The recent horrific firestorms suffered by our neighbors in nearby Paradise and the fires in the Wine Country not long ago have touched us all. To help them with their recovery, there are several organizations providing much needed assistance. They can all use our helping hand. See our Charity list in this newsletter for more information. Natural disasters are part of life, from hurricanes and floods to earthquakes and tornadoes. For us Northern Californians, the forecast is for more … [Read more...] about KEEPING YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS SAFE FROM A DISASTER
General
Can Tax Legislation Impact My Estate Plan?
When you think about estate planning, you may put it on the back burner, thinking that you will have time put a plan in place at a future date. Many people adopt this perspective, and as a result, most Americans are not properly prepared. Because of this tendency toward foot dragging, once you put your initial plan in place, you may feel as though the job is done. You have finally taken action, and you no longer have to feel this nagging sense of unpreparedness. It's great to put a plan in … [Read more...] about Can Tax Legislation Impact My Estate Plan?
Generation X Needs To Plan
Caring for Young Children Many members of Generation X are in the midst of raising a family. As they go about the day-to-day duties of raising children, a lot of estate planning issues can be shunted aside or completely forgotten about. Yet crafting a plan that protects your children is absolutely essential. One of the most important things you can do as a Generation X parent is create an estate plan that names a guardian who will take over parenting responsibilities in the event you and … [Read more...] about Generation X Needs To Plan
Comprehensive Planning for the Eventualities of Aging
Legal professionals often dedicate themselves to particular areas of focus. One of these specialties is the elder law arena. These attorneys help people who are concerned about the eventualities of aging. At the present time, there is an unprecedented aging of the population underway. This is due to the maturation of the baby boomer generation. As a result, many people have questions about the contingencies that they may face during their senior years. Elder law attorneys provide guidance and … [Read more...] about Comprehensive Planning for the Eventualities of Aging
Californians Can Take Advantage of Added Nursing Home Asset Protection
Nursing home asset protection is a very big deal when you understand all of the facts. It would be natural to assume that Medicare will pay for nursing home care if you ever need it, but in reality, the program does not pay for custodial. The Medicare program will often cover rehabilitative care after release from a hospital following an injury or illness, but it will not pay for custodial care. Paying out-of-pocket is really not a sensible option for most people, because long-term care costs … [Read more...] about Californians Can Take Advantage of Added Nursing Home Asset Protection
Medi-Cal and Long-Term Care: A Primer
You should understand the basics when it comes to Medi-Cal and long-term care. Many aging persons will require living assistance at some point in time, and Medicare will not pay for help with your activities of daily living. Nursing homes and assisted living communities are extremely expensive, and in-home care givers are also costly. Medi-Cal does pay for long-term care, and it is the solution for many Californians. In this post, we will provide some basic information about the Medi-Cal … [Read more...] about Medi-Cal and Long-Term Care: A Primer
A Look at Asset Protection for Landlords
When you have been able to accumulate resources, you have to protect what you have earned. Without question, we live in a litigious society, and there are always those who are willing to sue. For this reason, asset protection is a top priority for some people. Anyone can be the target of a lawsuit, so you should remain vigilant regardless of your occupation. At the same time, people who engage in certain endeavors are particularly vulnerable to lawsuits. Landlords would fit into this … [Read more...] about A Look at Asset Protection for Landlords
Basics of Asset Protection – Part 4 of 4 Parts
Rule number 4: Create a Comprehensive Estate Plan In addition to following Rules 1 through 3, discussed in prior blogs, the creation of a high quality, comprehensive estate plan with the assistance of an experienced and qualified estate planning attorney is essential. Except for those with very modest estates, the best way to start such a plan is with a living trust-based estate plan. Through such planning, you can include such asset planning strategies as income tax savings, property tax … [Read more...] about Basics of Asset Protection – Part 4 of 4 Parts
Basics of Asset Protection – Part 3 of 4 Parts
Rule number 3: Consider insurance - the right kinds of insurance. Many liability claims arise out a claim of negligence against an alleged wrongdoer, such as an auto accident, dog bite or perhaps professional malpractice. Most insurance is designed to cover losses caused by someone's negligence. A question that is sometimes asked is whether or not a particular kind of insurance is a good investment. That is the wrong question. Insurance is not an investment, but instead a risk management … [Read more...] about Basics of Asset Protection – Part 3 of 4 Parts
States Upgrading Medicaid Application and Processing
State legislatures and governors are currently facing the question of whether they will choose to expand Medicaid under the terms of the healthcare law. So far a majority of states appears to be on track to adopting the expansion that would allow anyone earning up to 133% of the poverty limit to receive Medicaid, or as it is known in California, Medi-Cal. However, according to a new study from the Kaiser commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured and the Georgetown University Center for Children … [Read more...] about States Upgrading Medicaid Application and Processing
