With Your Family in Mind

Time, again, for my annual sharing of an important message. Holidays are a wonderful time of the year, and frequently they 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 decline.  Regardless of whether you see someone daily or occasionally, here are some recommended “Quick Check” activities.

Drugs and alcohol play a large role in many custody fights. Sometimes they involve DUI’s and sometimes they involve casual, social drinking.  Assuming that we are not dealing with the issue of drug or alcohol abuse, custody orders are commonly drafted to permit a parent to drink so long as the parent’s ability to care for the minor children at any time such party is responsible for the health and safety of the minor children is not substantially impaired.

The holidays are a wonderful time to connect with family.  If you have a loved one going through the stages of memory loss, this can be very difficult, especially during the holidays.  But there are gifts that you can give that will help your loved one remember and also help them enjoy themselves.
The gifts you give will really depend on the stage of memory loss the person is in.  Some gifts will entertain, and some will make the memory loss affect your loved one a little less.
Here are some gift-giving suggestions that may help create a memorable and happy holiday:

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 of short-term or long-term placement. Children in need of placement range from newborns to 18-year-olds.

If you will tell me why the fen appears impassable, I then will tell you why I think that I can cross it if I try.”- Marianne Moore
In California we describe divorce as “dissolving” a marriage.  This is a clear message that California would like to strip the divorce process of the emotional aspects that often led to hostility between couples and the damage to their children.  A “dissolution” is a cold expression that lacks the more angst producing term “divorce.”  But, ending a family structure cannot deny the emotional currents that push and pull while trying to tend to the “business” of divorce.

Speaking in the area of Family Law (but knowing the same rules apply to most other areas of law), the first thing to do is ask others, including friends and family, if they’ve had a good experience. Referrals from those you trust are probably the best (but by no means the only) way to locate a competent attorney.
Next, contact your local Bar Association. They refer to experienced attorneys in all areas of law.

Legal and health issues created by illness, aging, disability, dementia, and other chronic conditions can be terrifying.  Elders have a legal right to effective and patient-centered heath care.  They should receive quality long-term care in quality facilities when needed.   Elders should not lose their home, or impoverish themselves, their spouses or their families because they are victims of terrible illnesses, from which there is no recovery. 

The City of Santa Clarita ranked as the 15th best city for young families in Southern California according to a comprehensive study conducted by NerdWallet.com. Santa Clarita’s top-rated public schools, median home prices and household incomes were all contributing factors in making Santa Clarita a top pick in the NerdWallet.com study.
NerdWallet is a finance website offering unfiltered, unbiased numbers and study results to help readers interested in finance, investments and mortgages make informed decisions.

Why does probate take so long? Let’s follow the time line of a typical probate:
After the decedent’s death, as soon as the identities and addresses of all the beneficiaries and heirs can be determined, a Petition for Probate is prepared and filed. Six to eight weeks later, after allowing time for publication and mailing of notice to interested parties, a hearing is held, and the Court officially appoints the personal representative of the decedent.

If you live in Santa Clarita and have gone through a divorce or are considering going through a divorce you would have learned that the Santa Clarita Courthouse does not handle Family Law Cases.  We have all had to trek down to San Fernando to file for divorce.
In the last few years we have seen several changes with the Los Angeles Superior Courts such as court closures and relocations. The most recent change that affects us here in Santa Clarita is that the San Fernando divorce courts are moving to Chatsworth.  The change took place effective November 17, 2014.

For the winter 2014-2015 the State of the City Newsletter is called: Fit for Life. The booklet has several pages all identified by various people and groups of their words about the Future of Santa Clarita.  The City Manager, Ken Striplin says preparing Santa Clarita for the future is one of the most important things the city does. He says, a big part of our annual budget process is creating a list of programs and projects that meet the immediate needs of our community.

The last thing anyone wants after a death in the family is calls from debt collectors.  It is important to know what a person’s creditors can (and cannot) legally do, and how to protect yourself and your family from improper or deceptive practices.
Generally, after people die, their estate is responsible for paying any debts they may have left. 

I’m going to be one of the few Lawyers to say it, but I’ve heard it all. I’m not saying this to be cocky or arrogant, I am saying this because if you are reading this, it’s because you are in the divorce section, looking potentially for an attorney and deciding when and how you will make your move as the holidays and a new year approaches. That or you are reading it for a friend or loved one. How do I know this? Because, I’ve heard it all before, and for you, that’s a good thing because support systems matter.

We probably get 10 calls a day for our service and the number one frequently asked question is, “How long does the divorce process take?”  I want to answer this in a few different ways.
The soonest a divorce in California can be completed is six months.  California has what is called a “cooling off period”. 

Attorney - Recommended any time you have a family law issue, even if just for consultation.
Best Interest of the Child - Standard for determination of custody and visitation schedules.
Child Support - Determined by parents’ respective incomes and time with the children.

Here’s a transcript of a (generic) call that comes in regularly:

“My dad has had a Trust for years. He’s the trustee. He’s now 90 (or 80, or 70). He’s beginning to slip. No, not on the driveway. Mentally. He’s really forgetful. He leaves money around. He’s paid several bills twice recently, but forgot to make the house payment last month. He even forgot my daughter’s name – and she’s his favorite grandchild. What can I do?”

Alzheimer’s Disease was first described by the German psychiatrist, Dr. Alois Alzheimer, in 1907.  Dr. Alzheimer had studied a patient’s demented behavior, and after her death at age 56, he examined her damaged brain tissue under a microscope.  Little did Dr. Alzheimer know that 100-plus years later, the 6th leading cause of death in the United States would bear his name: Alzheimer’s Disease.  

It’s true! In just 10 weeks, you can be earning a paycheck in a new, rewarding career as a dental assistant. At Santa Clarita School of Dental Assisting (SCSDA), we provide a focused and fun training environment using the latest dental technology. Our teaching methods are stimulating, fast-paced and rely on your participation. In class, you’ll spend time learning in a “hands-on” environment, practicing on our state-of-the-art teaching mannequins.