On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Tuesday, November 27, 2018. People sometimes delay their estate planning because they are unsure of what that entails. There typically may be confusion over what authorities the signed documents give to others.One often misunderstood document is a power of attorney (POA). Below are some common misconceptions about POAs: You just need to download a form off the internet.On the surface, this is true -- powers of attorney forms ar...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in estate administration & probate on Monday, November 19, 2018. Stan Lee, the man behind many of the superheroes that entertain both kids and adults in California and around the world, passed away in November, 2018 at the age of 95. But the end of Lee's life has led to an entirely new saga involving the comic book writer, editor, and publisher's estate. Hints of possible issues came even before Lee's death. In early 2018, ...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Thursday, November 15, 2018. For many California residents, trusts can be an optimal method to achieve their estate planning goals while preserving privacy, as trusts transfer property outside the probate system. Settlors can develop a range of innovative methods to pass wealth to their beneficiaries. However, when creating a trust, it can be important to select the right fiduciary. The t...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Many Americans living in California apply for Social Security disability when they become unable to work. There are several stages of the application process. Most applications are approved after a hearing with an administrative law judge, but some are approved right away without a hearing.Approximately 30 percent of disability applicants are approved after their ...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Many people in California consider how they can best protect their assets now and provide for their families in the future. Trusts provide important mechanisms not only to pass on wealth between generations without relying on the probate system but also to realize significant tax savings during a person's life. Therefore, many people wish to create trusts to pro...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Monday, November 5, 2018. Wealthy people in California may want to ensure that they can pass on significant assets to their children or other loved ones. However, many people may not want to disclose their plans early on, especially if they have many years left to live and want to benefit from tax as well as estate planning. In addition, their children may be quite young, and parents may ...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Friday, November 2, 2018. California residents who are seeking disability benefits from the Social Security Administration are not required to have medical records on hand to file or qualify for disability. However, to make a determination about an applicant's benefits, disability examiners will need to have medical history treatment notes. For those who don't have the financial resources to...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Friday, November 2, 2018. Parents in California may have an interest in establishing a legacy for themselves long after they depart this world. One way to do that is to ensure that their children have the money needed for a quality education. This goal may be accomplished by using a trust or by investing in a 529 plan. Before creating a trust, it is important for a parent to know what his...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in veterans' benefits on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. Veterans in California who were other-than-honorably discharged usually do not qualify for VA benefits. These veterans often need help for trauma related to their service, and suicide and substance abuse is common in this group. The VA has started a new program to allow these veterans to come to the VA for mental health care.The VA reports that 115 veterans have used the...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. "Wealth is the ability to fully experience life," according to transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. While that may certainly be true, most will agree that one can experience more of life if they have the assets and resources to do so.If you are concerned with not just your own estate planning but about preserving generational wealth, the time to begin is immediately. Without the right stewardship,...
