A Sacramento resident must decide for himself what estate planning documents he wants to execute to ensure that his affairs will be managed to his expectations in the event of his incapacitation or death. As such, readers are asked to speak with their estate planning...
Powers Of Attorney
California families should know the warning signs of incapacity
Sooner or later many families in California will have to face the reality that aging loved ones are no longer able to manage their own financial affairs. Research has shown that an individual's ability to make financial decisions peaks at about age 53. A person's...
A durable POA allows a trusted person to handle one’s affairs
When an individual becomes mentally or physically incapacitated, they often have difficulty performing basic tasks like paying bills or balancing their checkbook. Older individuals may become incapacitated due to Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia....
Alternatives to guardianship for an incapacitated loved one
As the baby boom generation ages, many people in California are dealing with the issue of elderly relatives who can no longer make decisions on their own behalf. When a loved one becomes incapacitated due to dementia, illness or injury, it is sometimes necessary for...
Powers of attorney insure against the unexpected
Any person, not only seniors, may face circumstances where she cannot handle daily and legal tasks because of an unexpected accident or health condition. A power of attorney may be insurance that a trusted person can step in and handle such personal matters.The person...
A durable power of attorney can provide real peace of mind
For most Californians, estate planning means making plans for the disposition of one's property after death. While this is usually the most important aspect of estate planning, it is far from the only one. Many people, especially as they get older, face the...
Creating a power of attorney to avoid legal battles
When blues legend B.B. King died last week he left behind a legacy of music that has influenced countless musicians in California and around the world. Unfortunately, he also left behind a brewing fight between his children and his business manager over the management...
Finding the right person to trust with end-of-life planning
When it comes to end-of-life issues, people in California might start to get a little uneasy. After all, estate planning, health care directives and retirement issues aren't something people think about a lot and the odds are that it's an uncertain area for older...
What is ‘undue influence’ and how does it affect the elderly?
Theft under California law is really quite simple. Like most states, it involves intentionally depriving another person of their rightfully owned property permanently, and the penalties are generally assessed based on the severity of the crime. However, there is a...
Abusing a power of attorney is a crime
People in California may have heard a lot about elder abuse and tragic stories of people having their life savings wiped out by someone who has taken advantage of them financially. Unfortunately in many of these cases, the damage may already largely have been done by...