With Your Family in Mind

Mother’s Day is upon us!  A Stork Vision 2D, 3D or 4D ultrasound session is the perfect gift for expectant mothers.  Whether she is a mom-to-be or an expectant mother with other little ones this is a moment for her to cherish.

Imagine going out to the desert and seeing a very high mountain in which the ultimate goal is to conquer this mountain by reaching the top.  If one side of the mountain was completely smooth and the other side of the mountain was rough, which side would you use in order to get to the top?  You could not use the smooth side because you would slide right off.

Porter Valley Country Club is the leading family-friendly private country club in the San Fernando Valley.  It is the proud home to a Ted Robinson-designed 18-hole golf course weaving through the homes in Porter Ranch, six tennis courts, a full fitness center with group exercise classes, a heated junior Olympic-size pool, clubhouse with dining and an extensive social calendar.  At Porter Valley, you will find friendly members, memorable experiences and a home-away-from-home.

Estate administration can be a very complicated and emotional process.  A loved one – your spouse, parent, sibling, friend – has died and you are now faced with unfamiliar responsibilities.   You also have an official new title: Executor, Trustee, or Administrator. 

Often during a marriage, the opportunity arises to purchase a house.  It could be a first house, a vacation home or an investment property.  It really doesn’t matter.  Ordinarily, the property will be titled in the names of both spouses.  The fights arise when the property is titled only in the name of one spouse.

Is there a need for Foster Parents in Los Angeles Country?  Absolutely!  It is the job of the Los Angeles County, Department of Children and Families Services (DCFS) to protect children.  DCFS removes children from their birth homes to protective foster homes every day. 

Your personal relationship might be the best place to invest your money in these difficult economic times. At times of great stress, where do human beings go for refuge? Of course, we know the answer: into the arms—or, onto the lap—of that loving being closest to us. This current economic crisis is placing such stress on couples that instead of resting safely in each other’s arms, they are reacting to each other in increasingly tense and angry ways.

We would like to introduce you to the Center for Cooperative Divorce.  The co-founders, Dana Schutz, a family therapist, and Irving Zaroff, an attorney and family therapist, have been working with families dealing with the difficulties of divorce for the past 15 years.  What became apparent in this work was the impact of the divorce process itself.

By 13 years old, 9.9 percent of kids have tried pot.  That’s one out of ten.  That’s alarming.  How do you stop it?  Can you stop it?  When you try, it seems to go in one ear and right out.  You tell them, “You’re making bad choices,” “You’re throwing away a perfect life,” “You’re ruining your opportunities – all that you’ve worked for.” 

Some clients think that estate planning is only for the wealthy - to help them save on taxes.  However, there are many reasons to implement a solid estate plan, most of which have nothing to do with estate taxes.  There are innumerable practical reasons, but I wanted to touch upon one of those reasons that occur more often than you think.

The Newhall Community Center is now offering “Eat Your Words,” a class specifically designed for Kindergarten through second-graders who are struggling with reading.  The class, which will be held Mondays from 4 p.m. to 4:50 p.m., is designed to join books and recipes, allowing for increased reading ability, creativity and exploration.

As examples of annual gross income, Family Code section 4058 lists more than a dozen possible income sources.  The list includes wages, rents, workers’ compensation benefits, disability insurance benefits, and business income.  The section gives the court discretion to include employee benefits as income, and even allows courts to consider a parent’s earning capacity in lieu of actual income for purposes of calculating support.

When a senior needs help with their activities of daily living, or ADLs, often the first reaction is fear of leaving their home.  So strong is the urge to “remain home” that often the first solution is to identify a home care agency to meet the senior’s needs.  While this is certainly one option, a second and often overlooked option is relocating to an assisted living community.  Weighing the pros and cons of the different options will help to best identify the right choice to effectively meet the senior’s care needs.

Whether it’s for your business or personal life, or a combination of both, the answer to simplifying the management of your insurance policies and saving money is far from complicated.  All you need to do is find one agent who is trustworthy and knowledgeable and provides great service.  If he represents one leading insurance company and provides all or most of the coverage you need through that entity, all the better.  Here’s why.

Given that alcohol- and drug-related suspensions and expulsions in the Hart School District have doubled since 2003, the William S. Hart Union High School District is proud to offer parents and students a tool/deterrent to deal with the issue of alcohol and drug use.

What is probate?  Probate is the court procedure whereby we establish the authenticity and sufficiency of a decedent’s will, if any, identify and evaluate the decedent’s assets, pay administrative expenses and approved claims of creditors and distribute the remaining estate to the beneficiaries.

“The weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Mahatma Gandhi
As we move through our lives we are constantly faced with the dilemma, “Can I forgive and move forward?”  Remember, forgiving the person is different than forgiving, excusing or approving of the act. 

Santa Clarita Magazine readers send me questions every day about the voiceover business.  Here’s a good one:
Q:  Marc, I’m taking a beginner voice acting class now, and I feel as if everyone in the class has something to offer except me.  There’s one guy who has a very believable and friendly voice.  And a young girl who has an amazingly hip, cool voice for announcing.