With Your Family in Mind

One of the most common questions asked by individuals who are considering Chapter 7 bankruptcy as an option for eliminating debt is, “What property will I be able to keep?”  The answer is not always a simple one.  In California, there are two code sections that can be used to protect (exempt) property when a bankruptcy is filed.  One of the code sections is more generous with the amount of protection for a home if there is equity in the home (which means the home is worth more than the loan amount).  The other code section may be more advantageous for debtors who do not own a home, or who have no equity in their current residence.

Just about everyone knows of the successful and highly rated television program Dancing with the Stars, which has captured the attention of Americans everywhere who are very excited, engaged and enthused at the incredible display of dancing prowess and showmanship of the “stars” and their dancing partners.

This article is not for you if:

You have nothing; or
You have no one to leave anything to; or
You don’t care whatever happens to your money
and real estate and stuff after you die; or
You like the idea of paying money (lots of money)
to lawyers; or
You have a properly funded living trust.
That leaves lots of you.

It has always been a good idea to keep tabs on your credit score.  But for 2009, you may want to monitor your credit behavior more closely.

Greetings!  I hope this spring finds you outside, enjoying the beauty of the season in Santa Clarita.

City Hall is a busy place these days with our employees working on a number of programs and projects aimed at improving our quality of life here in Santa Clarita. 

The Magazine of Santa Clarita readers send me questions every day about the voiceover business.  Here’s a good one:
Q:  I’m a film actor who wants to be behind a microphone instead of being in front of a camera.  Some of my friends have made the switch, but I hear that it’s just as competitive as film acting.  But do I need to study voice acting?  Should I start at the beginner level and work my way up the “technique” ladder?  Do they want to hear real acting, or just a pretty voice? — Bill H., Valencia, CA

No matter how safe we are behind the steering wheel, auto accidents are sometimes unavoidable.  Therefore, for our safety, and for legal and insurance reasons, we should be prepared.

Did you know that you could unintentionally disinherit your loved ones?  Part of the estate planning process is making sure your loved ones are protected.  If you don’t have a plan, or your plan is bare bones, your loved ones could be left out in the cold.  There are several ways this can happen, but here are two quick stories based on actual cases that have come across my desk.

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce the new installation and reinstatement of seven members to the Newhall Redevelopment Committee.  After careful consideration, the Santa Clarita City Council voted two new community members and reinstated five returning members to the Committee.  City Council also recognized Susan Shapiro for her previous service to the group.

“Divorce begins with too many unspoken words and things at the end of the day.”  – Anon.

For many parents deciding to divorce, informing their children is among the most difficult and worrisome parts of the process.  There has been so much written, depicted in movies and television, and spread through anecdotal stories about the damage children suffer in divorce, parents are frightened about handling the divorce “wrong” for the children.  It can add to more stress and tension between the divorcing couple in how they will manage the divorce with their children.

All individuals should have a Power of Attorney for Health Care.  Recently, the California Coalition for Compassionate Care has participated in the creation of Thinking Ahead: My Life at the End, which is a workbook and DVD designed specifically for people and by people with developmental disabilities.  This workbook enables them to make their own decisions regarding healthcare treatment and related decisions at the end of life.

Adapted Indoor Tennis Game UtilizesBrainpower over Brawn

The City of Santa Clarita invites residents 50 years of age and older to participate in Open Play Pickleball on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the City’s Sports Complex Gymnasium. The classes will be held weekly beginning May 6, 2009.

Losing sleep, worrying?  Feel like there are too many pressures or demands?  Feel anxious, afraid and uptight?  You may be suffering from stress.

Long-term care planning for our aging family members is not simple.  All of us, including our parents, hope to “age in place.”  To “age in place” means that we want to live in our own home until we die.  My mother often jokes that if I find her unresponsive on the kitchen floor, I need to make sure she is “really dead” before I call for help. 

Losing sleep, worrying?  Feel like there are too many pressures or demands?  Feel anxious, afraid and uptight?  You may be suffering from stress.
What causes stress?  Stress is caused by the body’s instinct to defend itself.  Stress is a response to signals called “stressors” that your brain interprets as a call to action.  In response to a stressor your body releases adrenaline and stress hormones to activate your body for either “fight or flight,” and this affects your actions, thoughts and emotions. 

Are you in a rut?  Feeling helpless?  Struggling to get from point A to B?  Maybe you can’t seem to lose those last few pounds; you’re struggling at work or dealing with a mid-life crisis of some sort.  Maybe you can’t seem to get past a break-up or divorce, or you desire a more active social life.  Perhaps you don’t really know what it is that you want just yet or maybe you know exactly what you want, but you’re not quite sure how to get there.  Time keeps passing by, and with each new day, you find yourself wondering, “Is this it?  Is this all life has to offer me?”  You’re tired of settling, and looking for something different, something better.  You’re not alone!

First question:  Have you ever said to yourself, “Snap out of it.”  I don’t know anybody who, from time to time, hasn’t found him/herself feeling stuck, unmotivated, uninspired, or unproductive.  Uncertainty, loss, pain, anxiety, and fear can impact all of us.  This is normal.  For those in the midst of one of these personal ‘power failures,’ we can be reasonably certain it will pass, and we’ll be up and at it again soon.  We know we are just in one of those ebbs and flows of being a thinking and feeling human being.

It’s a common misconception that a little can’t hurt you.  Like having a donut for breakfast.  While that donut for breakfast may not be that bad, it interferes with the body’s resources to function at maximum capacity.  It’s just a little donut, but, unbeknownst to you, your body’s chemistry is working feverishly to compensate for this toxic invader.  So, one donut won’t kill you, but if you eat just one donut every day for a month – if you’re over 35, you will feel, and see, the difference.