Free Lunch??? American Heart Association Walk

Ivy Law Group is raising money for the American Heart Association. Join us!  Go to www2.heart.org.  Find the heart walk, click donate, find our team (Ivy Law Group) and donate! Top contributor gets lunch with the Ivy Law Group team!

American Heart Association

Learn more about the American Heart Association’s efforts to reduce death caused by heart disease and stroke. Also learn about cardiovascular conditions, ECC and CPR, donating, heart disease information for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and educators and healthy living.

www2.heart.org


Volunteering: Good and Good For You!

I’ve enjoyed volunteer opportunities all my life, starting with my 200 hours as a Candy Striper at the Virginia Mason Hospital in the early ’70s.    It was fun (great outfit!) and educational (sent me into law instead of nursing).    Recently I was invited to provide legal services to seniors at the Ballard Senior Center monthly clinic and I’m so happy to have this opportunity.

Some of the documented benefits of volunteering include:

  • Decrease your risk of depression.
  • Enjoy a sense of purpose and fulfillment—and increase your self-confidence while you’re at it!
  • Stay physically and mentally active.
  • Reduce stress levels.

I’m guessing you all have many experiences with volunteer work too.  I’d love to hear from you!


Parenting risks and Estate Planning

A Will is the Responsibility of Every Parent
The last thing that most people want to take into consideration when they are experiencing the joy of bringing a new child into the world is what protections they have in place if something were to happen to them.
As a new parent myself, I do not like to think that I may not be around for many years to experience my son’s growth and be there to provide some important life lessons to help him along his path. However, as a lawyer, I have seen first-hand the difficult process of when a parent dies unexpectedly without a Will.
The inherent difficulty of accepting the passing of a loved one, especially one that you rely on to such an extent, is significantly compounded when that loved one did not take the time to create a Will. A Will provides a clear framework to navigate the probate process in accordance with the wishes of the deceased person. Without such a framework, a family is left to guess at what that person would have wanted and create a plan according to those guesses. All this is necessary while dealing with increased oversight from the probate court and dealing with the grieving process. This can be overwhelming for family members trying to cope with the loss of a loved one.
A Will is important for any person, but especially so for a parent. Being a parent comes with a multitude of responsibilities and difficult decisions, and one of those is to protect your children to the best of your abilities under all circumstances, including if something were to happen to you. Do not be the person who puts this off because, although death is certain, its timing surely is not.

Give us a call to talk about your particular needs.
Matt J. Werter


Welcome our new paralegal, Meghan!

Stop by and meet Meghan Limegrover, our new paralegal.

Meghan is a transplant from Texas, but with a degree in horticulture she can thrive in a new environment! She is excited to learn and expand her understanding of the law, especially in matters of personal injury.

Meghan is inspired by the variety of flora in Washington. The food, the music and the people of Seattle are just a few things she is enjoying as she makes this city her home.


Farewell to Jessica!

After 5 years of working at Ivy Law Group, I will be leaving to start a job in the Amazon legal department. Over the past 5 years I have learned more than I could have ever imagined working here. I started my job as a former nanny knowing very little about the office environment and legal procedures.

As I look back to my first day and my overwhelming feelings of knowing nothing, I can say I have come very far from that day. I truly owe my growth in professional and legal domains to the guidance of Ruth. Ruth was not only a boss but a mentor, she helped me channel a sense of confidence and an ability to adapt to any situation thrown at me.

As I move on to a different environment with different opportunities, I can only say that I would never have been able to do this if I hadn’t got my first opportunity here. I will miss working at Ivy but am excited to start a new chapter in my life.

Jessica Replogle


Grab and Go Bag: “True Life Story”

As the granddaughter, daughter and sister of structural engineers I grew up with earthquake preparedness stories. One of my favorites is my grandfather touring the remains of a building in Japan (circa 1920’s) and seeing that the plumbing was all that remained vertical.  The story goes that someone survived in the bathtub!

Last week we had a natural gas scare in my apartment building and I had to locate my own grab and go bag. Fortunately there was no evacuation but it was a good wake up call.  During Sunday’s less-than Super Bowl, I reviewed and replaced many items in my bag.  It was well past due!

We all get lax, but I recommend you pick a rainy, cold, February day and review your own grab and go bag!