What To Do About Social Security Benefits After Someone Dies

We are often asked what should be done about Social Security benefits after someone dies. When a social security recipient dies, the Social Security Administration must be notified as soon as possible. The funeral home will usually make the notification to Social Security.  If the funeral home does not provide this service, then another family […]

Beware of Arbitration Clauses

The New York Times has examined, in a series of articles, the problems with mandatory arbitration agreements in consumer contracts. The articles examine “… how clauses buried in tens of thousands of contracts have deprived Americans of one of their most fundamental constitutional rights: their day in court.” The NY Times series discusses how consumers […]

Help For Caregiver Burnout

Over the past years, practicing in the area of elder law and long term care planning, we have observed many cases of elder care burnout. The caretaker spouse or child is usually not equipped to adequately care for a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease, or other debilitating diseases. These diseases […]

Be On The Lookout For Sweepstakes Fraud

There are thousands of companies that use sweepstakes offers in an effort to lure people into sending them money. This has been reported by the Office of the Attorney General in California. The report says that many of these companies have been prosecuted by the California Attorney  General, attorneys general in other states, by the […]

Governor Brown Signs The End Of Life Options Bill

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed into law the AB-15 End of Life Options bill on October 5, 2015.  This is landmark legislation which allows patients who are terminally ill to receive lethal medications to end their lives at a time they choose. The law will become effective at a date to be announced during […]

Watch Out For This Scam Regarding Recorded Deeds

As part of our estate and long-term care planning practice, we regularly prepare deeds for our clients. These deeds can for instance transfer real property into or out of trusts, or between individuals. We send the executed and acknowledged deeds to the recorder’s office along with the required preliminary change of ownership reports. Thereafter, within […]

Our Estate Plans Change As We Age

Most people I meet have a basic estate plan that is designed for younger people. The plan typically consists of a revocable living trust, pour over wills, financial durable powers of attorney, and health care directives. These plans were typically designed some years ago. The emphasis on that planning was to ensure that if the […]

Alzheimer’s Disease – The 10 Warning Signs

Every 70 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association has a list of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, as follows: Memory changes that disrupt daily life. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. Confusion with time or place. Trouble understanding […]

Don’t Be A Victim Of Fraud and Financial Abuse

A 2013 study published by the MetLife Mature Market Institute estimated that elders are defrauded of approximately $2.9 billion dollars annually. The reason for this seems to be that older people are too trusting of strangers. My own father, who was in sales his entire life, was too easily talked into buying things he did […]

You Can Self-Insure For Your Long Term Care

Through our elder law firm, you can explore the possibility of self-insuring for your long term care, using what are referred to as “legacy assets.” Your portfolio may contain assets that you are not presently relying upon for your support, and that you keeping for a “rainy day.”  In the back of your mind, the […]