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By Julianna Malis, Attorney at Law July is Sandwich Generation month. If you're wondering what the Sandwich Generation is, the average age of parents raising children in the US has continued to rise, leaving many middle-aged Americans in a category commonly referred to as the the “sandwich” gener...

By Julianna Malis, Attorney at Law July is Sandwich Generation month. If you're wondering what the Sandwich Generation is, the average age of parents raising children in the US has continued to rise, leaving many middle-aged Americans in a category commonly referred to as the the “sandwich” gener...

Granting someone power of attorney means that you are giving them the authority to make important decisions on your behalf should you be incapable of making them yourself. The scope, duration, and other specifics are up to you. While the laws vary in each state, it's usually as simple as dr...

You may have heard about this story: doctors were faced with an ethical dilemma when they found the words “Do Not Resuscitate” tattooed on a man's chest. The tattoo even included the man's signature. The patient had no other documentation and was not accompanied by any family members who could he...

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 looks ...

As a Santa Barbara trust lawyer, I've found that most people do not understand the serious privacy intrusions that their family can face if they die without a Living Trust. Here in California and across the country, if you pass away without a Living Trust, all of the details about your family's i...

Modern American families come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and configurations. This creates unique circumstances when creating wills and trusts and putting long-term care plans in place. There is always the potential for conflict when it comes to estate planning in general, but the added element...

Planning for the death of an unmarried partner is critical, but so is planning for the possibility that one partner becomes sick, disabled, or incapacitated at some point during their lifetime. Under the laws of most states, an unmarried partner has zero rights to manage finances or make me...

Raising a child with special needs is challenging. Sadly, the stress of the situation contributes to the high rate of divorce among couples who are raising children with special needs. In fact, it is estimated that the rate of divorce in these households are between 80% and 90%. If you are ...

If you've set up a Revocable Living Trust, congratulations! As a Santa Barbara will and trust lawyer, I assure you that you've taken a very important step in protecting your assets and your family in the event you become incapacitated or pass away. However, just because you've completed this impo...

For some families, bankruptcy is the only way out from living under a mountain of debt.  Filing for bankruptcy is a not a decision most people enter into lightly as the process can have a number of long-term and severe consequences. Once such consequence that tends to go overlooked is the possibi...

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 bab...

Any type of co-parenting relationship can be complicated, especially when the relationship ends in divorce. Divorcing parents of a special needs child, even one that has reached adulthood, may have questions about their rights and obligations as parents when it comes to making decisions for...

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 ...

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is held on April 16th each year. It exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and healthcare providers about the importance of advance care planning. The NHDD initiative encourages patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare, and provider...

Santa Barbara Will and Trust Lawyer Offers Estate Planning Tips for Blended Families Modern American families come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and configurations. This creates unique circumstances when creating wills and trusts and putting long-term care plans in place. There is always the pote...

Santa Barbara Trust Lawyer: How to Protect an Inheritance for a Loved One Battling Bipolar Disorder Our Santa Barbara trust lawyers are often asked by parents if it is possible to protect an inheritance for an adult child who battles Bipolar Disorder. Unfortunately, one of the hallmarks of the co...

Santa Barbara Estate Administration Lawyer: Understanding the Basics of Probate in Santa Barbara, CA By Julianna M. Malis, Attorney at Law  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...

Santa Barbara Wills and Estates Lawyer Discusses 3 Easy Ways to Protect Your Kids in an Emergency  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 c...

Any type of co-parenting relationship can be complicated, especially when the relationship ends in divorce. Divorcing parents of a special needs child, even one that has reached adulthood, may have questions about their rights and obligations as guardians when it comes to making decisions for a c...

Granting someone power of attorney means that you are giving them the authority to make important decisions on your behalf should you be incapable of making them yourself. The scope, duration, and other specifics are up to you. While the laws vary in each state, it's usually as simple as drafting...

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...

Excluding someone from your will, particularly if it's your spouse or your child, can be complicated. In some states, it's not even allowed. Leaving out people who wouldn't automatically receive any of your estate is usually as simple as just not including them. However, if you do want to be spec...

One of the main benefits of estate and trust planning according to lawyers in Santa Barbara County is the avoidance of probate proceedings. But what does that mean? And why should you want to avoid probate in the first place? The main reason to avoid probate in Santa Barbara County is simply that...

By Santa Barbara Special Needs Attorney Julianna Malis When a child with special needs turns 18, he or she becomes an adult in the eyes of the law. However, if the child's disability prevents him or her from making adult decisions and being able to manage his or her affairs, the p...