My youngest son just went off to college for the first time, so my husband and I are now empty nesters! It’s been more than 20 years since it was just us in the house, so it’s taking some getting used to. As an estate planning attorney, one of the things that I did to […]
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Ahoy there, fellow Californians, estate planning enthusiasts, and everyone who’s setting sail in the sea of life! I’m your friendly neighborhood lawyer, seasoned sailor of the legal seas, ready to guide you through the complex currents of estate planning. Today, we’re going to char...
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When a spouse is disabled and has qualified to receive Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program), what happens if the “well” spouse dies first? Medi-Cal is a “needs based” program. That means there are strict income and asset requirements. A person applying for and receiving Medi-Cal must have less t...
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One of the most difficult decisions you may face is choosing the person who will speak on your behalf when it comes to financial or health care decisions or raising your children if you can’t speak on your own behalf. In fact, this is where most people get stuck in the estate planning process – [&he...
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Who takes care of you if you cannot care for yourself? Do you know who will take care of you if you are so sick that you cannot make your own healthcare decisions? Will that person be legally allowed to talk to your doctor and make decisions on your behalf? And, will that person know […]
Read moreWhile it is not exactly business as usual at Thatcher | Law, we are moving forward to provide as much assistance to our clients as possible. If you’re feeling anxious about the news, then be proactive and make sure you have an up-to-date, comprehensive estate plan that includes detailed health care ...
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I was recently asked the question, “How old should I be when I start my estate planning?” It’s a great question, and the answer surprised her: Estate planning should begin as soon as someone legally becomes an adult (18 years old). At 18, you don’t need complicated estate planning, but there are sev...
Read moreI hear a lot of excuses why people are not ready to prepare an estate plan. I even used some of these myself. I thought I would share the ones I hear most frequently. Seeing a lawyer is intimidating Lawyers can be intimidating, plus as a general profession, lawyers do not have the greatest reputati...
Read moreWhat would you think if you received an estate plan as a gift? Would you be pleased? Or freaked out? I’m an estate planning attorney, so I may be a bit biased, but I think it is a great gift. Here’s why. Intestate Succession – California (or Your State)’s Plan for You Did you know […]
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For many people, their retirement assets consist of accounts such as an employer sponsored 401(k) plan and/or IRA accounts. The reason for doing so it obvious: they allow for either tax-deferred growth of your hard earned money. One pitfall of these accounts is what will happen to them when you pass...
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