With Your Family in Mind

 Divorce presents many financial challenges. If you’ve acquired significant 401k funds during marriage, your retirement account may be at the center of your divorce. Determining how to equitably divide these benefits often lies at the heart of a settlement agreement, as each spouse has the...

 Do your important legal documents reflect our changing times? Is your Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directive, and Trust growing mold on your shelf? Here are some basic questions to ask yourself: • Do your documents address our digital age, the new laws, and the undisputable fact that we are...

October 15 is White Cane Safety Day. When this day was first established in 1963, President Johnson noted that, “The white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person’s ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and special consideration to the...

 Do you have old debts in the past that you haven’t paid and are wondering if the creditors can still come back now and collect from you after so many years? This is a common question that I am often asked. As a bankruptcy attorney, I see a lot of people in this situation. At some time in their...

 Grandpa committed an act of kindness: He executed a living trust to ensure that after his death, his assets would be distributed in accordance with his wishes, without the expense and inconvenience of   probate proceedings. He didn’t want to spend much money on estate planning, so he utilized...

 California is a community property state, meaning the Equitable Division rule divides marital property equally between spouses, however, exceptions exist. Spouses owe a duty of financial care and loyalty to each other and can’t cheat or misuse marriage income or assets, they must deal honestly...

 It’s never easy being a parent. We constantly struggle, wondering if we’re doing the best we can for our kids. It’s so much pressure knowing that you only get a short window of time to prepare them to become responsible, healthy, and emotionally balanced adults. For some divorced parents,...

There are certain provisions people frequently forget to put in a will or estate plan that can have a big impact on their heirs. Alternate Beneficiaries: An estate plan should include at least one alternate beneficiary in case the named beneficiary does not outlive you. If a will names a...

 One of the more horrific stories in the news this week was the salon shooting in Seal Beach, California. It was alleged that at least eight people were killed by a man enraged over a custody battle. Issues of custody commonly arise in Family Law cases. But they do not all have to be bitter...

 We checked in with seven College of the Canyons faculty members to chat about what’s new and exciting on campus this fall, how their programs are creating career opportunities for our community members, and what future COC students can be doing now to prepare for a successful pathway into...

Few people truly understand what could happen to their retirement plans after they pass away. In theory, leaving retirement plans to your heirs seems pretty simple. All you need is a beneficiary designation form where you designate who gets what. In real life though, what happens to retirement...

 Everyone loves a bargain. But what if there was a way to save huge on upcoming big-ticket expenses like a car payment and mortgage? Look no further than a solid-gold credit rating. With an excellent score, you can qualify for better interest rates, saving you literally tens of thousands in...

Due to my family history, I consult with a physician who is “Bredesen-certified”, meaning he is trained in Alzheimer’s prevention methods, based on the newest research by such medical leaders as Dr. David Perlmutter and Dr. Dale Bredesen (both now bestselling authors). There is a very strong...

September 9 is Grandparents Day. This national holiday provides the opportunity to honor our grandparents and great-grandparents and remind them how special they are to us. Here are a few ways that you can celebrate: • Interview Grandparents – whether your parents are grandparents to your...

The kids are heading back to school, and just like us, they are going to be excited, anxious, terrified, nervous, sad and happy. Mixed feelings are natural at this time of year, no matter how old your kids are or how many times you’ve been through it all as a parent. You have some new...

 Medicare beneficiaries are still experiencing coverage denials for skilled care services based on some variation of an “Improvement Standard”. Jimmo v. Sebelius is a nationwide class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries who received care in skilled nursing facilities,...