With Your Family in Mind

The State Bar has developed a series of guides for the California Elderly population and persons who serve this population.  The California State Bar has created a pamphlet entitled What Should I Know About Elder Abuse that has 16 pages of information regarding this subject.  This pamphlet addresses a number of issues including:
• What are some examples of elder abuse?

Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley attended the annual spring conference for their region in Ventura over the weekend of April 26.  The three-day event included the club awards banquet, workshops, speakers, women and girls’ recognition awards and fun by the sea.
With 28 clubs in the region SISCV was the only club to be in the highest level of 300 points or more with 323 points and received the first place Governor’s Club Award.  The Governor’s Club Award is recognized for participation in local and international projects outlined by Soroptimist International.

There are many summer programs available for children to participate in over the summer break.  Did you know that foster children can participate in these programs too?  Attending summer camp or participating in a summer activity can be life changing for a child who is in foster care. 

The Veterans Administration provides two different programs designed to pay monthly cash to veterans.  The first program is referred to as Service Connected “Compensation” and is based on the severity of a veteran’s injuries which occurred during their military service.  The second program is referred to as Non-Service Connected Aid and Attendance “Pension” and is a needs-based benefit based on high care costs and limited assets.

Has your life been touched by Alzheimer’s Disease?  You can make a difference in the fight against this devastating disease by forming a team and participating in a fun event to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.  For the first time, Santa Clarita will host a Walk to End Alzheimer’s! 

It is not God’s intention for His people to just walk in and out of church week after week and not have an encounter with Him.  God can change you and your life.  God intends for you to walk out better than when you walked in.  If you came in without any peace in your life, you should be able to walk out knowing that you have the peace of God now. 

Many of us in the so called “sandwich generation” are currently caring for an ailing parent while juggling with the responsibilities of raising a family and holding a full-time job, all at the same time.  I don’t know about you, but this masterful art of multi-tasking life ends up many times in chronic exhaustion or complete “burn out.”
Adult Day Wellness Community offers an excellent option for caregivers in need of respite.  Our program, the only state-licensed adult day health care center in the Santa Clarita Valley, provides a wide array of health, therapeutic and social services for physically or mentally impaired adults who want to enjoy the benefits of socializing with peers in a safe and fun environment.

Do you remember the question, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”  Philosophers still debate, and the answer remains elusive.
Here’s a question closer to common experience: How many people should be co-trustees of a trust?
Spouses usually serve as co-trustees of their family trust.  If one spouse is disabled or dies, the other remains as sole trustee.  Beyond that, people tend to nominate a relative or a trusted friend to serve as a successor trustee.

“Honesty doesn’t always pay, but dishonesty always costs.” – Michael Josephson
There are four areas to address in most divorces: (i) a parenting plan and (ii) child support when there are children; (iii) division of the marital property; and (iv) spousal support.  Three of these directly involve money – the fourth does so indirectly.
In light of the financial decisions needing to be made, California requires that the couple make full disclosure to each other on all sources of income, expenses, properties and liabilities (California Family Code §2100 et seq).

Every child deserves to have a safe, loving and permanent home.  Children’s Bureau currently has a great need for foster families for children entering the foster care system and in reunification with their parents.  There are also 114,000 children currently in foster care who are unable to return to their families of origin.  Children’s Bureau is seeking caring families to consider adopting these older children and sibling sets.  The agency is holding a monthly information meeting for those interested in learning more on Saturday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the Westfield Valencia Town Center located at 24201 West Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355.

Respite refers to short-term, temporary care to allow caregivers and family members a break from their daily routine.  It can also be used for those individuals who require short-term assistance while recovering from an illness or accident.
Families and caregivers who provide constant care for their elderly family member may need some time away from their responsibilities to tend to their own needs.  Respite care allows caregivers to take this time while knowing that their family member will be well cared for by trained staff. 

More than 200 amendments have been filed.  Individuals seeking to obtain a “registered provisional immigrant” (RPI) status have to:
• Reside and maintain continuous physical presence in the US since December 31, 2011 
• Pay a $500 penalty fee except for DREAMers, and assessed taxes and all applicable processing fees
• Spouses and children of RPI in the US can be petitioned as derivatives
• RPI can work and travel outside the US

As adults, we look at the things our kids do (and don’t do) and just have to shake our heads.  If you’ve got a kid between 14 and 25 you’re frustrated, I’m sure of that.  Remember back when you thought having a new baby was difficult!  What a laugh!  Keeping a teen or young adult on track is exhausting!  If you don’t stay on them constantly they will forget, neglect, ignore and incomplete everything.  And then they look at you as you’re blowing your top and say, “I don’t know why you’re so upset.”  So then you have to keep yourself from building a time machine and going back in time to give them up for adoption!

There’s no way around it.  Divorce is painful.  Even when it’s the best choice for a couple, it can hurt deeply.  When there are children involved, it can be even more difficult.  A family who has lived together – in harmony or not – must now be divided between two households, and no matter how you look at it, it’s hard.  As real estate values continue to increase, the situation becomes even more complex.
Once a decision to part is made, a couple must choose how that will look.  Who will stay in the family home? 

A common concern for those considering bankruptcy is whether they will ever be able to buy anything on credit after the case is over.  Generally, the negative effect of a bankruptcy filing on a credit report is in the first few years after the case is filed.  After 10 years, the bankruptcy filing is removed from the report, but most debtors can obtain credit for small and large purchases long before the 10 years passes.
While a credit score does decrease after a bankruptcy filing, it can start going back up almost immediately if the debtor practices good financial habits, and continues to pay on one or more secured loans. 

When a debtor files bankruptcy, the goal in most cases is to obtain a discharge to eliminate debt and get a fresh start in their financial lives.  In Chapter 7 cases, the case is usually open for about four months, and then the debtor receives the discharge and the case is closed. 

The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a business mixer at the College of the Canyons Canyon Country Campus (CCC) on Wednesday, May 15.
Attendees will have the opportunity to network and learn about various businesses and services offered throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

It is tax time and for me, speaking with my accountant is probably a lot like you speaking to your lawyer.  I dread the conversations.  I loathe waiting for the phone call when I find out what my tax liability is and how much money I have to pay before April 15, 2013.  My accountant is a nice enough person.  I don’t hate her.  I hate the process.