Horizon Elder Law & Estate Planning Blog

Fewer than half of all Americans have an estate plan in place.  Estate planning is a topic that all too often gets pushed to the backburner until it is too late.  There are several major advantages to having an estate plan in California. Our San Ramon estate planning attorneys at Horizon Elder Law & Estate Planning, Inc. discuss how your family can benefit from having an estate plan below.

Although it is sometimes overlooked, a life insurance plan is a valuable piece of your estate plan. In fact, it is one of the most common financial products in the United States. Its benefits are easy to understand, but the administration of life insurance funds is less straightforward. A California estate planning attorney will tell you that life insurance proceeds are extremely valuable to a family that has just lost a loved one, but they can also be cumbersome if not managed properly.

7 Tips for Choosing a Trustee

So, you are setting up a living trust. You know what assets you want to put into the trust and who you want to give them to one day. You have worked out a strategy to reward your beneficiaries for things like getting a college degree. You have mapped out your financial future and provided for your loved ones. But you still need to name the person who will manage your trust and distribute your assets after you die, and possibly handle your financial affairs during your lifetime.

You are doing the adult thing and looking out for your loved ones. You bought life insurance and checked the beneficiaries on your retirement account, and now you are debating whether you should update that simple form will you made years ago or get a living trust.  You are comfortable with your understanding of a will, but not so much about trusts. Since the laws are different in every state, reading some generic online article will not tell you about

What is a durable power of attorney?

A durable power of attorney (POA) allows you to appoint a trusted loved one to make vital health and financial decisions in the event you are ever incapacitated.  All thorough estate plans should include two or more power of attorneys to ensure their health and finances are protected no matter what the future holds.  Without these important documents in place, the court may be forced to order a Conservator to be your decision maker.  A conservatorship is expensive and there are no guarantees the court will appoint someone whom you would select.  You

The Veterans Administration (VA) offers several benefits for disabled veterans. One of these programs is Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI). Unlike standard life insurance, which prefers to cover people who are in perfect health, the S-DVI program is only for people with disabilities. Veterans who might have a hard time obtaining conventional life insurance can get a small amount of coverage through this program.

When it comes to long term care planning, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by so much information coming to you from many different sources. Sometimes you discover that your assumptions about something are way out in left field. It can be like that with Medicaid. Whether you receive Medicaid or not, you might be surprised by some of these common misconceptions about the program. Here are seven Medicaid Myths Debunked.

As the Baby Boomer generation continues to approach retirement age, more Americans may soon find themselves caring for their elderly parents.  According to MetLife, who provides a wide range of insurance options, over 10 million adult children over 50 are caring for an elderly parent.  This figure is expected to grow in the coming years.  Caring for an elderly loved one is a tremendous responsibility.  It is not always easy to know when to step in or what to do in order to ensure your aging parent receives the care they need.  Our San Ramon, California elder law attorneys offer some tips for when and how you can step in to assist your aging loved one.  

Your aging loved one has worked hard all her life, and now she wants to get her affairs in order so she can relax and enjoy her retirement, knowing her modest assets will go to her loved ones someday. She pays thousands of dollars for a beautifully packaged living trust, which she proudly places in her filing cabinet at home, with her other legal papers, insurance policies, and title documents.

Long-term care could be one of the most daunting expenses you ever face. You should consider this cost when you are strategizing for your financial future. You need to know what Medicare will pay for your long-term care and what other resources are available. Let’s talk about understanding Medicare for long-term care planning.

The death of a loved one, no matter the circumstances, is a sad event.  In the wake of your loved one’s death, you may feel lost and confused as to the necessary next steps.  This can make an already tragic time all the more painful.  You may need legal assistance to get through the complex process of transferring your relative’s assets to his or her heirs.  Our San Ramon elder law attorney at Horizon Elder Law & Estate Planning outlines some important steps you should take following the death of a loved one below.