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Legal BriefsYou Don’t NeedIrish LuckTo Live Here!Call Tinafor more information and a personal tour.(210) 404-144418323 Sonterra Place San Antonio, Texas 78258Independent & Assisted LivingLearn more about us at...franklinpark.org#104458Choose 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 canOn The Lighter Sidedictate 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.comSpring Is Here!Get your yard ready with our top-notch irrigation and landscape services.BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION$200 OFF Any Project!Valued at $2,000 or More (Exclusions Apply).Call Today!(210) 791-6788 admin@benitezirrigation.comwww.benitezirrigation.comWeather ‘Pastcasting’ is a Sure ThingBy Lou DugganLast year I bought a rain gauge. This water measurement device has given me a new career opportunity--- that of weather “pastcaster”. You see, contrary to a “forecaster,” a “pastcaster” provides weather information with 100 percent accuracy. He can tell you how much it rained last week, whether it was cloudy or sunny, and what the temperature was. Isn’t that great!I’m so excited! I’ll be able to tell each of you what the weather actually did as opposed to guessing what it will do. For example: Did you know we received three- eighths of an inch of rain on December 14th, got another three-quarter inch on January 9th, and another three-quarter inch on January 30th. Did you know that it was cloudy with a high of 46 degrees on February 1st and, three days later, sunny and 80 degrees on February 4th? Oh, yes, this pastcasting is accurate, powerful stuff!There’s got to be a market for this kind of weather pastcasting. It’s never wrong about the weather, contrary to our local weather “forecasters.” Of course, I’ll expecta salary comparable to those “forecasters”, something in the six-digit range, when the TV big boys start calling. Maybe I’ll change my name and create a slogan. Something strong, like Wolfe Blizzard. And, for the slogan, how about: “The way we were.” . . . . ka-ching, ka-ching. I can hear the big bucks rolling in now. Oh, the potential for this past stuff is a history making kind of thing.March 2025www.stoneoakhighlights.com 15