New Kid on the Block

Hi there.  I'm Jeff and I am the owner and founder of this law firm.  Sounds pretty cool, right--owning a law firm?  Its a lot of work, to be honest with you.  There are so many things that they never taught us in law school.  Luckily, I also earned a BS in business, and know my way around how to start one up.  Here we are, a month after I started the firm, and I wanted to just reiterate how important it has been to plan what I have been doing, and then to work to that plan.  There is no amount of preparation that could have prepared me for this, some things have just happened as the firm has grown.  There is one piece of advice that I will share, however:  I just have to take things as they come, and go through my days or tasks step by step, one step at a time.  

This is good advice for you to remember as a client of a firm like mine, or any firm.  You dont necessarily want a firm that just rushes you through the preparations of your estate plan, or handles your elder law issues in a cookie cutter fashion.  You want to engage a firm that does things WITH you, and is WITH you "step by step" every step of the way.  

A good example?  Lets take building a will.  There is really no such thing as a "simple" will, because everyone's situation and assets are different.  Some firms will try to flim-flam you into a "one size fits all" will.  Not my firm.  We are going to go through everything, step by step.  We are going to look at things like this: 

1. What are your debts and taxes?
2. What are your specific bequests
   
3. What are your dispositions to your spouse?
   
4. What is the disposition of the remainder of your estate?
   
5. Do you wish to create trusts for your spouse?
   
6. Do you want to create trusts for our children?
   
7. Do you have any other beneficiaries under the age of 21?
   
8. Who are the executors?
   
9. Who are the trustees?
   
10. Who are the guardians of your children?
    
11. What do you want to do if there are children born later?
    
12. Do you want a surety?
    
13. Who has certain powers?

Only when we understand each other and I accomplish what you are seeking on one part--one step--of the will, do we proceed to the next step.  It might sound tedious, but I assure you that doing things "Step by step" is better than doing them in some random order.  Finally, just for fun, here is today's song of the day--the title to which got me thinking about what I just wrote in the above blog post.

​Step by Step -- NKOTB

​​Step by Step
Oh baby
Gonna get to you girl

Step by step

Step by step ooh baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step ooh baby
Really want you in my world

Step
Hey girl, in your eyes
I see a picture of me all the time
Step
And girl, in your smile
You got to know that you drive me wild
Step by step
Ooh baby, you're always on my mind
Step by step
Ooh girl, I really think it's just a matter of time

Step by step ooh baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step ooh baby
Really want you in my world

Step,
Hey girl, can't you see
I've got to have you all just for me
Step
And girl, yes it's true,
No one else will ever do
Step by step
Ooh baby, you're always on my mind
Step by step
Ooh girl, I really think it's just a matter of time

Step by step ooh baby
Gonna get to you girl
Step by step ooh baby
Really want you in my world

Step, step, step
Step by step

(Danny) Step one, we can have lots of fun
(Donnie) Step two, there's so much we can do
(Jordan) Step three, it's just you for me
(Joe) Step four, I can give you more
(Jon) Step five, don't you know that the time has arrived

Step by step...
Don't you know I need you
Step by step...
Yes, I do girl
Step by step
Ooh baby, you're always in my mind
Step by step
Ooh girl, I really think it's just a matter of time

Step by step
Step by step girl
Ooh baby
Gonna get to you girl
To you girl
Step by step
Yeah, ooh baby
I want you, I need you, I want you in my world
Step by step
(Ooh)
To you girl
Step by step
Oh girl, really want you in world
Step by step, ooh baby
Songwriters: LARRY CURTIS JOHNSON
Step By Step lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC