Those who care for elderly family members and loved ones face a difficult task, one made even more difficult when they have to care for their own children as well. In this position, caregivers can become exhausted and burnt out. As an experienced elder lawyer, I often...
As an Orange County estate planning attorney, I often see the results of when someone fails to plan for an unexpected disability. People tend to think about estate planning in terms of retirement and what happens to their assets after they die, but many don’t consider...
Many of us will be visiting aging parents and other family members this week for Thanksgiving. Some may have very obvious health needs, while others it might not be so obvious. Our older relatives might be too proud to ask for help, too private to share challenges,...
Are you being kept up at night worried about how best to protect your family if something happened to you? Have you ever thought that creating a trust just sounded…well…complicated? Do you wonder if it might be more bother than it’s worth? You are...
With the fall season in full swing and the year-end rapidly approaching, it’s an excellent time to review your legal, financial, and personal affairs. In this video, we share a legal affairs and estate planning checklist to ensure your planning meets your needs and is...
There are many common estate planning mistakes to be made. We have discussed them at length before (DIY planning, joint tenancy perils, failing to complete trust funding, etc). In this video, I talk about how these mistakes tend to overshadow what I believe to be the...
I get asked this question a lot: “If I have a trust, do I need a will; if so why?” Most people are familiar with a basic Last Will and Testament. However, very few people know about or have heard of a Pour-Over Will. Essentially, a Pour-Over Will is used...
A number of our clients in Orange County and throughout Southern California own any real estate in addition to their home. When we first met them, they were losing sleep worried about your rental property (or properties) being more of a liability than an asset. Yes,...
While it may seem straightforward at first, there are a lot of details and difficulties that can get in the way of having the conversation with your aging or elderly parents. There are so many things to coordinate, and often the parent is less than helpful in the...
We often get asked this question: “wouldn’t this just be an easier way to avoid probate?” The reality is that is, of course, an option. However, there are many pitfalls (we detail 7 here) with that approach that get overlooked or are unknown. Watch...
One of the common things to do when it comes to estate planning is to only focus on what happens when you die and ignore planning for the possibility of a medical emergency where you may not die but are temporarily or permanently incapacitated. Think accident, head...
When planning their estates, most people focus on major assets, such as business interests, real estate, investments and retirement plans. But it’s also important to “sweat the small stuff” — tangible personal property. Examples include automobiles, jewelry, clothing,...
Before you get alarmed, the real elephants are safe. But you metaphorical elephants, watch out! I know how to eat you…and I’m willing to share how. What do I mean? Creating “to-do lists” of resolutions and goals is part of human nature. So is...
Estate planning is on many “to-do lists” each year. That is a good thing. But resist the temptation to simply check it off your list. It’s not a “one-and-done.” If you are doing your planning right, it should never leave that list because...
An inheritance can come in many forms. Sometimes it is money, sometimes it is real estate, and sometimes it’s in the form of stocks or other appreciable assets. What is often true, is that beneficiaries rarely have their inheritances appraised at the time...
Estate Planning Attorney Warns, “Beware of DIY and Online Estate Planning Options!”January 20, 2020
Elder Law Attorney on When to Consider Home Health Care for an Elderly Loved OneJanuary 12, 2020
The First Steps Towards Enjoying Your Golden YearsJanuary 3, 2020
Does an Elder Law Attorney Represent the Senior or the Adult Children?December 26, 2019
Finding the Right Elder Law Attorney to Plan for Long-Term Care NeedsDecember 18, 2019