Many veterans and their families are unaware of the availability of the Aid and Attendance pension benefit for veterans over the age of 65 through the Department of Veterans Affairs. These benefits can be used to help offset long-term care costs for older veterans who served during a period of war, whether that’s at home […]

Bay Area Trust attorneys know that Trusts are an excellent tool for estate planning and asset protection purposes. The most common type of trust is a Revocable Living Trust, which holds your assets and helps avoid the probate process when you pass away. However, Revocable Living Trusts do not help much when it comes to […]

It is well known that probate in California is not only costly but has the potential to be very time-consuming. Many look for loopholes in the system as an attempt to shorten or eliminate the probate process. Some believe that adding their child’s name to their bank accounts or even placing their child’s name on […]

If you plan on leaving money to minor children in your Last Will and Testament, you’ll have an important issue to consider: Who will be in charge of managing the inheritance and keeping the child’s money safe from being lost or squandered if the parents pass away? Estate planning is often easier for married couples […]

National Healthcare Decisions Day is on April 16th, and it’s an important reminder for every adult to begin having conversations with loved ones about their most private wishes for medical and end-of-life care. Far too many people assume that their families would make the choices they would want in an emergency. Yet every day we […]

More than half of Americans now have at least one chronic health condition, mental disorder, or substance abuse issue. That is a staggering statistic that Silicon Valley estate planning lawyers who work with sick and disabled clients confront every day. There are varying definitions of what it means to be “chronically ill.” One definition is […]

The IRS recently announced the 2021 federal estate tax rate exemption, which is $11.7 million for individuals and $23.4 million for married couples. This is increased from $11.58 million and $23.16 million respectively in 2020. Under this new guidance, wealthy Americans will be able to leave up to $23.4 million to their heirs without being […]

Estate planning offers legal protection for families and individuals through all of life’s transitions. Using tools such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, estate planning helps individuals protect their wishes, safeguard their assets, and ensure provision and care for their loved ones following their death or incapacity. What Does My Estate Plan […]

In part one of this series, we provided a general overview of the ways that seniors are preyed upon by scammers and those who would seek to gain control of the elderly person’s finances for their own benefit. However, in order to stop fraud, it’s important to know the specifics. The following post will walk […]

Elder fraud and financial exploitation have become an epidemic. As Bay Area elder law attorneys, we are seeing more than ever before that con artists and family members alike are taking advantage of their elderly relatives, friends, or neighbors. The best defense against elder fraud is having caring friends or family with the senior’s best […]