As an adult child, one of the most difficult things you may be faced with is the realization that a parent needs help making financial and/or personal decisions. You may see the signs of incapacity; however, you may not want to acknowledge them and/or you may feel uncomfortable doing so. Often, an adult child feels that stepping in an exerting control over a parent will be perceived as taking away the parent’s freedom and/or independence. What you need to remember, however, is that failing to … [Read more...]
Retirement Planning — How Much Do I Need to Save?
A basic estate plan usually begins with executing a Last Will and Testament; however, as your family and your estate grows, your estate plan should grow as well to become more comprehensive in nature. At some point you will likely add a retirement planning component to your estate plan. Knowing you need to plan for retirement is the easy part. The hard part of retirement planning is knowing how much you will need to live comfortably during your “Golden Years.” Unfortunately, there is no “magic … [Read more...]
What Can I Do to Ensure My Financial Security During My Golden Years?
When you finally starting working at your first “real” job your focus of your financial concerns is on the here and now. Eventually, if you start a family your focus will shift to thinking about things like braces, college, and weddings down road. Even farther down the road, however, is your own retirement. At some point your focus needs to shift to financial security for you during your “Golden Years” – and the sooner you make that shift, the better. Failing to plan for your retirement years, … [Read more...]
Which Type of IRA Is Right for Me?
In the 21st century, retirement planning is much more complicated than it was just a couple of generations ago. Gone are the days when you could rely on an employer sponsored pension and a healthy social security retirement benefit to provide you with a comfortable retirement. Instead, most people are now forced to develop and fund their own retirement plan. One common funding option for the average retirement plan is an Individual Retirement Account, or IRA. If you are considering the addition … [Read more...]
When Should I Use a California Durable Power of Attorney?
Creating a comprehensive estate plan usually requires you to incorporate estate planning documents and strategies that go beyond just a simple Last Will and Testament. One of the most common additions to an estate plan is a power of attorney. In fact, you may find that you create and execute several different powers of attorney during your lifetime. Unfortunately, the fact that a power of attorney is such a common legal document means that people frequently use a power of attorney without a … [Read more...]
Rules for Medi-Cal Eligibility for Seniors
Are you a senior who is suddenly facing the need for long-term care (LTC) for you or a spouse? If so, you are also facing the need to pay for the cost of that care. In the State of California, that means paying an average of $10,000 per month in LTC expenses. Unless you can afford to cover those expenses out of pocket, you will likely find yourself turning to Medi-Cal for assistance. While Medi-Cal does cover LTC expenses, you may find yourself looking at several obstacles to eligibility unless … [Read more...]
Caregiver Charged after Discovery of Mummified Remains of Elderly Patient
Sadly, elder abuse is not a new problem in the United States. On the contrary, abuse and neglect of the elderly has long been a concern; however, as the older population in the U.S. grows to historical numbers, the elder abuse epidemic has taken on a greater sense of urgency. As one story after another makes the headlines, the need to find solutions to the problem becomes more apparent. Take, for example, a recent story in the Sonoma County Press Democrat where the mummified remains of an … [Read more...]
I’m the Executor of a Will? Now What?
Did you recently find out that you are the Executor of a Will of a recently deceased loved one? If so, and the appointment was not discussed with you at the time it was made, you are probably wondering what it means to be the Executor. Unless you have served as an Executor before, you may not know where to start or who to turn to for help. Although no two estates are exactly the same, there are some common duties and responsibilities that the Executor of a Will usually has when probating an … [Read more...]
How Does Gentrification Affect Your Estate Plan?
For an estate plan to work as planned, it must be well thought out and encompass much more than simply deciding what will happen to your estate assets when you are gone. The most amazingly well drafted estate plan will fail, however, if that plan is not reviewed and updated on a regular basis and upon the occurrence of certain special events. One factor that should call for a review of your estate plan, but that people rarely realize is important, is gentrification. At this point you may be … [Read more...]
California’s Elder Abuse Act – What You Need to Know
Elder abuse is not a new problem; however, it is a growing problem in the United States. As the 65 and older population continues to increase at a heretofore unseen rate, issues that affect seniors and those who care for them are becoming more and more important. How to combat and punish abuse and neglect of the elderly is a problem that every state in the U.S. is wrestling with in the 21st century. California has long been a pioneer in the effort to protect seniors, enacting the Elder Abuse and … [Read more...]
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