With Your Family in Mind

A child custody evaluation is where a neutral, third-party child custody evaluator assists the Court regarding child custody and visitation issues. These evaluations often occur when there is a move-away issue, domestic abuse, substance abuse, and/or special needs, among others.             To...

Most of you who read my articles know that I grew up in New York and maintain licenses to practice law in the New York State and Federal courts. My older daughter Samantha was moving to Connecticut with her boyfriend, who was starting medical school. So, in July I drove across the country in...

The discussion of senior care with aging parents and close relatives is a difficult conversation to have. It can be uncomfortable for all parties involved, but it is necessary to ensure the well being of a loved one as they grow older. There are a host of factors to consider when beginning such...

It is very important to know if your parents have created a Trust, a Power of Attorney, and an Advance Healthcare Directive. You should know the status of their planning, or lack of planning, before an emergency arises. If you had a family gathering recently, you may have noticed that they are...

If you are making the choice to sever your marriage in 2021-22, here are some resolutions to add to your list. -Line up your priorities. Is it finding a home? Is it financial? Getting a job? Managing a special-needs child in the face of divorce? Jot down your most important priorities down to...

A child custody evaluation is where a neutral, third-party child custody evaluator assists the Court regarding child custody and visitation issues. These evaluations often occur when there is a move-away issue, domestic abuse, substance abuse, and/or special needs, among others.            To...

Every year Medicare gives beneficiaries a window of opportunity to shop around and determine if their current Medicare plan is still the best one for them. During Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, beneficiaries can freely enroll in or switch...

In 1981, I was living in Bayside, Queens. I was 14 years old and Foreigner had recently released Foreigner 4. My parents got divorced when I was 7. Rather than pay child support, my father moved in with his parents, and refused to pay my mom anything, despite the court orders requiring him to...

Holidays are the one or two times a year we are able to spend time with parents or other aging loved ones in person.If we do see them daily, sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees, and may not recognize a cognitive and/or physical decline.Regardless of whether you see someone daily or...

Due to inflation and a higher cost of living (as measured by the Consumer Price Index), Approximately 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2022.If you are working towrd retirement now, the maximum...

The holidays are here! Either you love this time of year or you hate it. Add separation or divorce into the mix and it can amplify those feelings, ten-fold. The time spent with family and friends, can easily turn into finding out who your family and friends really are. The time spent reflecting...

In years past, people retired at age 65 with full social security benefits and Medicare. This is no longer the case. The new “full retirement age” (FRA) - the age that people can receive their full Social Security benefits - is age 67 for people born in 1960 or after. Claiming benefits prior to...

Seniors continue to be a rapidly increasing segment of the population targeted by con artists. In fact, financial scams targeting seniors have become so prevalent that they are now considered to be “the crime of the 21st century.” And this crime against seniors is not always one that is...

Each case has its own specifics and having an attorney or advocate on your side is important to navigating the world of restraining orders, whether you are filing one, or have had one filed against you.A domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) is a civil court order that is signed by a judge...

Covid 19 had changed everything. At least in the legal profession. “Zoom Depositions” have become the norm. Often now, the parties and their attorneys will appear in different locations, as well the stenographer and the third party witness being deposed.You all remember the downfall of Jeffrey...

Oakmont of Valencia and Oakmont of Santa Clarita are incredibly grateful to all who came out to Bridgeport Park last month to support The Walk to End Alzheimer’s! It was a beautiful, well attended event. The “Walk” has been and will continue to be dedicated to fundraising for research and...

In my 30 plus years of being an attorney, I have been asked numerous times by an adult child to re-write mom’s trust, or to create a trust for an “elderly friend”. On many occasions, the new trust would benefit the adult child or “friend”. This is a very dangerous area, and full of potential...