by Christine Brown | Dec 28, 2017 | Conservatorships, Elder Care, Elder Law, Uncategorized |
Even with the best intentions, most senior citizens don’t plan for a future in which they may be incapacitated. Perhaps they didn’t want to face the prospect of losing autonomy, or perhaps they fell ill before they had a chance to plan. Either way, for those with...
by Christine Brown | Dec 21, 2017 | Guardianships |
When a child with special needs turns 18, parents must begin to think about sensitive issues such as long-term care planning and how to legally stay in control. Adult guardianship is one such vehicle that allows parents to have legal and financial authority over...
by Christine Brown | Dec 14, 2017 | Probate |
As a Los Angeles County probate attorney, I’m commonly asked, “What are the most important steps I need to take after the death of a loved one?” While each situation is different, there are eight general tasks that I advise families to start with when attempting to...
by Christine Brown | Dec 8, 2017 | Estate Plan, Inheritance, Wills |
Unfortunately, family feuds that center around someone’s will or trust are a tale as old as time. As a Torrance will and trust lawyer, I have seen it all. Even if this is not something you have personally experienced, you may have heard a few horror stories. While...
by Christine Brown | Nov 30, 2017 | Estate Planning |
Being a responsible parent is usually associated with bedtime stories with toddlers, homework reminders for grade schoolers and trying to decide whether or not your teenager is responsible enough to drive to school on his or her own. Creating an estate plan for those...
by Christine Brown | Nov 24, 2017 | Special Needs Children, Special Needs Planning |
Children with special needs, or Children with Special Health Care Needs as defined by the Social Security Act, are eligible to receive a number of government benefits to pay for the aid, care, and services that are available to them. There are many ways a child can...
by Christine Brown | Nov 15, 2017 | Estate Planning, Pet Planning, Pet Trust |
Not too long ago, a person who decided to leave an inheritance behind for their pet might be considered eccentric, to say the least. Take, for example, the case of Leona Helmsley: when she died in 2007, she left her dog Trouble an inheritance worth $12 million. While...
by Christine Brown | Nov 8, 2017 | Estate Planning, Probate |
Many people plan for their retirement by using Roth IRAs due to their great tax benefits, but most don’t know that Roth IRAs are also excellent for avoiding probate. First, here are some basics about tax planning with Roth IRAs that Los Angeles County probate lawyers...
by Christine Brown | Oct 30, 2017 | Elder Abuse, Elder Law |
The elderly are too often targets of unscrupulous individuals who may try to take an unsuspecting senior’s money. Seniors are especially vulnerable as they become less cognitively able and thus more dependent on other adults. Unfortunately, as a Manhattan Beach elder...
by Christine Brown | Oct 24, 2017 | Special Needs Planning |
When it comes to creating a special needs plan for a loved one with disabilities, it’s the hope that all family members are in agreement and ideally on the same page. But, as a Long Beach special needs lawyer, I have seen that even if everyone is working together,...
