With Your Family in Mind

 “Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.” – Brian Tracy Communication patterns between spouses affect conflict and the way family members cope with...

 This is likely the most commonly asked question I hear, whether I am getting my hair cut or sitting around the table at dinner parties ... “I have a friend who has a situation and they want to know if they need to hire an attorney?”   The short answer is “it depends”.  A Family Law case is...

 The L.A. Art Show at the convention center was really a “hot spot”. It was held the last week of January.  Did you go? Many people including a bevy of celebrities were there. Anne Hathaway hosted the opening night of the L.A. Show.  The exhibition features works by artists from 130 galleries...

  There are two types of support in California. One is child support and the other is spousal support. There are two types of orders in California dissolution cases. One is a temporary order during the pendency of the case, called a pendente lite order. And the other is an order after judgment....

 It might be difficult for seniors with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to consider exercising when it feels as though the weight of the world is sitting on their chests, but doing so could help them breathe easier and stay healthier. While this may seem contrary, it actually makes...

 Who will get our property when we’re done with it? By means of careful estate planning, we can provide for our loved ones and insure that our wishes will be carried out. Estate planning includes enumeration and evaluation of assets, cash flow management, analysis of tax consequences of gifts...

 If you think you might be filing for divorce this year, I’m here to encourage you to put some of that springtime energy into getting yourself organized financially. With taxes dues on April 15, as well, this is an excellent time to get a firm grasp of your financial situation. Here are the...

Parents who have family members providing for their personal care needs should consider executing an employment contract (“care contract”) with the children who are providing them services which would be paid to home health care professional if their children were not there to help.  There are...

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...

 “Not until we are lost, do we begin to understand ourselves.” -Henry David Thoreau If you are hesitant about going to therapy, you are not alone! It is a common misconception that you have to “be crazy” to go to therapy. Granted there are times people do make this decision based on a mental...

 According to a 2014 Wells Fargo study, only about half (54 percent) Americans feel it’s important to know their significant other’s credit score before comingling finances.  Yet, financial experts would say that discussing how to handle joint finances is one of the best ways lovebirds can set...

 California now allows “transfer on death deeds”, or TOD deeds, to be recorded in California.  This new type of deed allows a homeowner to specify in the deed who will inherit the house upon the owner’s death.  The home will then pass to the named person or persons, without the probate court....

 Driving safely requires a complex set of skills.  Research suggests that elderly drivers who are showing signs of dementia may no longer possess those skills.  Monitoring the progression of the disease especially as it relates to driving skills is a necessity. The Clinical Dementia Rating...

 Every season, the City of Santa Clarita invites community photographers to take part in the city’s quarterly photo contest.  The photo contest is an opportunity for residents to showcase community life in our city. The winning photographs will be posted online at Santa-Clarita.com, on the...

 A local startup company, Your Village Inc., launched a new website providing online parenting workshops for families.  A graduate of the City of Santa Clarita’s Business Incubator program, Your Village is a new concept in parenting education and support. Workshops, available through a...

For seniors who are seeking an independent living situation aligned with an active lifestyle, an ordinary retirement community simply won’t do. These vibrant seniors need a luxury retirement community they can live in happily for years to come. The community should include: A built-in...

 Word is out… Oakmont of Santa Clarita is now open and seniors who are interested in a luxury retirement community in the Santa Clarita Valley are making reservations and moving in! Located on 7.5 scenic acres, Oakmont of Santa Clarita caters to active seniors in search of resort-style...