Our firm works frequently to help divorced or remarrying couples update their estate plans to protect their new blended families, so we know just how significantly the stress of divorce, family upheaval, and tighter finances can impact a family, and how those effects can last years into the future. We have seen firsthand how the… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Elder Law
Preserving Emotional Well-Being When Choosing a Long-Term Care Living Situation for Your Loved One
Choosing a long-term care living arrangement is one of the most difficult challenges faced by aging adults and their loved ones. Most families try to avoid the nursing home option to the very end, believing that assisted living or small residential care homes provide a better quality of life. But this may not necessarily be… Read More »
News Flash! California Approves Medi-Cal for Same-Sex Couples and Registered Domestic Partners
In what may be the first state in the nation to do so, California has just approved Medi-Cal benefits for same-sex couples and Registered Domestic Partners ( “RDP’s”). Acting at the invitation of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and pursuant to state Assembly Bill 641 (Feuer), the California Department Healthcare Services… Read More »
Prepare to Care for Aging Parents & Loved Ones
If you are the child of parents who are currently over the age of 65 you’ve probably given a little bit of thought to the day when one (or both) of your parents may need Long Term Care. Understandably, most adult children prefer not to think about the day when their parents may not be… Read More »
Personal Care Contracts: The Hidden Solution to the Elder Care Dilemma
Caring for an aging relative is difficult—and often underappreciated—work. Many people who serve as caregivers often feel as if they have two jobs—their full-time day job at the office and the part-to-full-time job of caregiver at home. As their parents age and decline, most of these caregivers end up not only giving up more and… Read More »
With $5 Million Gift Tax Exclusion About to Expire, Is Now the Time to Give To Your Children or Grandchildren?
When legislation in 2010 raised the lifetime gift tax exclusion amount from $1 million to $5 million many wealthy families rejoiced, expecting that they would now be able to give large gifts to children or grandchildren and be able to save millions in taxes at the same time. But for all the rejoicing, the unsteady… Read More »
New Medi-Cal Protections For Same Sex Couples & RDP’s Coming
California has moved one step closer in treating same-sex couples and Registered Domestic Partners (“RDP’s”) the same as married couples in the context of Medi-Cal eligibility. The Medi-Cal Eligibility Division recently released a draft of instructions to California counties on how to implement legislation signed last year by Gov. Brown (AB 641, Feuer). This legislation proposes new rules… Read More »
The Presidential Campaign & The Estate Tax
Curiosity and excitement are always to be expected in an election year—especially curiosity about taxes. We all know that each presidential candidate has very different philosophies about where the tax burden lies, how much should be paid, and by whom; but all most of us really want to know is how the implementation of each… Read More »
Low Interest Rates Good for Borrowers, Bad for Retired Seniors
If you’re nearing retirement and looking forward to living off the interest of your retirement savings you may have to consider staying in the job market for another year or so. Interest rates have hit record lows recently; a turn of events which is good for homeowners and borrowers, but very bad for seniors hoping… Read More »
Supreme Court’s Ruling on Health Care Reform May Help Seniors
The recent Supreme Court ruling of the constitutionality of the new health care reforms has many seniors breathing a sigh of relief. The ruling has ensured that, at least for the time being, senior citizens will continue to receive their currently existing benefits from programs such as Medicaid and Medicare; but the ruling also paves… Read More »