5 Qualities of a Great Elder Law Attorney
What to Look for in an Estate Planning Attorney
When you decide to protect your future and provide for your loved ones, a lawyer can help you formulate your plans and draft the documents you need. A California estate planning lawyer can do much more for you than merely write a will or living trust. Your lawyer can also:
Prepare power of...Why Consider a Revocable Trust?
Should My Aging Parents Add Me to Their Bank Accounts?
If you are thinking about getting added to your aging parents’ bank accounts, you should realize and understand the risks. It is not automatically an unwise decision to get added to your parents’ accounts, but sometimes people experience adverse outcomes they did not anticipate.
It might seem convenient to have a joint bank...
How Do I Get My Will and Other Estate-Planning Documents Signed if I Can’t Leave the House?
Although this situation could change at any time, California law does not currently (as of April 15, 2020), allow remote online notarization (RON) of documents. More than 20 other states allow RON, but California has not passed previously proposed attempts to allow RON. A California estate-planning attorney can answer your questions about the...
If Someone Challenges my Trust, Will it go Through Probate?
If someone challenges your trust, the judge could modify the trust, terminate the entire trust, or deny the challenge. The person disputing your trust would have to file a lawsuit in the probate court. A California estate planning attorney can help you take steps to protect your trust from getting invalidated.
If the judge...
When Caregivers Are Abused: Setting Boundaries with Your Aging Loved One
We often discuss elderly abuse and nursing home abuse. However, caregiver abuse is also a serious problem for many individuals and families throughout the country. Elderly or incapacitated family members abuse their caregivers physically, verbally, or emotionally. Caregivers may excuse the behavior as a side-effect or symptom of an illness or medication, but this...
Assisted Suicide in California: 7 Things Children of Aging Adults Need to Know
If you have an older loved one who has a terminal diagnosis, you might have concerns about your relative’s right to chooses Death with Dignity, also called physician-assisted suicide. A California elder law attorney can help you understand how California law applies to this sensitive situation. Here are 7 things that children of...
Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia Benefits for Veterans
A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia often raises immediate questions about how to pay for care. Veterans and certain surviving spouses may qualify for VA programs that help cover in-home care, memory care, caregiver support, and other long-term care services. Understanding the benefits that may be available can...
Using Irrevocable Trusts in California Medi-Cal Planning
Long-term care in California can quickly become expensive, especially for families facing nursing home costs or advanced illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. Irrevocable trusts are one tool that may help protect certain assets, preserve a family home, reduce probate exposure, and support Medi-Cal eligibility planning. However, these trusts must be created carefully...