{"id":13474,"date":"2026-08-31T09:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T14:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/blog\/?p=13474"},"modified":"2026-08-31T09:21:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T14:21:00","slug":"the-perfect-opening-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/blog\/the-perfect-opening-line\/","title":{"rendered":"If Only Herman Melville Had Asked for Advice: Here is Your Chance for the Next Great American Book"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u00a0Need\u00a0Your\u00a0Help<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I am\u00a0nearing completion of my\u00a0book\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0well, ok,\u00a0just the first draft<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u2014<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0that\u00a0compiles a lot\u00a0of my columns and adds commentary and helpful hints.\u00a0The issue I am having\u00a0is\u00a0the opening line.\u00a0The subject matter of estate planning, wills, trusts,\u00a0probate\u00a0and guardianship just\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0lend itself to something catchy.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here are some of the lines I have\u00a0come up with, but\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0maybe it\u2019s\u00a0just me\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2014<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0they all\u00a0seem a little\u00a0off.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cCall me Virginia.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cHappy families are all alike; every unhappy family springs from a lack of estate planning.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt was the best of\u00a0columns;\u00a0it was the worst\u00a0of columns.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI am an invisible dead man.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of an ungrateful child.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThis is the saddest will I have ever probated.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt was a dark and stormy\u00a0night; their\u00a0tears fell in torrents as they realized they had been disinherited.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"8\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cFather died today.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"9\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt was a pleasure to burn, said the mortician.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"10\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThrough the\u00a0cemetery\u00a0fence, between the curling memorial flowers, I could see them plotting.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"11\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt was a bright cold day in the\u00a0graveyard, and the clocks were striking thirteen.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"12\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWhere now?\u00a0Who now?\u00a0When now? Said the\u00a0Judge\u00a0in the heirship\u00a0proceeding.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"13\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cLolita, light of my life, let\u2019s do a prenuptial agreement.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"14\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWhether I shall turn out to the be the hero of my own life, or whether that station be held by anybody else, this estate plan must show.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"15\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIf I am out of my mind, it\u2019s all right with me, thought Moses Herzog in his guardianship hearing.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If these all seem a bit derivative, that is probably because I cadged them from the opening lines of great novels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you have a better idea\u00a0for an opening line, then please send it to me at\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"mailto:legaltalk@hammerle.com\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">legaltalk@hammerle.com<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0I promise to publish the best ones\u00a0in\u00a0my column\u00a0and,\u00a0if I use yours in my book,\u00a0then\u00a0I will give you your very own footnote.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Why I Am Writing This Book<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While we are on the topic, I might as well tell you about the book: it was born of frustration.\u00a0I am limited in my column\u00a0space and my\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/blog\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">blogs<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0often cannot give a topic the detail that it deserves.\u00a0For example, one\u00a0of my favorite\u00a0blogs\u00a0dealt with describing\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/blog\/7-necessary-estate-planning-documents-you-should-have\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Magnificent\u00a0Seven estate planning documents<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, but I could only give a cursory description of each document.\u00a0In my book I have given each document its own chapter, with an eye toward giving both you and your agent a guide.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I have other favorite columns.\u00a0One\u00a0addressed\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/blog\/cemetery-plot-sales-and-laws\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">cemetery\u00a0plots<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, which are often expensive and either go unused or are the subject of family strife.\u00a0It is a complicated, but\u00a0overlooked,\u00a0topic.\u00a0In my\u00a0book,\u00a0I\u00a0delve into the statutes and case law\u00a0and offer some suggestions on how to deal with\u00a0family issues and\u00a0recalcitrant graveyard operators.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But those\u00a0chapters\u00a0are all\u00a0about\u00a0documents.\u00a0A lot of what I do\u00a0in my practice\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/practice-areas\/litigation-lawyers\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">litigation<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, so I give a cheat sheet, and devote a full chapter, for\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/practice-areas\/probate\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">probates<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/blog\/common-types-of-business-litigation\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">fiduciary litigation<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/practice-areas\/guardianship\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">guardianships<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So many books try to handle these topics\u00a0on a generic platform.\u00a0But\u00a0we are in Texas, and we have great laws that are unique to our state.\u00a0\u00a0My book is geared toward Texas law.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This will be your to-do book.\u00a0Let me know what you would like to see in it!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Have an Opening Line \u2014 or a Legal Question?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:299,&quot;335559739&quot;:299}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have an idea for the opening line of Virginia&#8217;s book? Send it to her at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:legaltalk@hammerle.com\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">legaltalk@hammerle.com<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. She would love to hear from you.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you have questions about estate planning, wills, trusts, probate or guardianship, Virginia Hammerle and the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/our-team\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">attorneys<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0at Hammerle Morris can help you understand your options.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/lewisville-attorney\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Contact the team<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0for guidance.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Virginia Hammerle is an Accredited Estate Planner whose practice includes\u00a0<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/practice-areas\/estate-planning\/\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">estate planning<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, probate,\u00a0guardianship,\u00a0and contested litigation.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u00a0Need\u00a0Your\u00a0Help\u00a0 I am\u00a0nearing completion of my\u00a0book\u00a0\u2014\u00a0well, ok,\u00a0just the first draft\u00a0\u2014\u00a0that\u00a0compiles a lot\u00a0of my columns and adds commentary and helpful hints.\u00a0The issue I am having\u00a0is\u00a0the opening line.\u00a0The subject matter of estate planning, wills, trusts,\u00a0probate\u00a0and guardianship just\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0lend itself to something catchy.\u00a0\u00a0 Here are some of the lines I have\u00a0come up with, but\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and\u00a0maybe it\u2019s\u00a0just me\u00a0\u2014\u00a0they all\u00a0seem a little\u00a0off.\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13475,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-legal-talk"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Help Virginia Find the Perfect Opening Line for Her Book<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Virginia Hammerle is writing a Texas estate planning book and needs help choosing the perfect opening line. Read her ideas and share yours.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hammerle.com\/blog\/the-perfect-opening-line\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Help Virginia Find the Perfect Opening Line for Her Book\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Virginia Hammerle is writing a Texas estate planning book and needs help choosing the perfect opening line. 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