In this series of posts we will focus on Medi-Cal for our over-65 clients who need assistance with long-term care. We will take you through the laws and what we do for our clients, from the initial meeting until we receive that eligibility letter, to help them qualify, apply for and receive Medi-Cal, for long-term care. The Initial Appointment –…
As the average age of the U.S. population increases, more people are becoming aware of the benefits of having a general durable power of attorney (POA) to insure they have someone to assist them with financial matters when they are unable to act for themselves. Actually, the benefits of creating a POA apply to all walks of life, from the…
Mary read the trust document again. “This can’t be right,” she said, shaking her head. “Why would Grandpa change the terms of his trust and leave such a large amount of money to this religious group? I’ve never even heard of this organization. Our kids were supposed to benefit from his trust. He always made that clear. This makes no…
When Anna approached her 80th year, she decided it would be wise to add her daughter Amy’s name to her checking account. “After all,” she told her children, “she already pays my bills and does my grocery shopping. What happens if I become ill and can no longer sign the checks? Someone has to have access to my bank account…
Aunt Minnie may appear to be a little flighty and forgetful, but does that mean she is incapable of creating and legally executing (signing) a will? The answer is complicated. The preparation of an estate plan, which may include a will, trust, and/or other documents, involves many steps. Assets and liabilities must be identified and decisions need to be made…
Embed from Getty Images When drafting a Power of Attorney for Finances, clients often wonder if they should execute a “Durable” power of attorney or a “Springing” power of attorney. A durable power of attorney means that the ‘agent’ you select can immediately step into your shoes and gain access to your accounts and manage your financial affairs. This power…
No one likes to think of this subject but the reality is that anyone at any age can be struck down by injury or illness. Two of the fastest rising maladies in the United States are dementia and stroke. Incapacity may be either temporary or permanent. The issue then is who will step into a person’s shoes and manage their…
Once a person has created an estate plan, the object is to preserve it. Unfortunately, for many seniors in particular, this can be a daunting task as the number of scams that target older Americans is increasing. Just because your funds and home are in a trust, that doesn’t mean a predator cannot target you as you are still in…
California has made some important changes to its Probate Code regarding guardianships, conservatorships and elder abuse that you should be aware of. Up until now, in California and most other states, a wife or husband had the legal right to bar visitation to the other spouse’s adult children who might want to visit them. An ailing spouse may have dementia…