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Serving as a caregiver may require you to oversee your loved one's legal affairs. A recent article on AARP's website addressed this issue and included a legal checklist for Caregivers. Here are the highlights. Obtain Essential Legal Documents Your loved one should have the following key legal d...

Every individual and family can benefit from estate planning. For some people, however, effective planning requires a higher level of asset protection. Certain professionals, such as physicians, attorneys, business owners and financial advisors, are far more likely to be sued than people working ...

As we close out the 2021 tax season, however unwillingly and with gritted teeth, you might be interested to know that Americans did not always pay personal income taxes. The policy of taxing personal income began with the onset of the Civil War, when Congress passed the Revue Act of 1861. This wa...

If you have more than one child, you've probably wondered if you should leave each of your children the same amount in your will or trust. While this seems like the best approach in most situations, there are some instances where it might not be the wisest strategy, or even the fairest. Factors y...

For the vast majority of people considering retirement, one question looms above all others: Have I saved enough to make the dream of retirement a reality? Tough question, given that it is impossible to predict how long we will live and what future costs we might incur (particularly with regard t...

Moving to a new home is stressful in and of itself. When the move involves a senior relocating to a nursing home or assisted living facility, the situation is considerably more complicated, both emotionally and physically. Fortunately, a number of companies now specialize in helping seniors and ...

Although President Biden outlined his tax plan during the presidential campaign, conventional wisdom held that Republicans in the Senate would block the implementation of his agenda. Now that Democrats control both the House and the Senate (if you factor in the vote of Vice President Kamala Harri...

Approximately 50% of elderly Americans receive at least half of their income from Social Security. Let's take a look at this important program and some of the changes we will see this year. Eligibility. Eligibility for Social Security is based on the number of credits earned during your worki...

  The development of several vaccines to help combat the spread of COVID-19 is welcome news. However, the remarkable speed with which these vaccines were developed has led to skepticism and misconceptions among some Americans. A recent article on AARP's website discusses the myths, and the truth...

Once an older loved one starts to show signs of dementia, you will likely need to start thinking about the type of care he or she will need in the future. When your loved one gets to the point where he or she is no longer able to remain in their home, a dementia care facility could be your best...

One of the first questions that a senior is generally asked when they enter a hospital or long-term care facility is whether they have an Advance Healthcare Directive in place that specifies their wishes for healthcare. If the senior does not have one but wants to make his or her wishes...

Dementia is one of the most devastating conditions affecting seniors, resulting in an eventual loss of cognitive functions. While there is no cure for dementia or the two leading diseases that cause dementia, Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia, there are treatments that can slow the effects and h...

According to a 2017 survey, less than half of Americans have a will. If your mother or father dies intestate – meaning without a will – such a situation could lead to added emotional strain and stress. And it could have financial implications for all their children and/or other family m...

A family home or vacation property is often the most valuable asset in their estate. While the homeowner may want to leave their cherished property to children or other beneficiaries as an inheritance, taxes can quickly thwart well-meaning plans. The sad truth is that without proper pl...

The thought of going through the probate process here in Santa Barbara county can strike fear in the hearts of most people, and with good reason. The time it takes is long and grueling, and the paperwork is overwhelming. The details of probate vary from state to state, so the process lo...

If something were to happen to you and your spouse, what would happen if the authorities or medical personnel did not know that you have minor children at home waiting for you? Picture this; your children are at home and more frightened as each hour passes and you have not returned. The...

Once an older loved one starts to show signs of dementia, you will likely need to start thinking about the type of care he or she will need in the future. When your loved one gets to the point where he or she is no longer able to remain in their home, a dementia care facility could be your best o...

One of the most common questions asked when it comes to settling an estate in Santa Barbara County is, “How long is this going to take?” The answer to that question is, of course, going to vary depending upon several factors. In some situations, Santa Barbara County probate may just take several ...

If you're not familiar with Marie Kondo, take some time this week to watch one of her videos on YouTube or check out her Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. It's incredible to watch the relief and joy that people experience just by implementing her simple strategies to get organized and ...

As people get into their senior years, it is natural to start thinking about the end of life. Those thoughts can bring about concern regarding the type of inheritance to leave to adult children and exactly how to carry out your wishes when passing down your assets to the people you love. But, th...

Trusts are excellent legal tools that can be used to accomplish most estate planning and asset protection planning goals. The most common type of trust is a Revocable Living Trust which will hold your assets and help avoid the Santa Barbara County probate process when you pass away. However, Sant...

With the holidays fast-approaching, with COVID being part of our 2020 now might be a good time with smaller quieter gatherings to have 'The Talk' with your elderly parents if you haven't had it already. Unless you’re certain your parents have an up-to-date will and a wider plan for what should happen in the event of their passing, you shouldn’t assume everything will be taken care of.

You’ve most likely seen articles and news segments about cryptocurrency. The most popular form is Bitcoin, but there are several others on the horizon. For the uninitiated, cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security, making it difficult to counterfeit. One of the main reasons why people and investors like cryptocurrencies…

One of my greatest passions as a Santa Barbara estate planning lawyer is teaching parents how to wisely prepare for death. I realize the possibility of dying while your children are still young can be difficult to accept, and that's why many parents choose to not think about it. Unfortunately, th...