Archive for December 2020
Is Your Estate Plan Updated for the New Year?
You should check your estate planning documents every so often, to make sure they’re still good, especially with big life changes like births, marriages, divorces, and moving to another state. Children grow up, marriages dissolve, property gets sold, residences change. That’s why we recommend that you consult us for an estate-plan check-up every five years…
Read MoreWhat’s the Difference between Estate Planning and Elder Law?
The short answer: Both share similar concerns. The longer answer? The differences make all the difference for elder law and estate planning. The way we explain it to clients is that comparing elder law and estate planning is like comparing a square and a rectangle. You may remember the phrase from grade school mate: all…
Read MoreUnderstanding How Proposition 19 Will Impact Californians
In our previous blog last week, California Proposition 19 Pass Now What?, we shared how Proposition 19, operates. In this blog, we follow up with some helpful examples and illustrations so you can better understand its application and impact. As a reminder, Proposition 19 is a California ballot measure that modifies Proposition 13 (which limits…
Read MoreWhere There’s a Will, There’s a Way – To California Probate Court
One day William’s daughter read in an article that a will was not the best way to leave property to heirs. Wills often involve long and expensive probate court proceedings and there are other, more-efficient ways to pass on savings to a family such as trusts. But William was a person who knew his own…
Read MoreLife (Happily) Interrupted
Life never goes exactly as planned. We fill our days with expectations, tasks, and goals, only to have life disrupt them all. We truly live a life interrupted. This year has underscored that very boldly for all of us in different ways. Some disappointing, some tragic, and many inconvenient. But not all of these interruptions…
Read MoreCalifornia Proposition 19 Passes, Now What?
On November 3, 2020, California voters narrowly approved Proposition 19 (“Prop. 13”). The bad news for those that own real estate in California is that it came with significant property tax changes that go into effect on February 16, 2021. The good news is that you are reading this before that date and you still…
Read MoreUnderstanding Gen Xers Retirement Planning
As Gen Xers enter into their 40s and 50s, it is time for them to become active in the creation and execution of their retirement planning. There are many things to consider, including finances, investments, insurance policies, legal documents, living arrangements, and healthcare. It is advisable to make a detailed checklist within these categories and…
Read MoreHow to Avoid Common Medi-Cal Planning Mistakes
Due to an aging population, more Americans are finding themselves or their loved ones in need of nursing home care. While nursing home care is usually an option most people wish to avoid, it often is absolutely necessary. Of course, this doesn’t make it any less expensive and many find themselves depleting their life savings…
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