Poppy Legal Group

08/14/2026

If I could sit down with everyone in this community before they ever needed a family law or estate planning attorney, here's what I'd say:

Build the plan before there's a crisis.

Not because I assume something will go wrong. But because when people come to me in the middle of a difficult moment, their options narrow. The decisions get harder. The emotions are higher. The cost, in every sense, goes up.

When a plan already exists, everything changes. There's a document. There's intention on paper. There's one less thing to fight about or figure out.

I started Poppy Legal Group because I believe this kind of work deserves to feel personal. The law is complicated. Your life shouldn't feel like a stranger handled it.

If you've been meaning to get your affairs in order, please don't wait for a reason to.

-- Lindsey

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

08/12/2026

"The court will always side with the mother."

This is one of the most persistent myths in family law, and it does real harm to families
navigating custody.

The legal standard in Massachusetts is the best interest of the child. Full stop.

Courts look at:
- The relationship each parent has with the child
- Each parent's ability to provide stability
- The child's adjustment to home, school, and community
- Each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent

Gender is not a factor. History is. Involvement is. Stability is.

Whether you are a mother, father, or non-binary parent, you deserve to understand what the court is actually weighing.

Don't let a myth shape what you believe you're entitled to.

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

08/10/2026

If you're going through a divorce, you've probably heard the word "mediation."

Here's what it actually means, and what it doesn't.

Mediation is a process where a neutral third party helps both spouses reach agreements
outside of court. The mediator doesn't decide anything. They facilitate.

What it can help with:
- Division of assets and debts
- Parenting plans and custody arrangements
- Spousal and child support conversations

What it's not:
- A shortcut
- A guarantee
- A substitute for having your own attorney review any agreement before you sign

Mediation can be a genuinely better path for many families. Often faster, less expensive, and
less adversarial than litigation.

But less adversarial doesn't mean without legal guidance. Your interests still need to be
protected.

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

08/07/2026

There's a moment I see in almost every estate planning meeting.

It comes after a client has answered the hard questions. Who gets what. Who makes decisions if they can't. What happens to the kids.

They take a breath. And then they say some version of: "I can't believe I waited this long to do this."

Not with regret, exactly. More like relief.

That moment is why I do this work. Because estate planning doesn't have to feel heavy. Done right, it can feel like one of the most loving things you do for your family.

It's not about what happens when you die. It's about what you want for the people you love while you're alive enough to say so.

-- Lindsey, Poppy Legal Group

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

08/05/2026

You signed your estate plan five years ago. Are you actually covered?

An estate plan is not a one-and-done document. Life changes. Your plan needs to keep up.

These are the moments that should trigger a review:

- You got married or divorced
- You had or adopted a child
- You moved to a different state
- You bought property or started a business
- A named beneficiary, executor, or trustee has died or your relationship has changed
- Your financial situation shifted significantly

If any of those apply since you last looked at your plan, it's worth a conversation.

The document sitting in a drawer from 2015 may not reflect who you are in 2026, or who you
want to protect.

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

08/03/2026

Will vs. Trust: what's actually the difference?

This is one of the most common questions I get, and the answer matters more than most people
realize.

A will:
- Goes through probate (a court-supervised process that becomes public record)
- Takes effect only after death
- Names guardians for minor children
- Can be contested in court

A trust:
- Bypasses probate entirely
- Can take effect during your lifetime, including if you become incapacitated
- Keeps your affairs private
- Is generally harder to contest

Neither is automatically better. The right choice depends on your family structure, your assets,
and what you want to happen.

What I tell clients: don't choose based on what you've heard. Choose based on your actual
situation. That's what we're here for.

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

07/30/2026

The most dangerous estate planning myth:

"I'll get to it when I'm older."

I've sat across from families who thought the same thing. Healthy, young, busy people with kids
and mortgages and full lives ahead of them.

Estate planning is not about age. It's about responsibility.

The moment you have a child, a mortgage, a business, a partner, or anyone who depends on
you in any way, the time is now.

Not because anything is going to happen. But because you don't get to choose when something
does.

The peace of mind that comes from knowing it's handled? That's worth more than waiting for the
right time.

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

07/28/2026

Most people don't know this:

If you die in Massachusetts without a will, the state has one ready for you.

It's called intestate succession, and it determines exactly who gets what. It doesn't know your
wishes. It doesn't know your family dynamics. It doesn't know you'd want your sister to have
your grandmother's ring, or that you'd rather your closest friend than an estranged relative
handle your affairs.

Here's what Massachusetts law says happens:

- Married with children? Your spouse may not inherit everything.
- Unmarried partner? They receive nothing under state law, regardless of how long you've been
together.
- Minor children? A court appoints a guardian. It may not be who you would have chosen.

This is why a will matters, even when your estate feels simple.

You get to decide. Or the state decides for you.

Here if you're ready. DM us for your appointment.

07/20/2026

𝖭𝖤𝖶 𝖤𝖯𝖨𝖲𝖮𝖣𝖤 𝖮𝖴𝖳!
𝖫𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝖡𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗐!

Law Firm Money Mistakes Lawyers Keep Making: Peggy Gruenke Joins Lawyers in the Wild®

Running a successful law firm requires more than being a skilled attorney. Law firm owners must also understand their finances, manage cash flow, maintain accurate records, and build operational systems that support sustainable growth.

In a recent episode of Lawyers in the Wild, hosts Lindsey E. Egan and Robert Hartigan of Lionhart Injury Law welcomed CPN Legal owner and co-founder, Peggy Gruenke, for a practical conversation about one of the most important—and frequently overlooked—parts of operating a law firm: the money.

Why Lawyers Need to Stay in Their Lane
Lawyers are trained to analyze legal issues, advocate for clients, negotiate claims, draft agreements, and present cases in court. Most attorneys, however, are not trained to manage bookkeeping systems, reconcile financial accounts, or interpret detailed financial reports.

During the episode, Peggy explains why law firm owners must recognize when a responsibility should be delegated to someone with specialized experience.

Revenue Does Not Always Mean Profitability
A law firm can generate substantial revenue and still experience financial difficulty.
Revenue is only one part of the firm’s financial picture. Payroll, rent, marketing, technology, case expenses, owner compensation, taxes, and the timing of collections all affect profitability and cash flow.
Before even looking at profit margin, CPN looks at percent of expenses to income. And the first number that is analyzed is payroll because it is the biggest expense and the first number that affect the percent of expenses to income. And if that number is above 50%, then the payroll figure needs to be closely examined.

Choosing the Right Clients and Cases
Peggy also discussed how important client and case selection is. Just because a client comes to you with a case that you think you could help with, doesn’t mean you should take the case. And if you take a case that you’re not well equipped to handle, then you risk an unhappy client at the end of the day which could hurt the firm.
Also, if you have a client who is difficult to work with and is rude to your staff, you’re better off terminating that relationship early on.

Financial Reports Should Guide Business Decisions
One thing that Peggy sees with lawyers and law firms who decide to come to her for help is that those law firm owners are typically not reviewing their financials closely. When CPN takes on a new client, CPN is delivering profit and loss statements. Some firms have never even reconciled their bank accounts before coming to CPN.

Lawyers in the Wild® features candid conversations with attorneys, legal professionals, business owners, and industry leaders about building law firms, improving legal operations, using technology, developing professional brands, and navigating life inside and outside the legal industry.

In this episode of Lawyers in the Wild, Lindsey and Rob sit down wi...

05/01/2026

Our very own founder, Attorney Egan, is on the board of directors at the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and co-chairs the Businesswomen's Committee. Today was their annual luncheon that she looks forward to so much every year moderating a panel of three incredible women leaders in innovation and impact.