Unfortunately, paperwork can get misplaced and loved ones may die before they are able to discuss their estate plan and wishes. What to do and where to begin?

If you have already searched through the normal areas that you would think, for instance rummaging through their paperwork and filing cabinets, heck, even the freezer, or a mystery box under their bed and you are certain that a Will exists, and yet you cannot locate it, here are a few other suggestions:

1.) Safe Deposit Box – bank regulations typically allow for temporary access to a safe deposit box for the sole purpose of removing a Will, under the supervision of a bank employee; however, some states may require a court order to do so.

2.) Attorney or past Attorney – our law firm in particular keeps an originally executed copy of a client’s Will and most others do as well. If you are not sure of which attorney your loved one may have used, sometimes financial records will indicate where payments have been made to a law firm.

3.) Local Bar Association – they have the ability to send a mass email to the attorneys in their association to ask if any of them have prepared a Will in the name of your loved one.

If you have exhausted all of your efforts, it may be time to contact an attorney for advice on administering the estate in accordance with the state’s intestacy laws. This is why it is so important to let someone close to you know where this original document might be held.

Humans have been living by the Sun's schedule since time immemorial. Ancient civilizations, such as the Romans, employed sophisticated methods like altering water clock scales to adjust their daily schedules according to when they could expect light and darkness out of doors - an early predecessor of today’s Daylight Saving Time!

During World War I, Germany was the trailblazer of a revolutionary concept: Daylight Saving. In 1916 they were first to move their clocks forward by one hour in order to reduce unnecessary lighting and conserve fuel for wartime efforts - an idea quickly taken up by other countries such as the United Kingdom and France. After WWI many opted out of this practice, only returning during WWII when it became popularized again throughout Europe.

In 1918, the United States experienced its first taste of Daylight Saving when President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law in support of World War I efforts. The idea to adopt this practice was credited to Robert Garland - an industrious Pittsburgher who had been inspired by Britain’s use of such a measure. Though initially repealed several months later, some cities including Pittsburgh and Boston still maintained it until 1942 when then-President Franklin D Roosevelt established year-round recurring usage throughout the nation; earning Mr.Garland his title as “Father Of Daylight Saving".

From 1945 to 1966, the US experienced a chaotic period of Daylight Saving due to lack of uniform rules across states. This caused widespread confusion especially for trains, buses, and the broadcasting industry. In 1966, the Uniform Time Act was created in the hopes that this would bring structure and stability. But even with these standards in place some exemptions were still allowed at the state level. Permanent DST in the US was briefly enacted by president Richard Nixon in January 1974, in response to the 1973 oil crisis. However, it caused more conflict - many citizens complained about children's safety on dark winter mornings while commuting to school!



Following the 1976 energy crisis, Daylight Saving in America evolved over time to become what we know it as today. From 1987 through 2006, for about seven months per year clocks were moved ahead one hour. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended this period even further with its implementation in 2007 - now beginning on the second Sunday each March where we 'spring forward' and ending with a 'fall back' on November's first Sunday every year!

We are seeking guest writers to contribute to our email newsletter which reaches more than 2000 people per month. If you would like to consider a joint article we would be glad to work on something with you. For more information, please contact Ashley Malcolm via email amalcolm@pjrlaw.com or call 717-610-1639.