Page 29 - BusinessWest March 17, 2021
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 Knockouts
Continued from page 27
you leave behind to prepare for your passing, and a gift to prevent discord in the family.
Want to achieve the next level of prepared- ness? Start giving possessions away before you die. If you know that your niece would enjoy your bamboo fishing pole, give it to her now so you can see her smile, hear her thank you, and forestall any arguments about it later. Further, giving away some of your possessions now will reduce the burden on those you leave behind to
have children, consider your siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends.
One last thing: although it can feel like tempting fate, please be assured that making a will memorandum (or having a will prepared, for that matter) will not cause your death. It will not court the agents of your demise. It will be an exercise of control over the uncontrollable. It will actually make you feel better, not worse. And it will make things markedly easier for those loved ones you leave behind. u
Non-competes
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when the employment relationship ends. Nor does it prohibit the former employee from soliciting clients and other employees from joining them at their new place of employ- ment. Instead, it serves to prohibit the former employee from disclosing any confidential information from the former employer. The confidential information protected could be a trade secret or other highly sensitive material.
In short, while the Noncompetition Agree- ment Act requires employers to pay former employees not to work, there may be other options available to employers. It is therefore wise to consult with employment counsel to review your potential options to protect your business interests after the employment rela- tionship has ended. u
Timothy M. Netkovick, Esq. is a litigation attorney who specializes in labor and employment-law matters at the Royal Law Firm LLP, a woman-owned, women-managed corporate law firm certified as a women’s business enterprise with the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, the National Assoc. of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council; (413) 586-2288; tnetkovick@ theroyallawfirm.com
  “If you know that your niece would enjoy your bamboo fishing pole, give it to her now so you can see her smile, hear her thank you, and forestall any arguments about it later.”
   clean out your residence.
Take a look around your home. Is there
decluttering that could be done now? (For almost all of us, the answer is assuredly yes). Start making a list of items that you can part with now, and ask your family and friends if they’re interested in any of them. By starting the process during your life, you are lessening the burden you might otherwise leave your loved ones.
‘But I’m only 40 (or 50 or 60),” you say. You’re not too young to start. Do yourself and your family members a favor and start making that list. Every one of us has at least a few things that would be meaningful to another. If you don’t
Valerie Vignaux is an attorney with Bacon Wilson, P.C., and a member of the firm’s estate- planning and elder-law team. She assists clients with all manner of estate planning
and administration, including probate, and provides representation for guardianship and conservatorship matters. She received the Partner in Care Award from Linda Manor in 2017 and served on the board of directors for Highland Valley Elder Services; (413) 584-1287; [email protected]
 Michael Buckmaster
Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending
Jay Seyler
Vice President of Commercial Lending
 Best Commercial Lending Team
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