August 2019

Tasha Jahn grew up near San Jose, CA with her parents and siblings. From a young age, she loved music which led her to pursue her Bachelors in Music Business from the University of the Pacific, emphasizing in the Oboe. Immediately after she pursued her J.D. from Western State College of Law in Irvine, CA. After working in litigation and becoming a mother, Tasha decided that her educational...

With the number of older adults growing at unprecedented rates each year, communities must begin to direct more attention and resources to serve the needs of that group. In June 2019, a list created by the U.S. Senate committee and two Pennsylvania Senators, revealed over 400 of the nation’s lowest ranking nursing homes. These low rankings were due to the consistently poor health inspections....

A question our attorneys get asked often by clients is what the difference is between a POLST and an Advance Healthcare Directive. A POLST form does not replace an advance directive – they work in tandem. While all adults should have an Advance Directive, not all should have a POLST form. Both provide information about treatment wishes but they give different information. POLST...

When our children are young, their health and well-being are our primary focus. We are responsible for virtually all of their choices – from what they wear to what medical decisions are made on their behalf. As they get older, our sphere of influence grows smaller until suddenly they turn 18 and are off to college! As the new school year is about to start and your college student is...

According to state projections, California is facing a wave of seniors that will outpace children and adults in the population within the next decade. In fact, by 2030, “more than 9 million Californians will be over the age of 65, 3 million more than there are today. Within a decade, more than 20% of the state’s residents will be seniors — a higher proportion than currently resides in Florida,...

In the last chapter, we talked about protecting beneficiaries from themselves. But maybe you don’t have to worry about such protections. Maybe none of your heirs are young and foolish. Perhaps none are mentally incapacitated. All might be gainfully employed and out of prison. Maybe you can rely on them to handle even a large bequest. You may even have the perfect family. Unfortunately,...

More and more Americans find themselves with long-term responsibility for adults with disabilities or diminished capacity. These might be dependents who had special needs from birth, or they might be elderly relatives suffering from Alzheimer’s or other mentally disabling conditions. Indeed, these days, many estate plans consider the deceased’s parents as well as their children. You must, of...

In our vast experience as estate planning attorneys, we have heard horror stories over the years about those that have tried to create estate plans online or on their own, and their loved ones pay the price. Missing critical documents, misinformation about laws, tax codes, and probate court – these are all issues that can cause upheaval and confusion as your family members struggle to...

Not everyone walks down the path of marriage and parenting in this life, but at the end of the day, whether you are single or married with children, everyone can benefit from the creation of an estate plan. An estate plan isn’t just about deciding who is going to inherit your property or your assets after you pass on. A quality estate plan takes into account who you want to execute your Will...

Over 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and that number is predicted to rise to 14 million by 2050. Worldwide, over 50 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and it’s important not only to know the early signs and symptoms but to get involved if you can. Early...