Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law

New 5.0-star Review: "My experience with Julianna was nothing but professional and caring. I found her extremely knowledgeable, helpful in providing expert advice about my situation, and compassionate. She's truly a super star attorney and I refer others to her on a regular basis."

Make sure you have these things in order as soon as possible. It is better to be prepared than to leave your family blindsided.

Happy New Year! We hope that the start of the new year is relaxing and productive for everyone.

We can help you to feel organized and prepared for the new year. Visit our website to learn more.

Make an appointment for a consultation today, and we can help you assess what the best next steps are.

The team at Santa Barbara Elder Law and Estate Planning wishes you a lovely and peaceful holiday with your loved ones.

Have you ever been told that you can’t get information on a spouse’s account without his or her verbal permission? Imagine what would happen if your spouse was incapacitated and couldn’t give that OK. What would you do? This possibility is exactly why it’s so important for spouses to have signed Powers of Attorney and a solid estate plan in place BEFORE a crisis happens. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/estate-planning/

If something were to happen to you and your spouse, what would happen if the authorities or medical personnel did not know that you have minor children at home waiting for you? https://www.sbelderlaw.com/3-ways-to-protect-your-children-

Keep this conversation open if you have a business partner. They can change the line of succession in their will.

Once an older loved one starts to show signs of dementia, you will likely need to start thinking about the type of care he or she will need in the future. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/5-questions-to-ask-when-choosing

This month is a great time to have these important discussions with your loved ones.

Santa Barbara Elder Law and Estate Planning wishes everyone a safe and spooky Hallow's Eve!

One of the major advantages of joint ownership of an asset is that it avoids Santa Barbara County probate.

Many seniors shut down when it comes to talking about money and end-of-life financial planning. Have you had these conversations with your own parents? What did you do to break the ice (or what do you wish that you did differently?)

This is a pretty neat resource that makes writing an obituary easier after the loss of a loved one.

Do you want your children to inherit your CA real property someday? You have until Feb 16 to protect Prop 13 low property tax assessments. Schedule an appointment with an attorney to find your options before it's too late (805) 946-1550. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/proposition-19-children-inheriti

It may sound morbid, but creating a findable file, binder or cloud-based drive where you store estate documents and meaningful personal effects will save your loved ones incalculable time, money, and suffering. At Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law, we provide each of our planning clients a portfolio and drive with their important estate planning documents and space to add other legal documents, useful information or special letters to loved ones noted in this article. #smartfamiliesplanahead

We uniquely design each family’s estate plan after we have a complete understanding of their business and personal goals.

An ABLE account is an excellent way to help a young adult with disabilities become financially independent and save their own money. https://www.calable.ca.gov/

Estate planning is not all about the money! Schedule a consultation to discuss what type of legacy is important to your family.

Most parents expect their children to inherit their assets if they unexpectedly pass away. But what happens if the child is a minor when mom or dad dies?

The Stay at Home order is upon us. Shelter in Place may be on the horizon if hospital ICU's become full. If you go into a hospital for anything at all no one is going in with you. Please, google "advance health care directive", fill it out, sign it, and send it to your loved ones. No one wants to make health care decisions for you, and in California, no one has the authority to make decisions for you. #estateplanning #sbelderlaw

If you have a house, kids, a retirement account, a business, or even sentimental items that you want to pass down to your loved ones someday, you have an estate. Make sure you are planning for it! https://www.sbelderlaw.com/estate-planning/

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah for those who celebrate! We hope these next eight nights are a happy time for you and your loved ones.

As this month comes to a close, take a moment to assess whether the seniors in your life are in the best position for their health and happiness. It may be time to consider an alternative living situation.

One of the most common questions asked when it comes to settling an estate in Santa Barbara County is, How long is this going to take? The answer to that question is, of course, going to vary depending upon several factors.

Save the date. Join the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County on Thurs., Dec.17th at 5:30pm for a Holiday Happy Hour & Fundraiser. Hear from Legal Aid staff about their work and how your support makes a difference in the community and to access to justice. Free event but registration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_-dKD0WhHSz2iZpE4Nv2Pcw

We’ve seen it time and time again; an elderly person has a medical crisis and loses their nest egg to medical costs. Planning ahead can help your older loved ones avoid this scenario. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/long-term-care-pre-planning/

As Marie Kondo's show exemplifies, organizing your life can bring you joy. As it turns out, getting your estate plan in order can do the same thing! https://www.sbelderlaw.com//how-to-marie-kondo-your-finan/

Learn more about living trusts at sbelderlaw.com/estate-planning

Thinking about leaving an inheritance behind and talking about it with your loved ones are completely different things. Read this blog post to learn some tips for how to do so. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/blog/

Give thanks to your loved ones and supporters today!

Most people understand that estate planning will protect their minor children. But, it can also help protect your ADULT children from bad decisions, outside influences, creditor problems and divorcing spouses. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/estate-planning/

If you are facing probate after the loss of a loved one, we have some information on our website that lays out what you can expect. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/probate-trust-administration/

Can revocable living trusts be used for asset protection? https://www.sbelderlaw.com/blog/

Think about how you can help support a family caregiver sometime this November.

Take a moment after a family birthday celebration to consider what you need to do to prepare for the unexpected.

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."- Arthur Ash

There are many things to take into consideration when caring for an out-of-state parent, such as what kind of situations can be taken care of over the phone as opposed to in-person, finding trusted services when you’re unfamiliar with the area, and staying up to date with your parent’s daily needs.

Dementia must be caught early in order for treatments to be effective. That is why it is important to be aware of the warning signs.

TODAY at 5:30: Join Julianna Malis - Santa Barbara Estate Planning for a FREE WORKSHOP to start naming guardians and putting a plan in place today to make sure your children are always cared for by the people you choose and in the way you want. Don't leave up to a judge. Hannah Buschbom - The AmeriFlex Group will be talking about Saving for College and 2020 Updates to Financial Aid Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_RAyyWRr4SAyHnqDdFc7rzg

This blog post will help you to assess whether one of your loved ones is beginning to lose cognitive function. However, it is best to check in with a medical professional to know for sure.

Keep this in mind if you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or a dementia-related disease and does not have their legal documents in order or recently updated.

Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are considered assets and should be included in your estate plan. However, cryptocurrencies are not treated the same as funds you would hold in a traditional bank.

Thinking about giving an adult child or grandchild a loan from the Bank of Mom and Dad? This is for you: https://www.kiplinger.com//T065-C032-S014-the-bank-of-mom-

Don't forget to include your furry companions in your documents when the time comes.

Starting the process of getting your estate plan in order? We’d be happy to sit down with you to discuss the documents that you may or may not need. https://www.sbelderlaw.com/will-and-testament-planning/ (805) 946-1550

Most people come to our office ready to plan for their retirement or how they would like to see their estates managed after they have passed away. However, many of them never consider what will become of those dreams should disability be in their futures.

Today, September 21st, is World Alzheimer's Day. It is a day to recognize the difficulties of caring for loved ones with this condition. We remember their love when they can no longer remember.

I realize the possibility of dying while your children are still young can be difficult to accept, and that’s why many parents choose to not think about it. Unfortunately, this fear can prevent parents from taking the proper precautions necessary to ensure that their kids would be protected if something happened to mom or dad in the future.

"Family is family, whether it's one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the family you gain along the way." Happy Stepfamily Day to anyone who is a part of a blended family!

New 5.0-star Review: ""

Whether you're comfortable with personal finances or you feel like you're in the dark about money matters, join Estate Planning Attorney Julianna Malis - Santa Barbara Estate Planning and Certified Financial Planner Hannah Buschbom - The AmeriFlex Group for a free Estate and Financial Planning Workshop series for Women starting this week on Thursday September 17th at 5:30pm. You will become more educated and empowered without feeling any pressure all from the comfort of your home with a glass of wine (or cup of tea). Register here: https://bit.ly/2Z6uSEi

Wishing any grandmas and grandpas a Happy Grandparent's Day! Send your grandparents some love today.

Today we honor those that were lost in the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. Remembering this unprecedented tragedy brings us closer together as a nation.

Women have come a long way when it comes to our roles in work and family, yet many of us may not feel prepared financially. Often times we are not sure where to start. Whether you're comfortable with personal finances or you feel like you're in the dark about money matters, join Estate Planning Attorney Julianna Malis - Santa Barbara Estate Planning and Certified Financial Planner Hannah Buschbom - The AmeriFlex Group in a RELAXED 30 minute format with time allowed for ...questions You will become more educated and empowered without feeling any pressure all from the comfort of your home and a glass of wine (or cup of tea)! Register here: https://bit.ly/2Z6uSEi Join us for on the second Thursday of the month where you'll learn about concepts and solutions that can dramatically change the way you look at money and estate planning. This is a 4 part series. Once you have registered, you will receive reminders before each date in the series. Attend once or for all 4 sessions! September 17th - Plan Your Estate and Create Wealth with Julianna & Hannah October 8th -Protect Your Children with Guardians & Savvy Investing for their Future November 19th - Protect Your Elderly Parents from the Devastating Costs of Elder Care December 10th - Protect Your Retirement Savings from Predators and Creditors and new Tax Laws We'll see you then! Register Now: https://bit.ly/2Z6uSEi

During the COVID 19 crisis and California shutdown, attorneys were not considered essential workers but at Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law we sure act like we are #beahelper #alwaysdoing

If you’re looking for the best way to express your end-of-life wishes, a tattoo is probably not the way to go.

Labor Day is about recognizing the contributions that workers in all sectors make to the strength and prosperity of our nation. Take a break today to recognize those contributions!

A 529 Plan can help you save for your children's future without jeopardizing your estate.

It’s critical for everyone to understand the importance of estate planning for those we love especially our children. Your children would be incredibly vulnerable if you passed away while they are still minors, simply because they are unable to take care of themselves. https://www.sbelderlaw.com//parents-heres-what-can-happen/

Beware of the legal risks of living together when you are over 50:

New 5.0-star Review: "My husband and I had a fantastic experience working with Santa Barbara Estate Planning and Elder Law. Julianna Malis was helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and made it easy for us to create our estate plan. Could not recommend them more highly!"