Amy Shelf - Counselor at Law

Happy New Year to you all!  Contemplating the current state of the world, and the endings and new beginnings seen at the start of 2009, my overwhelming feeling is that this year will require serious work but holds so much promise.

As many of you know, in the Chinese calendar we are now in the year of the Ox.  I've read that an Ox yearis characterized by fortitude and hard work, as are the people born in an Ox year.  Our newly inaugurated President, Barack Obama, was born in an Ox year, so, presumably, he possesses these same characteristics.  Given the problems at hand, this is an auspicious and comforting confluence of Oxen. 

I want to let you know about some exciting stuff going on in my law practice - I've got a website, I'm offering some new services (including the Panic-free Planning Potlucks - scroll down!), and my expertise is now available online.  See below for details on everything.

WEBSITE
I've finally got a website up and running, check it out: www.amyshelf.com.  It is not super fancy, but neither am I!

NEW SERVICES
I'm offering a few new ways to get your estate planning house in order:

Panic-free Planning Potlucks:  Have you been meaning to get a Will in place forever?  Do you have young kids but no official document to direct who takes care of them if you die?  Is now not a good time to spend a lot of money?  Think about hosting or attending a Panic-free Planning Potluck, a gathering for 8 or more people where everyone comes together around the comforting presence of food, and completes and signs very basic Wills and Powers of Attorney with the help and guidance of me - your favorite estate planning attorney.  In addition to worrying about what we haven't done, most of us are worried about money right now, too.  With the Panic-free Planning Potluck you can get some basic documents in place without spending a lot.  The Potlucks are about getting together and getting it done.  Contact me or read more about this opportunity here.

Sliding Scale Fees: All of my flat fee estate plans are now offered on a sliding-scale basis.  We work together to pick the plan that is right for you, and I'll give you a fee range that I'll accept.  You pay what you can within that range.

I AM AN EXPERT!
I am proud to announce that I'm a part of Caring.com a website for adults caring for aging parents (and others).  The site provides an enormous range of information and resources, and I am answering readers questions about estate planning and related issues.  You can find my bio and my answers to readers' questions here.
If you have questions please email or call!  Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested.

I really do believe that estate planning is as much about planning for death as it is about planning for life.  To live fully, and to enjoy the offerings of the present, we need to let go of, or at least be at peace with, worry and fear.  Getting your Will and other documents in place can help, so you have one less thing to worry about when you wake up in the middle of the night.  Better to use that magical half-awake time to think about art, or fundraising for your charity of choice, or apologizing to your partner for your snippy comment before bed.  As we strive for freedom from anxiety, we must accept that life constantly throws us the unexpected.  And that is great thing - without change, there is no living.  

Life is a gift!  Change is a must!

All of my best wishes for a year of health and opportunity. 
Amy