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 injury, stroke, sudden cardiac arrest, early onset of
Three Legal Things to Do After a Scary Health Diagnosis
A scary health diagnosis can be emotionally and logistically challenging for many reasons. For instance, how can you take care of your family if you’re physically incapacitated? In addition to working closely with your medical providers, consider these three legal tips: Check your estate plan with your attorney to make sure it is up
How to Get Your Estate Planning Done in Just 10 Minutes
Research tells us that the majority of Americans today still do not have estate planning in place and only a third of parents have properly named legal guardians for their minor children. That’s problematic because life happens to all of us and gives none of us a heads up. But our message this week is not about
Traveling Abroad in 2018? Follow This Checklist Before You Leave
Now is the time of year when many of us are planning and solidifying our travel plans for the upcoming year. With so many wonderful places to visit in this world that are more accessible than ever, many of us will be jet setting across the globe. Travel abroad can be relaxing, luxurious, and exciting,
What Really Happens If I’m in a Coma in California?
One moment you can be completely conscious and thriving, while a few minutes later the unexpected can happen and you can be in a coma in California, completely unable to make your own decisions. You could be in a car accident or have a sudden health care crisis, there could come a time when you
What does it really mean to “pull the plug” in California?
Although having the end-of-life conversation is something that most of us would like to avoid, it is critical to discuss. It may sound crass but the term “pull the plug” has become synonymous in many ways with living wills and end of life conditions. There are instances where decisions must be made regarding the serious
Can My Parents Make a Power of Attorney If They Have Alzheimer’s Disease?
As parents grow older it seems that roles reverse. While they spent much of their time caring for us, we now have the responsibility to care for them. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America estimates that nearly 5.1 million Americans may be diagnosed with this disease in their lifetime and it has become more and more
Just Moved to California? 7 Areas of Your Estate Plan You Cannot Overlook
Congrats on the move and welcome to California! Assuredly you have a long checklist of things to do to get settled. However, make sure that reviewing your estate plan is high on that list. You did not take the time, energy, and money to create an estate plan to only have it fail when you and
How Does National Healthcare Decision Day Impact You?
The Conversation Project created a 50-state initiative to bring awareness to advance care planning. This initiative is called National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). National Healthcare Decision Day runs from April 16th to 22nd every year with “a key goal to demystify healthcare decision-making and make the topic of advance care planning inescapable.” The main goal
The Pitfalls of a Do-It-Yourself Estate Plan and How to Avoid Them
When the term “Do-It-Yourself” or “DIY” comes to mind, what do you think of? A weekend spent working hard on a home improvement project? An evening putting together your kid’s new bicycle? DIT projects can bring a lot of joy and pride from realizing you’ve accomplished something great on your own. On the other hand, doing
How to Build a Care Plan for Disability and Incapacity
Every day we make decisions. Sometimes they’re simple like choosing what to eat for lunch or what to wear. Sometimes they’re a little more complicated like deciding how to manage our hard-earned money. Big or small, these decisions have an impact on how we care for ourselves and others. Indeed, many of us have spouses,