Incapacity – Blue Water Estate Planning

Can My Agent Override My Life Support or Organ Donation Wishes?

This is one of the most common—and important—questions we hear when helping clients complete their Advance Health Care Directives (AHCDs). So let’s clear up how it works, what powers your agent really has, and how you can ensure your wishes are honored exactly as you intend. Understanding Your Agent...

Estate Planning Horror Stories: Cautionary Tales You Don’t Want to Star In

We’re setting sail on a voyage through some choppy waters of four estate planning horror stories. Trust me, these tales you don’t want to be a part of. 🚢💀 The Incapacitated Spouse and the Reverse Mortgage Debacle Emily and Jack have been married for decades. Unfortunately, Emily became i...

Estate Planning Isn’t Just For The One Percent: Why Every Family Needs A Plan

Let’s talk about something people often brush under the rug: estate planning. Now, before you scroll away thinking: “I don’t have an estate” or “The bank owns my house” or even, “That’s for the Jeff Bezoses or Elon Musks of the world” – hang on a sec. Estate planning isn&#821...

Spousal Special Needs Trusts

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...

Who Takes Care of You if You Can’t Speak for Yourself?

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...

Is An Estate Plan the Perfect Holiday Gift?

What 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 […]

Estate Planning Red Flag: You Haven’t Planned for Incapacity

Estate planning is often associated with death. But it’s just as important for your plan to address incapacity associated with illness, injury, advanced age or other circumstances. Unless you specify how financial and health care decisions will be made in the event you become incapacitated, there’s ...