Modern Estate Planning Blog

Millions of individuals are affected by dementia in their lifetime. Unfortunately, it is usually after a medical crisis like dementia hits that many families begin to think about estate planning.

If you have minor children, one of the most critical parts of your estate plan will be appointing a guardian to take care of them if something should happen to you. If you are lucky, you and your spouse have several great relatives to choose from.

Blended families are becoming more and more common in modern society, yet estate laws remain largely unchanged and still geared toward a “traditional” family structure. This poses an issue when it comes to leaving an inheritance for step-children in an estate plan.

Medi-Cal is a needs-based program, meaning that strict income and asset limits are adhered to and seniors can face penalties if they do not meet those limits.

As a Folsom elder law attorney, I get this question quite a bit. "Should I invest in long-term care insurance?" The answer is….maybe. Let me explain.

This tragic hurricane season and other disasters have taken a toll on many parts of the United States and the Caribbean. They have also taken a toll on the charitable organizations that step in when a crisis hits.

Being a responsible parent is usually associated with car seats, safety gear, homework reminders for grade schoolers and trying to decide whether or not your teenager is responsible enough to drive to school on his or her own.

Not too long ago, a person who decided to leave an inheritance behind for their pet might be considered eccentric, to say the least. Take, for example, the case of Leona Helmsley: when she died in 2007, she left her dog Trouble an inheritance worth $12 million.

Children with special needs, or Children with Special Health Care Needs as defined by the Social Security Act, are eligible to receive a number of government benefits to pay for the aid, care, and services that are available to them.

Many people plan for their retirement by using Roth IRAs due to their great tax benefits, but most people don’t know that Roth IRAs are also excellent for avoiding probate.

The elderly are too often targets of unscrupulous individuals who may try to take an unsuspecting senior’s money. Seniors are especially vulnerable as they become less cognitively able and thus more dependent on other adults.

When it comes to creating a special needs plan for a loved one with disabilities, as a Folsom special needs lawyer, it’s the hope that all family members are in agreement and ideally on the same page. But, even if everyone is working together, there can be issues when the parents are divorced.

A common concern for those who have remarried is that they still want to leave the bulk of their estate to their adult children without abandoning their current spouse. The solution? Create a life estate.

An estate administrator has a duty to manage the estate and do so in the best interest of the beneficiaries. However, not every administrator acts in good faith.

Dying intestate, or without a will, is very common. If you die without a will, your property will go through Sacramento County probate and is then distributed according to California’s intestacy laws.

When the primary breadwinner dies, his or her surviving spouse, domestic partner and minor children can find themselves without the necessary resources to maintain their current lifestyle. If you find yourself in this position, you do have options.

Special needs planning in Folsom can be daunting if you’re just starting. However, a Folsom special needs lawyer can save you the headache of planning and the worry over whether your plan will be executed properly.

Most people don’t realize the high cost of nursing home care until an aging parent’s health declines to the point that they need to move into one.

Funeral planning is not a pleasant experience, especially when you’re pre-planning your own. But Sacramento will lawyers stress that it’s important to have your wishes in writing for after you pass away,

When you have a child that may require a lifetime of assistance and care, extra attention must be given to planning their future.