MARK A. MATHEWS, P.L.L.C.

09/22/2023

Effective September 1, 2023, MARK A. MATHEWS, P.L.L.C. will be closed on Fridays.

10/04/2022

06/02/2022

New Summer hours for 2022! Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

04/13/2020

During this difficult time I know that we all have fears and concerns. Will I get the virus? Will my friends and family get the virus? When will I be able to go back to work; and, when I do, will I ever be able to catch up financially?

One thing that can be done is to make sure that all of our affairs are in order for the future.

Chapter 25 of Genesis tells us that Abraham had all of his affairs in order prior to his death. It is detailed as follows:

5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

7 Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.

Abraham was able to leave this world with the confidence that his family was fully and adequately taken care of. Is this an assurance that you have?

If you have questions about your estate plan, or if you do not have an estate plan, please feel free to call my office at 405-454-3323. Phones are being answered even though our time in the office right now is limited. I will be happy to call you from my home and discuss these issues with you and can forward questionnaires to you to fill out to begin the estate planning process.

Also, through May 15th, due to the financial burden that the covid-19 virus has placed on so many, I am offering a 25% discount on all estate plans. In addition, if you need an advance directive to physicians, commonly referred to as a living will, I prepare those at no cost.

I look forward to being able to visit with you about these issues at your convenience. In the meantime, please pray for our healthcare workers and our state and national leaders as they do the best they can to find solutions to the problems presented during this pandemic. Blessings to you all.

01/07/2020

I found out today that someone had posted something vulgar to my law office page. It has been removed and they have been blocked. My apologies!

01/09/2019

But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. (I Corinthians 14:40)

Something to think about: The Scripture I am sharing with you comes at the end of a chapter where Paul is trying to bring order in the church that was in chaos over a theological issue. When we do things properly and in an orderly fashion, we honor God because He is a God of order. Sometimes that requires us to "jump through hoops" to get the information we need. We recently have been dealing with the VA for a person that needs to get their legal issues in order. That means crossing all the t's and dotting all the I's. It has been trying, but it will be worth it to have all we need to function when a more stressing time comes.

Let me take this opportunity to ask you to consider something that most people really don't want to talk about. At some point, each of us will be called home to face God. I know we don't like to think about this, but here is something that might change your thinking and help your family. Does anyone in your family know where your important papers are kept? Can someone access your bank account if you were unable to do so? Do you have anything written down as far as final arrangements? Dave Ramsey of Financial Peace fame, suggests we have a legacy box. I have listed below what he suggests we have put to the side for people to use when the time comes.

Information stored in the Legacy Box includes:
• Executive Summary
• Legacy Letters
• Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, Marriage Certificate, and Passports
• Insurance Information (auto, homeowner’s, renter’s, health, long-term care, identity theft protection, and life insurance)
• Estate Plan
• Power of Attorney Forms
• Wills and Funeral Instructions
• Financial Accounts Log
• Safe Deposit Log
• Monthly Budget
• Tax Returns
• Money Market and Mutual Fund Statements
• College Funds
• Retirement Funds
• Rental Property Summary
• Car Titles
• Home Ownership Records
• Passwords and Combinations

I know this is not something we want to address, but your family will be very appreciative if you have taken care of this for them.

I received this from a Pastor friend today but could not have said it better!

If you need assistance with your Estate Planning needs, please give me a call at (405) 454-3323!

Mark A. Mathews

10/08/2018

As an attorney who handles personal injury auto accidents, I want to send out a plea to everyone who reads this: GET UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST AND MEDICAL PAYMENT COVERAGES!!!!! (Commonly referred to as "UM" and Med Pay)

Over the past few years I have heard clients say time and time again that their insurance agent has told them that they do not need UM or Med Pay. As Doc Holiday said in "Tombstone", "I beg to diffa, sir!".

UM and Med Pay are there to protect you in the event that a driver hits you and either does not have liability insurance or does not carry liability limits sufficient to cover your damages.

I am representing someone right now who was hit head on. The other driver carried $100,000.00 in liability coverage which sounds good, right? The problem is that my client has incurred over $500,000.00 in medical expenses as a result of this collision. His insurance agent had sold him a huge liability policy but advised him to reject UM coverage. Had my client purchased UM coverage equal to his own liability limits ($350,000.00) we would have been much closer to reaching a meaningful recovery for him. He had $10,000.00 in Med Pay coverage, but, as you can see, this was a "drop in the bucket" compared to his total medical expenses.

Bottom line: I know that auto insurance is expensive. I know that the need for any type excess coverage will probably never arise. But! We are not guaranteed tomorrow.