On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in special needs trusts on Friday, May 24, 2019. Setting up a trust can allow individuals with special needs in California to retain government benefits while also receiving assets from family members. Those who have assets of more than $2,000 may not be allowed to participate in programs such as Medicaid. However, money or other items inside of a trust are owned by the trust as opposed to the beneficiary.Trusts may be fund...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. No one wants to see their elderly parents' assets and resources be consumed by the state in order for them to qualify for Medi-Cal benefits. But health care costs continue to climb, meaning that senior citizens' savings can be depleted long before their lives end.If you are the adult child of a senior citizen, you may be able to help your parent(s) protect their assets with a trust. Why trusts are usefu...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in estate administration & probate on Thursday, May 16, 2019. The legal issues involved in administering an estate generally include making a list of the deceased individual's assets, paying their outstanding debts and then distributing any remaining assets to heirs or beneficiaries. During the probate process, the court appoints an individual to take care of these tasks. If the deceased individual had a last will and testa...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Special needs trusts may be an effective tool for parents or grandparents who are looking to care for a loved one. The trusts may be structured in a variety of different ways to help meet the needs of the beneficiary. Furthermore, the trust will be overseen by a trustee who will make decisions based on guidance provided by the document itself. This person may be a C...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in estate administration & probate on Friday, May 10, 2019. California readers may have heard that director John Singleton died of a stroke in Los Angeles on April 28. Apparently, he had an outdated will, which means there could be conflict over his estimated $35 million estate. Singleton, who earned an Academy Award nomination for directing "Boyz n the Hood" in 1991, had seven children. However, when he drafted his will in...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Thursday, May 9, 2019. California parents of special needs children understandably want to do everything possible to make sure loved ones unable to care for themselves independently will have access to important financial resources. However, setting funds aside presents possible issues with eligibility for government assistance. One way to resolve this problem for parents looking to plan ...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in estate administration & probate on Friday, May 3, 2019. The estate of a famous singer and songwriter demonstrates why those who have accumulated wealth should engage in an estate plan. Those in California and elsewhere can pay heed to the plight of a multi-million-dollar estate.The singer passed away three years ago but did not leave a will or other estate succession document. With an estate estimated at $200 million and...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Monday, April 29, 2019. For California residents who have substantial assets, it can be particularly important to plan for the future to help ensure that their heirs and loved ones are able to benefit from them. Making an estate plan is a key step, but it can be only the beginning. It is important to periodically review documents like wills and trusts every three to five years to make cer...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Families can be torn asunder following the diagnosis of dementia in an elderly parent or grandparent. This often happens when one or more of the children or grandchildren objects to the proposed care plan for the elderly relative.Sometimes, fissures from old family wounds reopen during these stressful times. One sibling may resent another for taking charge and making decisions for an elderly parent. T...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in estate administration & probate on Monday, April 22, 2019. It is generally more convenient for California residents to receive bank statements and other documents electronically. Unfortunately, electronic records could also make estate planning more complex for both the plan creator and estate executor. This is because most bank and other accounts require a password to access them. Passwords may also be needed to get int...
