The Layton Law Firm, PLLC

Sometimes, it feels like there’s a day for everything, but March 19 really caught our eye 👀

It’s International Clients Day, and because our clients are the most valuable part of our business, we wanted to celebrate! We are so grateful to all of our amazing clients and hope that we continue to exceed your expectations 💙

As always, reach out if you need anything. We’re here for you, today and always.

Your first time meeting with a mediator can be a little overwhelming, but hopefully our past posts have given you some guidance on what questions you should ask.

However, now we want to address something just as important – one question you shouldn’t ask: Will you tell me if the agreement is fair for me?

The mediator’s role is to assist both parties in finding a solution. In the end, you and the other party are the ones who decide if the agreement is fair, not the mediator.

Have a situation that needs mediating? Reach out to us! We’ll be glad to help however we can.

Let’s say you’ve asked your potential mediator a few questions to get to know them more, and you’ve decided you like them.

That’s great! Except that’s not all you need to know.

In this second post in our mediator questions series, we’re focusing on the next topic to cover with a potential mediator: logistics. Here are a few questions to start with:

❓ How would payment work?

❓ What is their standard mediation process like and how long does it take?

❓ Would the mediator draft the final agreement or would you need to hire a separate lawyer to do so?

Knowing what to expect from the process can help you be prepared for it – or make you realize that this mediator isn’t right for you. Either way, you’ll be glad you asked.

Stay tuned for our final post covering the question you shouldn’t ask 👀

So you’re about to meet with a mediator for the first time – how do you know if they’re the right person to handle your situation? 🧐 Here are a few questions we suggest asking at your initial session:

❓ What do you believe your role is as a mediator?

❓ How do you define success in mediation?

❓ What do you think are the pros and cons of mediation?

These questions should help you understand your mediator and their approach better, but they certainly aren’t the only things you should be asking. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow us to see the next set of questions we recommend!

If you find yourself feeling like this on Monday 😴 … don’t worry, you’re not alone!

March 12 is when we spring forward one hour for daylight savings ⏰

Make sure you change any analog clocks manually, enjoy the extra hours of daylight, and if you need a cat nap – take one, you’ve earned it!

It’s time for a pop quiz 🎉 True or False: Once you’ve signed your estate plan, you’re set for life.

The correct answer is … false. In general, you should review your estate plan:

🖋️ Every 3-5 years or

🖋️ When a major life event occurs

Keeping your estate plan up to date ensures that what you really want will be carried out after you pass or if you’re incapacitated for some reason.

Been a bit (or a lot) longer than three to five years since you’ve reviewed your estate plan? 😬 Have no fear, our team of experts is here to help!

Give us a call or shoot us an email, and we’ll get the ball rolling.

Getting into a car accident can be a pretty jarring experience. It’s not the time you want to be figuring out how to proceed.

While we hope you never need this information, we thought we’d share a few important tips in the event of an accident:

☑️ Do not admit fault. Don’t discuss the accident with anyone other than the police and your attorney.
☑️ Gather information. Get driver's license information, insurance policy information, license plate numbers, and names and contact information of the driver and witnesses.
☑️ Take photos. Take photos of the crash scene, the people and vehicles involved, and the license plates.
☑️ Never refuse medical treatment. You may not realize you're injured due to elevated adrenaline after a crash.

If you ever are in a car accident, know that we’re here to help you through the aftermath 💙 Do you have any other tips for what to do in the event of an accident? Share them with us in the comments ⬇️

This Valentine’s Day, we want to thank our clients for their continued trust 💝 You’re the heart of our business and why we love what we do.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day celebrating with loved ones!

Super Bowl Sunday is finally here 🏈 This year, try out this crowd-pleasing recipe: potato skins!

Ingredients:
6 small Russet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup bacon cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup sour cream
1/3 cup green onions, sliced

🥔 Bake the potatoes for about an hour then cut them in half and scoop out most of the insides.

🧂 Brush with olive oil, adding salt/pepper to taste.

🥓 Bake the potatoes until crispy and then add your toppings!

Enjoy – the game and the skins, that is! – and feel free to share this recipe with your network.

As lawyers specializing in personal injury, safety is always on our minds 🧠⚠️ So today, we wanted to share some safety-related resources as 2023 gets underway:

✅ Vehicles – In the case of a wreck, you want your car to protect you. Here’s a top safety pick list from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks

✅ Household cleaners – Want non-toxic cleaners that can get the job done? This detailed list may be helpful: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-natural-organic-cleaning-products.html

✅ Home security systems – Home break-ins aren’t 100% preventable, but a security system can help. Check out this rundown of your options: https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/home-security/best-home-security-systems/

✅ Motorcycle helmets – Having a good helmet could be potentially life-saving! Be sure to do thorough research on your own, but here’s a good place to start: https://billyscrashhelmets.com/safest-brand-crash-helmet/

✅ Travel accessories – If you want a bit more security when you travel, take note of this list of personal alarms, locks, and more: https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-travel-safety-products-6833148

Do you have any recommendations for safe products? Leave them down in the comments 💬

As the new year begins in earnest, we thought this would be the perfect time to offer a brief “state of estate planning” address! Here are a few things to keep in mind in 2023:

🖋️ Those with a taxable estate above the lifetime exemption can expect to pay anywhere between 18-40% in estate tax in 2023. However, the good news is that the per-person lifetime exemption from estate and gift tax is expected to rise to approximately $12.92 million.

🖋️ I’ve seen more clients including real estate investments in their estates. If you're among those doing so, make sure you report the investment and pay any associated taxes to the IRS. Otherwise, beneficiaries will be subjected to tax audits.

🖋️ Strong, open family communication can be tough, but we encourage you to have these sometimes difficult conversations. It’ll be worth helping your family avoid potential legal fees down the road.

Need help this year with estate planning? We’re here–always feel free to reach out!


📖: 2023 Estate and Gift Tax Rates: What You Need to Know, The Motley Fool

You can almost always keep your car in bankruptcy. However, if you're upside down on the loan, bankruptcy is a great time to walk away from a depreciating asset and the debt that goes with it. We can help you prepare for these and other changes, all of which are part of getting a fresh financial start.

What Happens To My Car In Bankruptcy? • Layton Law What Happens To My Car In Bankruptcy? If you own a car or lease a car, you will need to decide what happens to your car in bankruptcy. You have the choice

We are excited to be awarded favorite neighborhood law firm by Nextdoor! If you need help with Personal Injury, Estate Planning, Bankruptcy or Debt Settlement... we're here to help. Thanks to anyone who voted for us :)

Is anyone else feeling they need a vacation to recover from their vacation? 🙋‍♂️

Call us today! 704.749.7747