On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Friday, March 8, 2019. A revocable trust is not the only kind of estate planning document that California residents need. A will and powers of attorney that appoint people to manage health care decisions and finances if a person is unable to do so are also important. However, a revocable trust is a powerful document that can perform a number of different function as part of an estate plan...
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Rules for filing a disability claim with Social Security
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. Few in California want to admit that a disability prevents him or her from gainful employment. But an illness or injury makes this an unavoidable situation for some. Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI) are obtainable for those who cannot work, but can be a difficult task to be awarded benefits.The issue becomes when to apply for disability benefits. To answer...
Estate planning can help people in various circumstances
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. When people in California think about the future, some people think that an estate plan is not necessary. They may think that only extremely wealthy people need to plan to distribute their assets or plan to put it off until an older age. However, people in general can benefit from laying out an estate plan, including young, single and healthy people with relati...
Is it time to review and update your estate plan?
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Sunday, February 24, 2019. As we age, staying on top of our estate plan can feel like a chore, and may even seem unnecessary to some. Unfortunately, neglecting to update an estate plan is one of the easiest and quickest ways to cause problems for your loved ones and beneficiaries once you are gone. If you have an estate plan and have not reviewed or updated it in at least five years, then you should make this a priority.Why is ...
Why estate planning is important for everybody
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Friday, February 22, 2019. California residents can benefit from estate planning even if they don't consider themselves to be wealthy. Not having an estate plan could leave assets in limbo, and it could cost money currently earmarked for beneficiaries to determine how they should be distributed. One of the first steps to creating an estate plan is to make use of beneficiary designations o...
Trusts provide privacy and do not require probate
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Trusts can support many estate planning goals for people in California. A trust creates a legal entity that can accept ownership of various assets that a person chooses to transfer into it. Significant advantages provided by trusts include the private transfer of wealth and avoidance of the public probate process. Probate courts review wills, and they also re...
Identifying the interested parties in probate legislation
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in estate administration & probate on Friday, February 15, 2019. When a will is contested in California, a question comes up as to who the interested parties are with regards to the estate. At first glance, the answer to this question might seem clear-cut. However, after more investigation is done, it may come to light that there are a number of interested parties, many of which the individual or individuals initiating the ...
The nature of work performed is a disability factor
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. In the five-step sequential process for getting Social Security Disability Insurance, it first must be determined that a claimant is not engaging in substantial gainful activity and has a severe impairment. Many California residents who apply for SSDI benefits are denied because their impairments do not meet the SocialQD Security Administration's threshold, which is...
SSD benefits may not be permanent
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Friday, February 8, 2019. Social security disability benefits are often awarded only after a rigorous and contentious process. Many California claimants are denied on the initial application and then again on the first level of appeal, reconsideration. Often, only after the claimant has appeared before an administrative law judge at the next level of appeal, the disability hearing, do the mo...
Disability hearings are often important but short
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Thursday, February 7, 2019. People in California may think about and prepare a great deal for an upcoming disability hearing to appeal a denial of Social Security Disability benefits. After all, these hearings conducted before an administrative law judge provide the greatest opportunity for people to obtain the disability benefits they need and deserve. Despite all the preparation and materi...