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Check out this new article, Contra Costa County Bar Association proudly presents the 24th Annual MCLE Spectacular! Friday, November 16, 2018. Click here to find out more!

A corporation whose corporate powers have been suspended or forfeited is without capacity to prosecute or defend against a suit until revivor of its powers by the appropriate statutory procedure ( ...

Elder abuse is on the rise. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 60 have experienced some form of abuse. Although common, elder abuse is chronically ...

There are approximately 48 million family caregivers in America. These hard-working people often spend thousands of dollars of their own money to assist their loved ones, while also holding their own ...

Filial, meaning due from the daughter or son, is a funny word to say. However, filial laws have, in recent years, garnered increasing attention for their serious implications. If you have heard of ...

So you’ve started a new job. Congratulations! A new job or even a promotion may come with changes to your finances and estate plan. We’re here to help you figure out what you need to do to make sure ...

December 13, 2016 marked the end of a 23 year-long period where mentally fit individuals where barred from establishing their own special needs trusts. The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, part of ...

The stretch payout is available to the designated beneficiary, defined in the IRC Code, as "any individual designated as a beneficiary…". If the owner of an IRA or qualified plan dies before their ...

Dying is a part of life. It is a given that we will all pass one day. Understandably the majority of people do not like to think about their mortality or of being incapacitated. Nevertheless, it ...

One of the most difficult parts of growing older is realizing our parents’ own mortality. And having conversations about death and dying is rarely fun. Many people also don’t want to bring up the ...

It’s becoming increasingly common for people in long-term relationships to move in together before getting married. According to a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center, 7% of surveyed adults were ...

It may be the case for you that you don’t wish to leave anything to one or more of your children. You might have an estranged relationship with them, or maybe one of your children has accumulated ...

Acting as the guardian of a minor is one of the most important roles a person ever fulfills. Along with taking on that responsibility, you may be trying to navigate stressful and emotionally-charged ...

Filial, meaning due from the daughter or son, is a funny word to say. However, filial laws have, in recent years, garnered increasing attention for their serious implications. If you have heard of ...

Medi-Cal Recovery By Ivette M. Santaella We receive many phone calls regarding Medi-Cal recovery. Many people fear that Medi-Cal will put a lien on their home and that they will lose their homes. ...

At the Santaella Legal Group, APC , we are excited to announce that we have a table at the National Healthcare Decisions Day Volunteer Event in Oakland. Wednesday, April 16, 2014 Henry J. Kaiser ...

The State Bar of California provides comprehensive pamphlets regarding estate planning and elder issues. Whenever we go out on a presentation, or meet with a client, we provide them with a copy of a ...

At S Santaella Legal Group, APC , we are proud to announce that after completing an 8 hour course, taking an exam and an oath, both attorneys Ivette M. Santaella and Linda C. Blackwell are public ...

Filial, meaning due from the daughter or son, is a funny word to say. However, filial laws have, in recent years, garnered increasing attention for their serious implications. If you have heard of ...

As an elder law attorney and advocate I often get frantic calls from family members when a skilled nursing facility has advised them that they plan to the discharge the resident within a week or days. ...

Putting a love one in a nursing home is very difficult. When I had to place my Mom in a facility I cried the whole way. The last thing you need when you get there is to be bombarded with paperwork and ...

Did you know that one of the most common forms of property ownership in the United States is joint tenancy with rights of survivorship (joint tenancy)? Joint tenancy is a legal right to property ...

Effective January 1, 2017, Defined Benefit Program members and Cash Balance Benefit Program participants may designate a special needs trust or supplemental needs trust, as an option or annuity ...

What happens to your business if you are disabled or die? A Buy-Sell Agreement provides a plan for a seamless transition with minimal disruption to your business. There are two categories of Buy-Sell ...

For decades, common financial planning wisdom has encouraged almost all-American workers to maximize their contributions to qualified retirement accounts. Indeed, doing so can be a powerful way to ...

The House of Representatives passed new legislation on October 29, 2013, that would restrict the ability of our veterans (and the many financial and legal advisors who assist them) to qualify for ...

A limited conservatorship is a special type of conservatorship established for individuals with development disabilities. This legal proceeding impacts the ability of the special needs individual to ...

On March 10 th , Ivette Santaella was a guest on “Your Legal Rights” podcast with host and Bay Area attorney Jeff Hayden. For more than 30 years, “Your Legal Rights” has provided KALW listeners with ...

Managing Attorney Ivette Santaella joined Lawyer Business Advantage to discuss how she utilizes her passion for law to power the success of her marketing and business development efforts. Click here ...

December 13, 2016 marked the end of a 23 year-long period where mentally fit individuals where barred from establishing their own special needs trusts. The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, part of ...

It is so important to have a detailed and comprehensive durable power of attorney. Unfortunately many durable powers of attorney are too general and cause problems, especially for seniors. Before a ...

When you create an estate plan, the main objective is usually to make sure that your accounts and property aren’t only in your name. If they are, they will be subject to probate when you die (a ...

We don’t need to tell you that losing a family member can be stressful and emotional. The last thing most people want to do is think about making phone calls, signing papers, or making funeral ...

Today, many people are using a revocable living trust instead of a will or joint ownership as the foundation of their estate plan. When properly prepared, a living trust avoids the public, costly and ...

If you or an elder you know are interested in getting into a Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), it is likely because of the wide range of services SNFs provide that exceed what regular nursing homes or ...

Individuals who will be eligible for the CalABLE program have even more reason to look forward to its launch later this year following the passage of CA Senate Bill 218 last October. Signed in 2014 by ...

December 13, 2016 marked the end of a 23 year-long period where mentally fit individuals where barred from establishing their own special needs trusts. The Special Needs Trust Fairness Act, part of ...

Effective January 1, 2017, Defined Benefit Program members and Cash Balance Benefit Program participants may designate a special needs trust or supplemental needs trust, as an option or annuity ...

Your retirement account protects your assets during your lifetime. But as soon as that account gets passed to a loved one, that protection is gone. When your spouse, child, or other loved one inherits ...

Naming a trustee is the next important step after establishing your trust. A trustee’s responsibilities include collecting income, paying bills and taxes, saving and investing for the future, buying ...

Choosing who will serve as successor trustee for your revocable trust can be a difficult decision. However, it’s important to carefully consider who will fill this role, as they’ll be responsible for ...

Veterans Administration Pension Benefits are paid to veterans who were in military service during wartime and who have little or no income. Veterans who have serious disabilities may qualify for Aid ...