Social Security benefits are available to individuals who paid Social Security taxes while employed and have reached a particular age. Many people don’t know that benefits may also be available to eligible family members, such as a spouse. Additionally, if the insured passes away, their spouse might be able to collect survivors’ benefits. What Are […]

Creating a trust can be a vital part of the estate planning process. A trust can protect your assets and benefit the family members who receive them. It’s critical to understand state laws and the steps you need to take to create a trust. Common errors can invalidate someone’s trust and prevent surviving heirs from […]

No matter how much you love your stepchildren and want to plan for their futures, California laws don’t generally recognize stepsons and stepdaughters as immediate heirs. Knowing that, if you don’t specifically list your stepkids in your estate plan, they might not have any legal rights to your assets. That means when you pass away, […]

Deciding to live abroad can be an exciting time in anyone’s life. A lot of planning goes into making such a drastic move, but one area that Bay Area trust lawyers see commonly overlooked is estate planning. While estate planning is not the most exciting element to think about when planning a new life in […]

A caregiver agreement, also referred to as a personal service contract, is a contract between an individual in need of care and the person taking care of them. Typically, an adult child will assume the role of caretaker for an older or incapacitated parent. It’s a job many people take on when someone they love […]

When the pandemic was in full swing, nursing homes restricted visitation to clamp down on infection rates and prevent the spread of the disease through a vulnerable population. In the first year of the pandemic, staff and nursing home residents made up 31 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. Although a vaccine is […]

A geriatric care manager is typically a nurse, counselor, social worker, or other professional that can provide necessary services for long-term care planning. They can guide you during the process of determining the best care for your loved one and advocate for their rights. Seeking assistance from a geriatric care manager can alleviate some of […]

You might not think creating an estate plan is necessary unless you’re older or have developed a terminal illness. However, an estate plan can benefit people of any age. It’s a good idea to plan for the unexpected, so your assets remain protected and anyone who depends on you will receive the financial assistance necessary […]

There is good news for Americans collecting Social Security benefits in 2022. The roughly 70 million who receive Social Security benefits will receive the highest cost of living increase in four decades. This increase was made to offset inflation. Those receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income stand to receive a nearly six percent (5.9%, […]

As people live longer, their susceptibility to cognitive decline increases. For many adult children with aging parents, this means they have to get involved in their parents’ financial and legal affairs. Estate planning, including the creation of a will, is ideally done well before any cognitive decline takes place. However, it’s never too late. Even […]