With Your Family in Mind

Many debtors filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy wonder whether their creditors can still sue them or garnish wages while they are in bankruptcy.  For most debts, the answer is no, due to the Automatic Stay protection afforded the debtor by the bankruptcy code.  The protection is automatic and goes into effect upon the filing of the case.
The Automatic Stay prevents most creditors from taking any action against the debtor during the bankruptcy, which usually lasts about four months. 

A few months ago, on June 20 I was, no kidding, hit by a truck.  I was nearly killed and knocked into a near death coma for eight days.  My son and partner for life (wife) were horrified with despair as the hospital “prepared” me for an ending.  I was bloody, beaten, my skull was exposed and I had massive abrasions on my face.  It was grim; but I was unconsciously ignorant, in a level 3 Glasgow Coma (a thin grey line above no recovery). 

I meet with seniors and their families every day, many of whom are in crises.  Alzheimer’s, stroke, falls, and other illnesses take their toll on the senior and their family.  Many seniors do not have their financial house in order, or legal documents in place, thereby making it difficult and frustrating for the family to help the senior.  There are five tips listed below that every senior should take the time to review now, before they have a health crisis.

Finally, fall has arrived!  Children have returned to school, we have hope that the oppressive August/September heat and humidity is a thing in our past, and we look forward to the sights and smells of autumn.  Is there anything more beautiful than driving down Wiley Canyon and seeing the deep, lush leaves changing colors?  Or going to the store and seeing pumpkins – all shapes and sizes – just waiting to go home with you?  Of course, my all time favorite is a pumpkin latte from one of our many purveyors of coffee!  Yes, for many of us, fall is our favorite season!

Many people (perhaps including ourselves) want to do something to protect their loved ones, such as prepare a will or trust, but procrastinate with excuses, such as:
“I’m waiting for the house to sell,” or, “I’m waiting to buy the new house.”
“I’m going on a trip, so I’ll do it when I get back,” or, “I just got back from a trip and I have to get things squared away.”

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), marking an important change in the treatment of same-sex couples under federal law. On August 29, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that all legally married same-sex couples would be recognized for federal tax purposes.

“Individually we are one drop.  Together we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro
Divorce is an emotional process.  Getting divorced is a legal one.  Some might see the Judge’s decision as the end of the process.  But in many ways it is the beginning.  The court’s judgment can influence the divided family for years.  Responsibilities for children or the financial well-being of the former couple are linked by obligations flowing from the divorce decree.

Nearly 40 percent of working wives now out-earn their husbands and while that economic power is a good thing, overall, for women, it can have one negative outcome many don’t anticipate. More and more women find themselves ordered by a court to pay spousal support to ex-husbands.

Trying to discover what is intentionally concealed is never easy nor inexpensive.  Unless you are lucky enough to stumble upon a smoking gun piece of evidence, discovery is a pains-taking and time-consuming endeavor.  In order to properly conduct an analysis of the community estate for waste or concealment, it is recommended that a lifestyle analysis be completed whereby all money in and all money out is tracked and documented. 

As we rapidly approach the fall season, I always look forward to the sounds of children talking as they go to school, the change of colors in our trees (particularly on Orchard Village Road and on Wiley Canyon), the abundance of pumpkin (scones at Starbucks, cookies at the grocery store, scented soap at Bath and Body) and the feeling that it is time to buckle down and start taking life a little more seriously than I did in the summer!

Effective Sunday, September 8, Abundant Life Community Church will be having Sunday morning services at the Marriott Residence Inn in Santa Clarita at 9:30 a.m.  As a Pastor my vision is to make a difference in a person’s life.

“Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” – G. K. Chesterson
In a pair of studies that looked at parental support for higher education for their children, it was discovered that (1) 29 percent of divorced parents assisted their children in college versus 88 percent of intact families (Wallerstein and Lewis, (1988)); and (2) divorced parents provided 42 percent of college costs versus 77 percent for intact families (Journal of Family Issues).

September marks the 24th annual National Recovery Month (Recovery Month) observance, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and raises awareness about mental and substance use disorders that affect millions of individuals, as well as their families, and celebrates those in recovery.

Many people incorrectly believe that once seniors enter a nursing home, their freedom is over.  In fact, nursing home residents have many rights, and it is important to know those rights and to be able to enforce them.

As an elder care coordinator it’s not unusual to hear “Mom’s going downhill fast; I don’t know what happened!  Initially she was a bit confused, but now she’s not making any sense!” This can be scary and confusing for families unfamiliar with medical conditions that may cause Altered Mental Status.

The annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® will take place Saturday, September 21 at Bridgeport Park (23520 Bridgeport Lane in Santa Clarita).  Onsite registration opens at 7:30 a.m., opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m.  Close to 800 residents from throughout the Santa Clarita Valley will participate in this inaugural event to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease. 

If your child is in their senior year of high school, it is time to fill out applications and apply for financial aid.
You must find out the deadlines at each college and do not miss them!
In addition, you also want to ask these four vital questions:

Inner Circle Foster Families are so excited when they first bring a child home with them.  After hours of preparation, they are thrilled when the news arrives that a placement is available.  Their compassion and their preparation to share their home and happiness with a child is a sight to be seen.