Whether You Should Disinherit Your New Spouse andHow California Law Protects Your Omitted Surviving Spouseby Magdalena A. LaBranch-GonzalesLitherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at LawWhat happens if you marry your spouse after you created your estate plan but they are not mentioned in your plan when you die? California considers that person an “omitted spouse.”[i]An “omitted spouse” is a spouse who married the decedent after the estate plan was already created but … [Read more...]
SALT and Non-Grantor Trusts
by Justin M. KennedyLitherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at LawAs we start a new tax year, it may be time to revisit some of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which increased the standard deduction to $12,000 per person or $24,000 per married couple. For those who do not itemize their deductions, this may be great news. However, for those who do itemize, there may be some significant tax consequences in the new law. The new law included a deduction cap of ten … [Read more...]
Exciting News! We are now Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law
We are happy to share the exciting news that effective January 1st the new name of our law firm is Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law.Justin has worked closely with Roy W. Litherland for the past 7 years as an Associate Attorney, is certified as a legal specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization and has been actively educating our clients and community on estate planning and elder law issues through … [Read more...]
The Job of a Caregiver
by Dedra Jize, OT, CSAGeriatric Care Manager, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at LawThe Caregiver job is one of the least understood jobs by other family members and friends who are watching from the outside, regardless if they live near or far. As the Caregiver, you may be pushed to the limit but there is no time to explore options for help. Perhaps there are funds out there to tap into to reduce the financial strain or maybe your loved one is eligible for … [Read more...]
Elder Law Today: Medi-Cal and the Deficit Reduction Act
by Justin M. Kennedy, Attorney at LawLitherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at LawRecently I have worked with many clients who have expressed concerns about when California will implement the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). The DRA was signed into Federal law on February 8, 2006. The Federal government then told the individual states to update their Medicaid laws to conform with the DRA. Currently California has not yet implemented the changes that would bring Medi-Cal … [Read more...]
Consider Taking the Entire Family on Vacation
by Dedra Jize, OT, CSAGeriatric Care Manager, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at LawWith summer approaching, you may be thinking of planning a summer vacation. There has been a shift to making these trips intergenerational; the grandchildren, parents and grandparents all go together. This can have advantages when there are young grandchildren who may need to ‘sit out’ on some of the experiences or need someone to watch them so their parents can have a night out, and can also … [Read more...]
Home Safety Check: Let’s Tour Your Home, Room by Room
by Dedra Jize, OT, CSAGeriatric Care Manager, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at LawLet’s go and take a tour of your home and check it out for safety. That’s right…get up and let’s walk outside and stand in front of your home.Out Front: First, are your house numbers highly visible (night and day) for emergency personnel? Do automatic lights on timers or motion detectors brightly light the path to the front door? Do you have steps? Highlight them by painting the edge a … [Read more...]
Estate Planning Is a Must for Single Parents
There is an expression that is often used with regard to the Vice President of the United States. He or she is said to be "a heartbeat away" from the presidency. The message that this is trying to convey can be applied to a single parent who has young children with regard to what could be waiting just a heartbeat away.If you were to pass away, what would become of your children? As a parent, this is a vital question that you need to address by assuring that you have a solid estate plan in … [Read more...]
The Major Tax Changes: An Overview
The new tax law has dominated political discussion for months and will likely continue to do so well into 2018. Consequences, both intended and otherwise, are still unclear. But for now, these are the big changes for both individuals and companies. In general, the changes to individual provisions expire at the end of 2025, but the corporate changes are permanent. Click here to read more. … [Read more...]
Limits to Medi-Cal Recovery (An Elder Law Today Blog)
By: Matthew M. Shafae, AttorneyLitherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at LawThe future of Medi-Cal eligibility has been the subject of speculation for a little over a decade now. Will the California implementation of the federal Medicaid system, known as Medi-Cal, finally implement federal laws enacted back in 2005? And now, with a Republican president-elect and a Congress with a Republican majority in both houses, it appears Medicaid funding may be an additional topic for … [Read more...]
