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 […]

A serious health diagnosis can force some tasks—especially ones you’ve been putting off—to the top of the priority list. Santa Clara will lawyers know that estate planning is one of these tasks that’s often left for another day, as people don’t like to think about sickness or death when they are feeling well and of […]

Do you know what could happen to your assets if your spouse ever needs to go into a long-term care facility? There are a lot of misconceptions out there about Medi-Cal asset and income requirements, which is dangerous because getting any one of those requirements wrong can lead to a denial of Medi-Cal benefits. One […]

Most Santa Clara elder lawyers agree that Medicaid is one of the best programs provided by the government for senior citizens who need help paying for long-term care. Medi-Cal is a needs-based program with strict income and asset limits that must be followed; otherwise, seniors can face penalties if they do not meet those limits. […]

Now that we’ve left 2020 in hopes of a better 2021, Silicon Valley estate planning lawyers are encouraging their clients to reflect on legal changes that may have gone overlooked in the past year. Last January, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was rolling out. There was a lot of discussion […]

Dying intestate, or without a will, is unfortunately very common. If you die without a will, your property will go through a court process called probate and will ultimately be distributed according to California’s intestacy laws. Here are some common events that may happen if you die intestate: Your immediate next of kin, whoever they […]