm water.• Keep any cut flowers away from direct sunlight, drafts and radiators or heating vents.With proper care, cut roses may be able to last seven to 10 days , says Southern Living magazine.particularly useful to prospective small business owners, recent graduates looking to get a foot in the door in their chosen field, and even mid- and late-career professionals who want a change but aren’t sure where to begin.• Grow your social network. Not all social networks are grown online. Community- based events and programs sponsored by and hosted at local libraries can be great places to meet neighbors with similar interests.Local libraries are more than just places to borrow a book. Residents can utilize an array of services to make the most of their local libraries.14www.stoneoakhighlights.comFebruary 2025