Caring for a veteran can be both an honor and a challenge. As their health declines, understanding the benefits available to them through the Veterans Administration (VA) is essential. The VA offers two distinct pension benefits that can help support veterans who need extra care—the Aid and Attendance pension benefit and the Housebound benefit. Let’s […]

A living trust is a valuable tool in estate planning. You can manage it while you’re alive while passing control of your affairs to someone else upon your incapacity or death. The assets in the trust can also avoid probate, allowing successor trustees immediate access to the funds they need without going through a long, […]

A death doula, also referred to as an end-of-life doula, guides a person who is transitioning to death and assists their loved ones, according to the International End of Life Doula Association. “Doula” is a Greek word that reentered the modern vocabulary when non-medical support people began assisting at births. Just as birth is a […]

When planning for the second half of their lives, our Bay Area elder law attorneys have found that most people do not anticipate an increase in happiness. Research shows, however, that happiness does grow as people age. The comprehensive Second Half of Life Study conducted by AARP in collaboration with National Geographic examines the general […]

Inheriting a retirement account, such as a 401(k) or an IRA, can benefit a person struggling with their finances. It can help pay bills and create more stability. However, any Santa Clara inheritance lawyer will tell you that ignoring federal regulations can lead to significant tax penalties! The rules applying to your inherited account depend […]

Designating your estate as the beneficiary of your IRA might make sense to you. It’s simpler than choosing one or several loved ones as beneficiaries. It can also prevent future arguments and lawsuits among your family since you’re not naming one person over another. However, naming an estate as an IRA beneficiary is problematic and […]

Many people confuse dementia and mental illness. Although dementia can affect mental health, it isn’t a mental illness. It is a brain disorder that causes issues with communication and memory loss. Sometimes, people with dementia display troubling behavioral problems, such as physical violence, verbal outbursts, and aggression. When someone with dementia starts acting violently, knowing […]

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. It prevents people from talking, walking, and, eventually, breathing. Typically, patients diagnosed with ALS die within three to five years of their diagnosis from respiratory failure. However, some live longer. Approximately 20,000 people […]

A funeral is a traditional method of honoring a person’s life after death. However, some people don’t feel comfortable having one. Choosing not to have a funeral is entirely acceptable. Your loved ones don’t have to attend the sad event if you want to spare them the burden. If you don’t have a funeral, other […]

You might have heard the term “community spouse” and wondered what it means. Essentially, if one spouse receives long-term care in a nursing home, the spouse living outside the nursing home is considered the community spouse. Here, our legal team explains why community spouses are important. Continue reading to learn more or contact one of […]