“Special Needs Trusts” (“SNT’s”) come in three types: (1) Self-Settled (“first party”); (2) third party; and (3) Pooled. SNT’s help people with special needs to remain eligible for needs based government benefits (e.g., SSI/Medi-Cal) who might otherwise lose such benefits due to an inheritance, personal injury award, or a lucky wind-fall. Many people who know […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreMy last article discussed the power of attorney for personal care. That article discussed how to authorize an agent to handle financial and property issues largely related to your personal care. This article discusses how to make your health care wishes enforceable. The Advance Health Care Directive, the Do-Not-Resuscitate Order, and […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreMany of the day to day domestic responsibilities that need to be handled on our behalf during incapacity involve personal care issues that are typically unrelated to what is usually provided for in our durable power of attorney to manage financial and property affairs. By planning ahead we can authorize […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreWhat does it mean for a trustee to have so-called “absolute discretion” with regard to their trustee powers? The term “absolute discretion” is an oxymoron. Absolute discretion is not absolute; it does not allow the trustee to do whatever he pleases. Without careful advice from a qualified attorney, a layperson acting as trustee can easily […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreLake County has numerous worthwhile charitable non profit organizations that are both deserve and need of charitable donations. Endowment funds ensure that your donations will be used by the charitable organization for certain specific purposes. Consider, for example, St. Helena Hospital Clearlake which seeks funds specifically to build a new […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreThe appropriateness of a Trustee’s fees for administering a trust can sometimes become a thorny area of disagreement between the trustee and the trust beneficiaries. Fee disputes usually arise when the trustee provides an accounting. Let’s consider how California law treats trustee compensation. When dealing with court supervised trusts, California law […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreCalifornia law protects the inheritance rights of surviving spouses, registered domestic partners, and children who are unintentionally omitted (i.e., disinherited) under the will and/or living trust of a deceased person. The law presumes that but for the fact that they were married, born, or adopted (as relevant) after the execution […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreOne of the major drawbacks of administering a decedent’s estate through probate is the delay in appointing a personal representative to administer the estate, i.e., the time that passes in between the decedent’s death and the appointment of a personal representative to administer the estate. Even without opposition to the […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreHave you ever put yourself in a very difficult situation, one that was entirely avoidable, and then regretted it? Those who neglect getting their affairs in order place both themselves and their loved ones in unnecessary jeopardy. They risk putting themselves and their family either through the stress and uncertainty […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
Read MoreCalifornia, unlike Texas and Florida, is not generous when it comes to debtor protections. But the “homestead exemption” and the “homestead declaration” are two important protections every homeowner should know about. These exemptions protect a portion of a homeowner’s equity against unsecured creditors who obtain judgment liens against […]
posted on: January 26, 2015
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