The goal of any good estate plan is to protect as much of your property as possible and ensure that, once you die, that property is inherited or transferred in a manner that you choose. While some people know that probate is the set of legal requirements that have to be met before inheritors can become the legal owners of a deceased person’s property, it isn’t always clear what property has to go through probate. In short, your property will be divided into two general categories after you … [Read more...] about Understanding The Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Estates
BLOG
About Self-Proving Wills
A complete estate plan always includes a last will and testament, even if you use other tools that make the will little more than a safety net. But even if you don’t plan on using your will for important decisions about passing on property, you will want to make it as easy as possible for your estate to validate the will so it will minimize any probate costs. One of the best ways to do this is to create a self-proving affidavit that will accompany the will. Here’s what you need to know. Witness … [Read more...] about About Self-Proving Wills
You Don’t Have a Living Will, But Your Doctor Probably Does
Even though a lot of people realize that they need some kind of advance health care directive, commonly referred to as living will, they rarely get around to making one. According to survey figures, only about 20% of American adults have created some kind of advance directive. Yet when it comes to these important legal documents your doctor is more than three times as likely to have created one. Studies show that about 64% of physicians have some kind of medical directive. These legal documents … [Read more...] about You Don’t Have a Living Will, But Your Doctor Probably Does
Report: Slower Growth in Medicaid Spending
A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that the growth in Medicaid spending over the past few years has slowed considerably. In 2012, the average Medicaid spending growth rate across all states slowed to about 2%. In 2011, the growth rate had been significantly higher at nearly 10%. The Kaiser report stated that this is the slowest growth in Medicaid spending since 2006, when the growth rate was 1.3%. The Medicaid program (known as Medi-Cal in California) is a state and … [Read more...] about Report: Slower Growth in Medicaid Spending
So You’ve Created a Living Trust: Now What?
Let’s say you’ve taken the time to consult with your estate planning lawyer and have decided that creating a revocable living trust is a good idea for you. You’ve gone to your lawyer’s office, signed the documents, and now have a brand-new trust ready to be used. What next? The next step is to begin transferring your property to the trust. Depending on the type of property you want to transfer, this process can be rather simple or somewhat complicated. Your attorney will tell you what you need … [Read more...] about So You’ve Created a Living Trust: Now What?
California’s Healthcare Exchange Plan
In January 2013, the federal government gave its approval to California’s healthcare exchange plan that allowed California residents to benefit from more competitive healthcare insurance prices. The healthcare exchange program is part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare, the Obama administration’s healthcare reform law that seeks to bring healthcare coverage to previously uninsured Americans. Along with the expansion of Medicaid, or as it is called … [Read more...] about California’s Healthcare Exchange Plan
Need Help Finding Out About an Estate? Here’s How to Get Started
Whether a family member has recently died or you are just curious about someone’s estate, there are several ways you can find more information about probate cases. While different states have different probate codes and requirements, you can usually find estate information fairly easily if you know where to look. Here are a few places you can start. Talk to the administrator. Let’s say you have been notified that a relative has died and you stand to inherit from the estate. This notice … [Read more...] about Need Help Finding Out About an Estate? Here’s How to Get Started
What You Need to Know About Special Needs Planning
As a parent who has a child with developmental disabilities, you should know that there are several options available to you to help protect your child should something happen to you. Special needs planning is the term that applies to a range of situations, but most often in cases where a parent has a child with a disability. Here are some of the basics you need to know about this kind of planning. Special Needs Trust Parents with a special needs child can create a special needs trust, a … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know About Special Needs Planning
Elder Care Relationships Can Hurt Your Health
Americans are living longer than ever before, and as the millions of baby boomers reach retirement age, more and more people are spending time caring for an elderly family member. Many of the elder care tasks they perform are relatively minor, such as providing transportation or performing household chores, but even simple tasks can be stressful. That stress can turn what should be a helpful relationship into a damaging one. Caregiving or Caretaking Providing elder care as a caregiver is a … [Read more...] about Elder Care Relationships Can Hurt Your Health
Understanding Essential Legal Concepts
For a lot of people who visit an estate planning lawyer in the Northern California area, the concepts and ideas your attorney likely takes for granted may be entirely foreign to you. The reality is that most people rarely speak to an attorney, and few people have participated in lawsuits or been accused of crimes. If you are new to legal process, have never spoken to a lawyer before, or are feeling a little lost as you discuss estate planning topics, here are some essential legal issues you will … [Read more...] about Understanding Essential Legal Concepts
