With Your Family in Mind

An Invisible Epidemic We all have days in which we are sad or have thoughts of hopelessness – but for many, it goes beyond that. Depression (major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is, by definition, a medical illness characterized by a chronic sense of sadness and loss of interest in...

It is not always easy being a sibling of a child with autism. However, sibling relationships create benefits for both children and sibling bonds are special. For your child with autism, siblings are often extremely beneficial for developing social skills and supporting the child with Autism...

Many seniors have high medical care costs (such as Assisted Living facility charges or private caregivers), but cannot afford the care on a long-term basis. Many seniors spend their life savings on care, and lose their house when skilled nursing care is needed. However, there are other options...

While most of us have probably lost our keys or misplaced something that was under our nose the whole time, a question many people have is, “Is there a reason to be concerned, or might it just be a Senior Moment?” A challenge for many families is often determining at what point a change in...

 Power: The ability to act or produce an effect; the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.  Merriam-Webster.Com. Power is a factor in every relationship. The relationship is affected by how it is distributed, balanced and expressed....

Have you ever thought of becoming a foster parent or wanted to adopt a child in need of permanency? Koinonia Family Services is now serving the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys, and is looking for families who want to provide safe, caring, and nurturing homes for children who are in need...

Tom Trustor was a 65-year-old widower with three grown sons. He lived in a house he’d bought ten years ago, after his wife died. According to the terms of Tom’s revocable living trust, after his death, all his assets would be distributed to his three sons, share and share alike, or to their...

 Held by the Alzheimer’s Association, The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and resources for Alzheimer’s care and support. In the United States, more than five million people are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Because of this, Walks are held annually...

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...

Increasingly, adult children are finding it necessary to balance the demands of their careers with the care needs of their growing children and aging parents. Sometimes referred to as the “Sandwich Generation,” these men and women are understandably feeling the strain of this juggling act and...

 Power: The ability to act or produce an effect; the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.  Merriam-Webster.Com. Power is a factor in every relationship. The relationship is affected by how it is distributed, balanced and expressed....

 If you’re convinced that your marriage is irretrievably broken and you’re headed for divorce, here are 10 steps to take. Consult an attorney: Become informed about your legal rights and responsibilities. For example, suppose you decide to take the children and live at your parents’ house until...

Seniors with pricier homes now have an increased ability to get a bigger reverse mortgage in order to raise cash for retirement. As the housing market has improved, so-called jumbo reverse mortgages are becoming more popular even though they carry some risk. Reverse mortgages allow homeowners...

 Whether you’ve made the decision to divorce, or the decision was made for you, as a traditional “stay at home parent”, you may be concerned about several issues throughout the divorce process.  The first step is to consult with an attorney to ensure your rights in regard to custody,...

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, among other things. There are countless...

We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Why is it so important? Studies show that people who eat breakfast have more energy, work faster and make fewer mistakes, are more creative, get more fiber in their diet, and have higher intakes of vitamins and minerals....

Estate planning is the process by which we arrange for the eventual transfer of our property to our beneficiaries, while minimizing probate fees and taxes. 1. What legal documents are used in estate planning? These include the revocable living trust, wills, deeds, assignments of interests,...

 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...