With Your Family in Mind

 Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) awarded more than $14,000 in grants and scholarships at the Club’s annual Awards Night program, May 9, 2018 at Embassy Suites Hotel. The evening included hors d’oeuvres opportunities, followed by the program and presentation of awards. Awards are based...

 Over the past couple decades, there’s been a seismic shift in the estate tax landscape coupled with the fact that people are living considerably longer. Before 2010, California estate planning was almost always focused on reducing transfer taxes and probate avoidance, among other things. There...

 How may we best protect our families, while allocating our resources sensibly? By carefully considering the needs of our families, we find our answers—and earn some peace of mind in the process. Who should inherit our assets when we die? We love our children equally, but they really are not...

 Everyone has the right to appeal. Keep in mind that about 98 percent of all cases settle at some point. A small percentage of cases do go to trial, and a percentage of those cases will be appealed. Family law cases are different from civil appeals because in family law trials, there is no...

 August 21 is National Senior Citizens Day. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation declaring this holiday, which honors adults over the age of 60. During his announcement, he explained the importance of recognizing this segment of the population, stating, “For all they have...

 Until you have experienced divorce, it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction or how family law will affect you, especially when considering the varied experiences and information from family or friends.  To shed light on the reality of family law, I’m debunking common myths to let you...

 It seems like the summer is just getting going, and already it’s time to start thinking about back to school. The children may still be wearing bathing suits, flip flops and sunglasses, but many families are already thinking about books, backpacks and boots. Unfortunately for many families,...

For aging adults, it’s quite easy for the room that’s considered a primary gathering place—the kitchen—to instead become a nightmare. Not only are seniors over the age of 65 more likely to be injured in a kitchen fire, they are more likely to suffer a fall injury due to: items stored out of...

 What do we know about Alzheimer’s Disease? According to the Alzheimer’s Association, it is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. More specifically, it destroys the ability to communicate, recognize people, perform familiar tasks, and take care of...

 Thomas, Richard and Harold (the proverbial “Tom, Dick and Harry” in corporate executives’ clothing) are the sole officers, directors and stockholders of a small but successful service-oriented corporation. During the company’s four years of existence, business has grown steadily. The three men...

That’s hearsay! Non-lawyers love throwing around the word “hearsay.” But do they really know what it means? Hearsay is an out of court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter being asserted. Try explaining that to your nine-year-old. I hope you have better luck than I did. With that...

If you’re anything like our clients, the answer is an emphatic no. But actually, the cost of long term care is just one of the issues seniors are forced to confront as they age. Indeed, our clients frequently tell us that they want to gracefully age in place, not become a burden on their...

 Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Have you tried everything you can think of to change the addict and nothing seems to work? Don’t give up. There is hope. If you would like your life to be different, Nar-Anon can offer you a better way to live…you are no longer alone. Mission...

 After a long or even a short hospital stay, anyone appreciates the value of sleeping in one’s own bed. No one to wake you during the night, no more pokes, prods or beeps and buzzes. Just you – snuggled up under your own covers within the familiar sights and smells of home. As wonderful as that...

 If you’re caring for elderly loved ones, it’s important to know the facts about heat-related illnesses. “The elderly are more prone to heat stress than younger people,” according to Lisa K., an Elder Care Coordinator at the McNamara Law Firm in Valencia. “Older people don’t adjust as well to...

 There are warning signs. More often than not, it is gradual rather than a sudden transition from happily married to icicles in the room. If you see divorce coming, or even the possibility of it coming, there are some very important steps you can take to protect yourself and your future. Step...

When a person is admitted to a skilled nursing facility, documents included in the resident’s package for signature should be a document informing the resident of the facility’s “bed-hold” policy. State and Federal Regulations give residents the right to have their own bed held for seven days...

 In a divorce or paternity action, parents often disagree about the amount of time spent with their child. If this is happening to you, an attorney can help by working with you to present evidence (testimony, documents, etc.) to persuade the judge that your position is how he or she should...