by Christine Brown | Mar 24, 2023 | Estate Planning
Spring is a time for renewal, and it’s also a great time to take a fresh look at your estate plan. Whether you already have a will, trust, power of attorney, and healthcare directive in place or you’re just starting to think about these important...
by Christine Brown | Mar 17, 2023 | Trusts
You’ve spent a lifetime working to care for yourself and your family. When you reach your golden years, you may wonder what it is you’ll leave behind. What will your legacy be, and what can you do to give back to those who have enriched your life? One answer a...
by Christine Brown | Mar 9, 2023 | Estate Planning, Trusts
A living trust is a valuable tool in estate planning. You can manage it while you’re alive while passing control of your affairs to someone else upon your incapacity or death. The assets in the trust can also avoid probate, allowing successor trustees immediate access...
by Christine Brown | Feb 13, 2023 | Special Needs, Special Needs Planning
Parents who have children with special needs spend a lot of time thinking about the future. They may wonder, “Who will care for my child when I’m gone someday” or “How will we afford a lifetime of care?” The answers to these questions can feel so overwhelming...
by Christine Brown | Feb 8, 2023 | Estate Planning, Inheritance, Inherited IRAs, Retirement
Inheriting a retirement account, such as a 401(k) or an IRA, can benefit a person struggling with their finances. It can help pay bills and create more stability. However, any Torrance inheritance lawyer will tell you that ignoring federal regulations can lead to...
by Christine Brown | Jan 30, 2023 | Dementia, Elder Abuse, Elder Care, Elder Law
Many people confuse dementia and mental illness. Although dementia can affect mental health, it isn’t a mental illness. It is a brain disorder that causes issues with communication and memory loss. Sometimes, people with dementia display troubling behavioral...
by Christine Brown | Jan 24, 2023 | Estate Planning
Designating your estate as the beneficiary of your IRA might make sense to you. It’s simpler than choosing one or several loved ones as beneficiaries. It can also prevent future arguments and lawsuits among your family since you’re not naming one person over...
by Christine Brown | Jan 17, 2023 | Estate Planning
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. It prevents people from talking, walking, and, eventually, breathing. Typically, patients diagnosed...
by Christine Brown | Jan 9, 2023 | Estate Planning, Funeral Planning, Probate
A funeral is a traditional method of honoring a person’s life after death. However, some people don’t feel comfortable having one. Choosing not to have a funeral is entirely acceptable. Your loved ones don’t have to attend the sad event if you want...
by Christine Brown | Dec 28, 2022 | Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Tax Returns, Long Term Care
You might have heard the term “community spouse” and wondered what it means. Essentially, if one spouse receives long-term care in a nursing home, the spouse living outside the nursing home is considered the community spouse. Here, our legal team explains why...
