A closer look fall 2015 mortongettys.com
Giving Tuesday There s a day for giving thanks and two days for finding deals. At Morton & Gettys, we are proud to be a part of a local push of the international Giving Tuesday movement (#GivingTuesday) that encourages generosity toward others as a way to kick off the Christmas season. The first-ever #RockHillGives initiative is set for December 1. That s the day after Cyber Monday, the unofficial kickoff for online holiday shopping. Nationally for the past three years, the #GivingTuesday campaign has encouraged people to set the day aside to bring real change to their communities and to celebrate giving back. Locally, a partnership of a dozen agencies, individuals and businesses, including Morton & Gettys, has come together to encourage donations of time, expertise, money and supplies to Rock Hill non-profits. The campaign is going strong on social media, with a regular series of unselfies posted to the Facebook page, facebook.com/rockhillgives. As for our part, our attorneys and staff will take time off December 1 to volunteer with their favorite cause. We are also going to match the financial contributions of Morton & Gettys employees made to local charities on December 1. Morton & Gettys has long supported the idea of giving back and is excited to be a local founding partner in this global movement coming to Rock Hill. GIVING TUESDAY The first-ever #RockHillGives initiative is set for December 1st Visit mortongettys.com/rockhillgives to learn more about this exciting new program.
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The many benefits of creating a living trust Family problems! Tax problems! A living trust may be helpful in solving them all, and you don t have to be a multimillionaire to take advantage of the living trust s problem-solving capacity. The reason for the living trust s effectiveness is twofold: a living trust is a distinct legal entity, and it is extremely flexible. A living trust can be molded to satisfy any number of purposes, to accomplish any number of Morton & Gettys senior counsel Joseph Raad, a certified specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law, writes more about the benefits of living trusts on our website. objectives. These include: Providing for payment of expenses in the case of disability Creating a blueprint for financial protection of beneficiaries Avoiding estate settlement disputes Reducing estate settlement costs Avoiding publicity Offering complete flexibility to meet changing family circumstances For the complete article and to learn more about estate planning and probate law, visit mortongettys.com/trusts. Traditional Standards with a Progressive Attitude. For drivers, the minimum often isn t enough When people come to see an attorney after a car As a result, many clients have failed to purchase wreck, one of the first things they re asked for is either the type of coverage or enough coverage a copy of their auto insurance declarations page. necessary to soften the financial impact of a Unfortunately, this will be the first time many major accident. Many clients believe they are fully clients will have reviewed their declarations page, covered, but in reality they may only be complying and waiting until after an accident means there is with the state s minimum legal coverage a decent chance that they have waited too long. requirements.
New Attorneys We are pleased that two attorneys have joined our team in recent months. Their skills and experience bolster the firms capabilities, allowing us to better serve our clients. Daniel J. Ballou, Senior Counsel, is a seasoned civil litigator who has practiced law in Rock Hill since 1993. He has represented clients at every level of state and federal courts in South Carolina, including appellate courts, as well as before local councils, agencies and commissions. Many of his clients are in the construction and real estate development industries. He has worked with clients on a variety of land use and zoning matters, as well as assisted businesses seeking economic development incentives from state and local government. Dan holds an AB in history from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is a member of the Liberty Fellowship Class of 2012. DOWNTOWN ROCK HILL 803 366.3388 mortongettys.com The problem is that fully covered with respect to state law and fully covered in the event of a serious accident are two very different things. Visit us online at mortongettys.com/insurance to read more in a two-part series that examines South Carolina s car insurance requirements and explains why the minimum often isn t enough protection. Partner J. Richards McCrae examines what is required under the law, the disadvantages of meeting just those minimums and optional coverage drivers need to consider.
About the firm Established in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Morton & Gettys is a growing firm of 12 attorneys providing legal counsel in areas of business and corporate law, commercial and residential real estate, estate planning and probate law, family law, criminal defense and more. Representing corporations, businesses of all sizes and individuals with a wide range of interests and needs, the firm is dedicated to its clients and the communities it serves. Practice Areas Administrative and Regulatory Law Business and Corporate Business, Construction and Commercial Litigation Civil Litigation Commercial Leasing Commercial and Residential Real Estate Condemnation Actions / Eminent Domain Creditors Rights Criminal Defense DUI Defense Education Law Employment Law Estate Planning and Probate Family Law Fiduciary Services Finance and Lending Government Relations and Economic Development Guardianship and Conservatorship Healthcare Law Homeowners Association Representation Land Use and Zoning Mediation: Family and Civil Personal Injury Probate Administration and Litigation Real Estate Litigation and Disputes Residential Real Estate Separation and Divorce Title Insurance Attorneys James M. Morton Partner John P. Gettys Partner Michael B. Smith Partner Joshua B. Vann Partner Elizabeth Smith Owen Partner J. Richards McCrae Partner Michael K. Hatch Melissa Gurney Cassell John M. Shiflet Joseph L. Raad Daniel J. Ballou James Duncan Senior Counsel Senior Counsel