On May 12th I, Lois Tager, will be retiring from this wonderful Law Firm. I wanted to take this opportunity to say “Goodbye” to all our exceptional clients. Together with Roy and his superb staff, building our Geriatric Division has been one of the most rewarding endeavors of my career. Helping to service the needs of our clients has been most rewarding and I shall miss you all. The field of Geriatric Care (also known as Elder Care) associated with a Law firm was unheard of just a short … [Read more...] about A “Goodbye” Message from Our Director of Geriatric Care Management
Three Benefits of a Living Trust
There are a number of legal devices that are used in the field of estate planning. Depending on your unique circumstances, various different courses of action may be appropriate. Many people assume that they should use a last will to direct future asset transfers, but in fact a revocable living trust may be a better alternative. You may have heard about the numerous benefits of living trusts. In this blog post, we will address three of those benefits. Avoiding Probate One of the … [Read more...] about Three Benefits of a Living Trust
Register for our Upcoming Free Medi-Cal Planning Workshop, Thursday, April 21
The Medi-Cal program is a jointly administered federal/state government health insurance program. In California, it is called Medi-Cal. Most senior citizens who worked throughout their lives will qualify for Medicare coverage. This is also a government run health insurance program. If you qualify for Medicare, you won't need Medi-Cal at first, and you probably wouldn't be eligible, because Medi-Cal is a need-based program. People who have a reasonable store of assets cannot qualify. In … [Read more...] about Register for our Upcoming Free Medi-Cal Planning Workshop, Thursday, April 21
End-of-Life Options Expanding in California
The following is an Article written by Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M., Associate Director of Education, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. California passed a new law permitting a physician to prescribe a life-ending drug for a terminal patient. The California End of Life Option Act is effective this June. It dramatically increases the number of people in the United States who live in a state allowing someone to choose to end their life with the assistance of a … [Read more...] about End-of-Life Options Expanding in California
Transferring Your Property Taxes Using Prop 60/90
by Guest Blogger, Diane Bucher, Realtor What you Need To Know About Proposition 60/90: The Senior Citizens Replacement Dwelling Benefit Who Qualifies? IF you or your spouse that resides with you is age 55 or older, you may buy or construct a new home of equal or lesser value than your existing home and transfer the base value to your new property. This is a one-time only benefit. You must buy or complete construction of your replacement home within two years of the sale of the original … [Read more...] about Transferring Your Property Taxes Using Prop 60/90
Avoiding Probate (An Elder Law Today Blog)
When an individual dies owning property solely in his or her name without a beneficiary designation, a formal procedure ("probate") is usually needed to determine to whom the property should pass. If there is a valid Will, the probate court will oversee that property passes according to the terms of the Will. If there is no Will, the property will pass to the individual's heirs at law through the probate system. However, it is possible to legally pass property to another person without going … [Read more...] about Avoiding Probate (An Elder Law Today Blog)
Have You Received a “Recorded Deed Notice” Mailer?
One of our clients recently brought in the below "Recorded Deed Notice" solicitation and inquired about whether or not she was required to pay the fee to the solicitor to obtain a copy of her current deed. We informed our client that she could obtain a copy of her deed on her own from the County Recorder's office. The fee the County Recorder's office will charge is considerably less. Additionally, whenever our office prepares Trust Transfer Deeds for our clients, we record the deed(s) on … [Read more...] about Have You Received a “Recorded Deed Notice” Mailer?
Payable on Death Accounts are not a Comprehensive Solution
Payable on death accounts may sound like a simple way to pass assets to your heirs. However, there are numerous reasons why payable on death ("POD") accounts do not provide a comprehensive estate planning solution. When you open up a bank account or brokerage account, you may be offered a payable on death option. With these accounts you add a beneficiary, and this individual would assume ownership of any funds left in the account at the time of your death. If you are presented with this … [Read more...] about Payable on Death Accounts are not a Comprehensive Solution
The Dangers of Social Isolation (An Elder Law Today Blog)
by: Lois G. Tager, M. Ed., CSA Director of Geriatric Care Management, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law “Nobody relishes the prospect of aging without a spouse or family member at their side, without friends to help them laugh at the ridiculous parts and support them through the difficult times.” (Senior Living Blog) Unfortunately, that is what many seniors face. Due to the lack of socialization, seniors are less able to contribute to their communities. Seniors who … [Read more...] about The Dangers of Social Isolation (An Elder Law Today Blog)
VETERANS AID AND ATTENDANCE SPECIAL PENSION
Many people are not aware that the Department of Veterans Affairs offers assistance to veterans, their spouses and widows to help with assisted living and nursing home costs. This benefit is known as the Veterans Aid and Attendance Special Pension. VETERANS AID & ATTENDANCE People who have served in the military make a lot of sacrifices, but there are certain benefits that go along with service. Most of these are well understood, but the Veterans Aid and Attendance Special Pension is … [Read more...] about VETERANS AID AND ATTENDANCE SPECIAL PENSION
