With Your Family in Mind

Obviously things are different in this year of COVID, but holidays are the one or two times a year we are able to spend time with parents or other aging loved ones. 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...

If I had a crystal ball at this time last year, and I could have seen what 2020 had in store for us, I know I would have made different choices in the ways I prepared. My family and I spent much of last year in a state of extreme uncertainty. I think that’s true for most of us. At the time that...

In our experience, it seems that many elderly parents pass away in January or February every year. Our Law Firm typically experiences a surge of telephone calls from adult children during those months requesting appointments. Most of the time the parent had a living trust, and the adult...

Family traditions are more than just habits your family keeps around the holidays – they’re the ideas and practices that create your family culture. Family traditions are one of the many things that shape our individual identities, but they also keep us connected to our families. Here are two...

When going through a divorce, child custody, or other family law matter, what you share online can have significant consequences. Here are four examples:1. State of Mind – Who hasn’t posted on Facebook, “I’m sad, depressed, angry, etc.”? The feeling is temporary, but what if every time you...

That is a song by the Kinks touting an important message about fame. While I am neither a rock and roll god nor even famous for that matter, it is my belief that the Davies Boys probably got it right. I couldn’t sleep last night, and with the help of IMDB, I watched the third episode of the...

Can a judge “punish” a party in a divorce case through the award of spousal support based upon alleged indiscretions during the marriage?  As a general rule, judges do not “punish” parties.  There may be the exception of Family Code § 271 which permits attorney’s fees to be awarded when the...

Revocable trusts are very popular and useful estate planning tools. But the trust will not be effective if you do not transfer title of your assets into the trust. Overall, revocable trusts are an effective way to avoid probate and provide for asset management in the event of incapacity. In...

If you are making the choice to sever your marriage in 2020, 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 the...

The Date of Separation in a dissolution of marriage action can have a financial impact on the parties. The Family Code states that the “earnings and accumulations of a spouse and the minor children living with, or in the custody of the spouse, while living separate and apart from the other...

Older people have higher risk of getting pneumonia, and are more likely to die from it if they do. For US seniors, hospitalization for pneumonia has a greater risk of death compared to any of the other top 10 reasons for hospitalization.Why Pneumonia is More Common in SeniorsChanges to the...

Estate Planning is a main focus of our Law Firm. We guide clients through their options, discuss tax issues, and put their unique wishes into good, solid, legal form. When a death occurs, the “administration” begins. The appointed “Trustee” has many duties to perform to wind up the estate. The...

The events of November 14, 2019 in Santa Clarita at Saugus High School echo daily throughout our community and are referenced by many of our Insight families as a tragic reminder of the frequency of school shootings in the United States which have created a tremendous impact to our country. It...

The coronavirus health emergency is a reminder that life is unpredictable. Our office has fielded several recent calls inquiring about what “estate planning” entails. On a basic level, you should make sure you have these essential documents in place to protect yourself and your family.Medical...

Divorce mediation is becoming a more and more popular method when married couples seek a divorce from one another. More and more couples are realizing that hiring expensive attorneys and fighting with one another for months and/or years is not necessarily the best route to take when seeking a...

As the holidays approach, the stress of last-minute gift shopping is not the real issue for many separated and/or divorced parents- this is the season of who gets what time with the kids. But there are ways to avoid the last-minute stress of these situations. Try to settle as far in advance of...