Volume 211 November 2026: The Iowa Legal Insider

Happy Thanksgiving: What Are 5 Things We Should All Be Grateful For?

It seems that the world is a bit of a mess, but history shows that since the beginning of humankind there have been turbulent times. Our country also is more divided than ever, with everyone playing the blame game on the news and social media.

Let’s set our differences aside for a moment and remember five things that everyone living in the United States of America should be grateful for, not only during Thanksgiving, but all year round.

1. Safe Drinking Water

Worldwide, only 3 out of 4 people have access to safe drinking water where they live. Another 15 percent of people have access to safe drinking water, but it is a 30-minute round trip from where they live.

2. Sanitation

Around 57 percent of the world has access to private toilets. Another 22 percent have access only to public sanitation facilities. This means that about 3.4 billion people still lack proper sanitation. Worse yet, about 354 million still use fields, street gutters, or bodies of water to relieve themselves.

3. Digital Connectivity

For better, or worse at times, we have high-speed internet, mobile technology, and vast amounts of data available for free on the internet. There are many positives, like allowing people to connect much easier than it used to be. Zoom and other videoconferencing technologies now allow people to work from home instead of traveling all over. There are some negatives, like many people are basically glued to their phone and often are not really present with the people they are in the room with.

4. Availability of Food

Roughly 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within a 10-minute drive of a grocery store. Worldwide, more than 2 million people do not have this luxury as they lack regular physical or economic access to safe and nutritious food. Yes, grocery prices may be unaffordable for some Americans, but that is a different topic of discussion.

5. Volunteer Military

We have an all-volunteer military where our fellow Americans volunteer to serve our country and put their lives on the line to protect the rest of us and ensure our freedoms. There are 68 countries in the world that require military service for men, including 12 that require it for women, also. So, if you are not a veteran, be sure to thank all veterans that you know and encounter in the coming weeks. Remember Veterans Day is Tuesday, November 11. For all the veterans reading this newsletter, thank you for your service, and we appreciate the sacrifices that you and your family have made.

Kids’ Corner

Ending Cross Country Competition

By Elle Merrill

It’s November, which means my first season of cross country has officially ended. I had so much fun throughout the season, even though it was super wet, which caused a lot of our meets to get rained out and a lot of running in the mud. It was tough having to miss so much running, but we were lucky to be able to reschedule most of them, so we still got a complete season. Not only was it a lot of fun, but I learned so much about how to improve my running.

I learned how to run up challenging (especially in the mud) hills, how to start and finish a race, how to run corners and curves, and about maintaining good form.

I feel very proud of how much I grew as a runner and the progress I’ve made with the help of my two coaches. This experience has truly shown me how to push my limits and achieve my personal goals. I will definitely be ready for our Thanksgiving Turkey Trot this year!

Check out my new video at www.IowaKidsCorner.com

Learning the Law with Looper

Are You Common-Law Married?

Bow, wow. Did you know that Iowa is among only eight states and the District of Columbia to recognize some form of common-law marriage? There are plenty of people who say they are “common-law married” because they have lived together for a long time, but it takes much more than that. In Iowa there are three specific requirements for common-law marriage, which include:

1. A present intent and agreement, by both parties, to be married.
2. Continuous cohabitation.
3. Public declaration or “holding” out to the public that the parties are spouses.

There is no set number of years that a couple must live together, but the courts will look at the above three elements and facts like:

• Did the parties have a ceremony after they decided to get married?
• Did they sign an Affidavit of Common-Law Marriage in order to get health insurance?
• Did the couple file tax returns as joint filing married?
• Are they listed as married on bank and other financial documents?
• Did they refer to each other as husband and wife to friends and family?

These factors, along with many others, will be reviewed by a court to determine if the couple was truly common-law married or not. If you or a loved one think you are common-law married and truly intend to be married, it may be a good idea to actually get married and obtain a marriage license and have a ceremony.

Recipe of the Month: Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 Yukon Gold or russet potatoes, peeled, chopped into 1-inch pieces
• 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 celery rib, thinly sliced
• 1 large carrot, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
• 4 cups (or more) low-sodium chicken broth
• Heavy cream, for drizzling (optional)

Instructions

4. Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 400º. On a large baking sheet, toss squash and potatoes with 2 Tbsp oil; generously season with salt and pepper.
5. Roast squash and potatoes, stirring halfway, until tender (30–35 minutes).
6. Meanwhile, in a large pot over medium heat, heat butter and remaining 1 Tbsp oil until butter melts. Cook onion, celery, and carrot, stirring until softened (7–10 minutes). Stir in thyme; season with salt and pepper.
7. Add roasted squash and potatoes, then pour in broth. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced and flavors have melded (about 10 minutes).
8. Using an immersion blender, blend soup, adding more broth if needed, until creamy. Divide among bowls.

Iowa Fun Facts

Here are 3 Iowa Fun Facts:

What is the favorite side dish for Thanksgiving among Iowans?

What day did Iowa originally choose for Thanksgiving?

What were the names of the turkeys that Governor Kim Reynolds pardoned last year?

Go to www.IowaFacts.com for the answers and explanations.

Raving Fan of the Month

James of Ankeny, Iowa (Systems Manager)

“Without Walker, Billingsley & Bair Law, I would have never learned the complex world of worker compensations laws or been able to manage worker comp Insurance companies — especially to understand their level of corruption, as well as worker comp Doctors. Thank you WBBL and Erik for the help I didn’t know I needed. Call them immediately, they will take care of your best interest.”

Community Safety First: Health Insurance Deadlines

If you do not have health insurance, please keep in mind that there are penalties for not having health insurance. You may qualify for coverage at little, if any cost. The 2027 Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1, 2026, to December 15, 2026. Failing to enroll during this period may prevent you from obtaining health insurance in 2027. Coverage for people who sign up during open enrollment starts January 1, 2027. Go to www.Healthcare.gov to sign up or to learn more, including about special enrollment periods, which include life events like losing your health insurance plan at work, getting married, or divorced, etc.

Thanks for Your Referrals That Help Fellow Iowans

Thanks to the following people for recently referring us potential clients:

• Jen of Baxter, Iowa
• Tom of Des Moines, Iowa
• Nick of Melbourne, Iowa
• Gary of Newton, Iowa
• Karen of Waukee, Iowa

We are donating $500 to the Food Bank of Iowa, which each year provides more than 15 million meals to Iowans through their network of 650 partner agencies, including food pantries, meal sites, shelters, schools, and other programs. For more information about them, go to www.FoodBankIowa.org.

Also, thanks to the rest of you who referred potential clients to us but we were unable to determine your name. If you referred someone to us recently and you have not been recognized, then email or call Marie and she will make sure you are recognized at Marie@WalkLaw.com or 515-661-5542.

The highest compliment our clients can give to us is the referral of their friends, co-workers, and family. Thank you for your trust!

What’s the Good Word?

A Thanksgiving Goodbye

By Sophia and Corbin Walker

This article began in September 2011, when I wrote about a new movie at the time “Soul Surfer.” The pictures to the right show you what we look like now and back in 2011 — quite a difference.

Now we have both been working full-time jobs for more than 18 months and it is time to let the next generation take over “What’s the Good Word.” All good things must come to an end and we are very thankful for all the positive emails and comments from hundreds of you over the past 15 years. While we will not be writing an article every month anymore, our dad has promised to put in a few updates in the newsletter each year so you know how and what we are doing. Next month, look for an article written by Erik’s daughter Katie Bair, who is a senior in high school.