The Holidays. The Perfect Time to Talk about a Living Trust!

My family tried for years to get my folks to create a Living Trust. While my mom was an easy sell, it was my stepfather, Charlie, who was the holdout. A retired Navy pilot, we figured it was some kind of macho-military thing. He wouldn’t listen to my mom, his daughters or me. But one year during the holidays, my brother brought the subject up, explaining how difficult Probate can be for grieving families. Bingo. It took the intervention of a male for Charlie to take this seriously.

Charlie and my mom finally created their Living Trust when they were in their mid-70s. It took my brother’s intervening again to get my folks to update that Trust when they were in their early 90s. By that time, they were very frail, though they still had testamentary capacity. This update was important, as they’d made some good investments, and one of Charlie’s daughters had died.

Let’s face it—there’s never a great time to talk about end-of-life planning

Yet if your efforts to get your parents or other family members to create a Living Trust have fallen flat, it might be that the holidays are the time for this conversation to resurface. Additional family members may provide the support you need.

A Living Trust provides peace of mind

A Living Trust is a legal document that contains instructions for what you want to happen to your assets when you die. For my family, it meant that when my parents died, all of their affairs were in order, they had transferred all of their assets into the Living Trust and identified their heirs. Without a Living Trust, their estate would have gone into Probate and my brother likely would have been the one having to work through the Probate process for our family.

Our Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and a Healthcare Directive

A Financial Power of Attorney, a written authorization to represent or act on another’s behalf is an important part of life planning. As people age, it’s not unusual for their memories to fade and their thinking to become unclear. The time often comes when they can no longer pay their own bills, interact with their healthcare providers, insurance representatives and other professionals—yet it’s critical that they continue these services. Having a trusted family member or friend step in as Financial Power of Attorney means that the services and care they require will seamlessly continue.

An Advance Healthcare Directive specifies what actions should be taken for your health if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself because of illness or incapacity. We all like to think that we’re going to age gracefully and die peacefully in our sleep at a ripe old age, but the reality is that people have massive strokes, fall into comas and have debilitating accidents. Planning ahead and creating an Advance Healthcare Directive makes it easier for your family to care for you if an unfortunate situation arises.

A thoughtful gift for your family this holiday: Create or update your Living Trust.

With families gathered for the holidays, it’s the perfect time to encourage procrastinating relatives to create or update their Living Trusts. We’re proud of our comprehensive Living Trust package that includes a Power of Attorney and Advanced Healthcare Directive. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents. Schedule an appointment with Guideway today.

 

Guideway services the entire Bay Area

Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.

Covid Hijacks the Holidays: Evaluating Your Risk Tolerance

Just about the time we thought it was safe to enjoy the holidays, omicron has popped up to spoil our fun. We kicked off the holidays just a few weeks ago with money in our pockets and high expectations. We prepped for in-person parties and planned trips to exotic locales. We looked forward to simply sharing the holidays with those we love. But Covid’s a cunning adversary. Within a matter of days, this new variant has sabotaged the holiday plans of millions of people around the globe.

Home alone again for the holidays

A colleague and her husband looked forward to taking their two young sons to South Africa, where her husband grew up. Africa is where omicron first surfaced, and their flights have been canceled. One 72-year old woman hadn’t seen her grandchildren in nearly three years. Her holiday plans included a trip to Denver to visit her unvaccinated son and his family. But with infections spiking, she and her husband will be home alone again this year.

As Covid sweeps the country: Is the booster the new vaccine passport?

Broadway shows are being canceled and the Metropolitan Opera will require proof of booster shots. Its new rule  for staff and audience members takes effect in January—will this become the new vaccine passport?

Major corporations are delaying the return to the workplace—employees will continue working virtually for the foreseeable future. Apple delayed its return to the office “to a date yet to be determined.” It also temporarily shut stores in Annapolis, Md., Miami and Ottawa in response to a rise in coronavirus cases.

To go or not to go: Think of your life in terms of value exchanges

According to psychologist Arathi Sethumadhavan in APA Monitor on Psychology, “human beings, when given the time, are always doing a value exchange, weighing the benefits of what they’re getting vs what they’re giving up.” One of my colleagues thinks of this as tiny banking transactions. We’re always running either a debit or credit balance with our family and friends. Use this same principle to evaluate your Covid risk for the holidays: Weigh the benefits of how badly you want to go somewhere or see someone vs the severity of the risk.

Evaluating your risk tolerance

Ask yourself a few questions to think through whether an event is worth attending:  

• Are you fully vaccinated and boosted? If so, it’s much safer to gather with others, even with omicron circulating around us. Do you also have a strong immune system, rarely getting colds and flu?
• Do you have underlying health conditions?If so, consult your doctor about how to approach holiday gatherings.
• Do you know whether the people you’re gathering with are vaccinated? If you don’t know their status, especially when it comes to younger children, consider precautions like masking indoors or being in an outdoor environment.
• How big is the gathering you want to attend and what is the setting? Determine what size gathering feels comfortable and whether you are open to indoor gatherings.

Guideway’s Living Trust package

As you get caught up on vaccines that will help you and your family stay healthy through the coming months, this is also a great time to create or update your Trust. With families gathered for the holidays, it’s also the perfect time to encourage aging family members to create a Living Trust.

We’re proud of our comprehensive Living Trust package that includes a Power of Attorney and Advanced Healthcare Directive. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents. Schedule an appointment with Guideway today.

Guideway services the entire Bay Area

Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.

If you’re planning a divorce in 2022, you’ve got lots of company. Few couples want to disrupt the family’s holidays with Divorce matters, and statistics show that Divorce rates are highest early in the year.

These are things you can be doing now that will help move the process along, minimizing the impact on your family.

1. Identify assets and liabilities

• Identify separate assets for each spouse. These are the individual assets that you brought into your marriage and are not subject to division. They might include real estate, valuable collections, such as antiques and cars. This also includes brokerage, savings and retirement accounts.
• Identify marital assets–those things you and your spouse acquired together during your marriage, to be divided equally.
• Identify liabilities. Identify individual and marital debt. It may be that you’re still paying off your college loans. If so, these likely are separate debts that you brought into the marriage—your spouse bears no responsibility for repaying these debts. If, however, you and your spouse buy a home together, your mortgage is a shared liability.

2. Gather/copy important records and financial documents

It’s helpful to have copies of your records in one place when going through your divorce, and you will need to have copies. Deeds, mortgages, car titles and other financial documents that show proof of ownership or investment are essential.

3. Amicable Divorce

While it can seem overwhelming, Divorce is actually a very methodical process. If you can agree on division of property and a parenting plan, you don’t need an attorney, and Guideway can save you a lot of money. We are available for questions throughout the process. Either you or your spouse will serve the other with a petition, which Guideway files with the court. You will need to exchange detailed financial information that includes both assets and debts, mentioned above. Our team is compassionate, knowledgeable, and responsive. We guide you through it, and we prepare the legal documents.

4. Guided Mediation

Guideway is an experienced, neutral third party that guides divorcing couples through the issues that have stalled their divorce, helping them reach a mutually acceptable resolution. There’s no judge, no winning or losing. Instead, our Guided Divorce is based on the principles of negotiation, open-mindedness, and compromise. Both parties must be our clients and must be willing to listen and compromise.

You’ll be asked to prioritize:

• What can’t you live without? It may be your house–your biggest asset that keeps appreciating, and the place your kids call home.
• What will you give up to keep it? Retirement benefits? Long-term financial support?

Our skilled guides help couples divide their assets and work through custody matters to reach mutually agreeable solutions.

Now is a good time to begin thinking about your priorities

• Do you want to continue living in the family home? Remember that you’re now living on one income rather than two, and home maintenance is expensive. It may make sense to sell the house and move to a more affordable neighborhood.
• How important will it be for you to obtain alimony (or minimize your liability for alimony)?
• What can you expect from your spouse in terms of co-parenting your children?

5. Think about your spouse’s priorities

Note areas where your and your spouse’s priorities are likely to overlap. This will help you to be better prepared to address potential conflicts.

6. Create a post-Divorce plan

Get realistic about your post-Divorce life. While Divorce represents a fresh start, the high cost of living in the Bay Area also makes it stressful. By preparing a budget and identifying your want-to-haves vs need-to-haves, you can be realistic about the new life you are trying to create for yourself and your family.

7. Keep a low profile

Hiding assets is a very bad idea and has serious consequences if it backfires. Maintain a low profile and keep your spouse and your Divorce off social media.

8. Manage stress

While your Divorce is a major life event with long-term consequences, try to keep this in perspective. You will get through this.

Guideway’s Divorce and Mediation Services

Guideway has been assisting Bay Area couples with Divorce for nearly 20 years. While the majority of our clients may not have worked out the details, they know they are willing to reach agreement on division of assets and a parenting plan—and those are the critical components of an Amicable Divorce. Our Guided Mediation is for couples whose Divorce has stalled for whatever reasons. We guide you through it, and we prepare the legal documents. Schedule an appointment with Guideway today.

Guideway services the entire Bay Area

Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.

Is It Time to Redefine “Fully Vaccinated”?

Nearly two years of Covid, and the emerging variants indicate that it’s not going away anytime soon. We’ve adapted our business models and facilities to create safe environments. At Guideway, the uncertainty of this pandemic has resulted in an increase in people creating or updating their Living Trusts. A Trust is especially important for those with young children. If something happens to you, who will care for your children? Without a Trust, the court appoints a guardian for your kids. By creating a Trust, you can name a guardian and be assured that your family will inherit your assets as you have planned. In the meantime, getting a booster shot is the best way to protect yourself against Covid.

The CDC is now recommending booster shots for everyone over 18

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending that everyone 18 and older get a Covid booster shot. This messaging is more urgent than that of just a few months ago when the recommendation was for those 50 and older. Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, is now unequivocal in advising the public to “get boosted now.”

According to CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, “As science evolves, we will look at whether we need to update our definition of ‘fully vaccinated.’ The definition hasn’t changed. That’s after your second dose of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, after your single dose of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”

Even with vaccinations, immunity wanes

Two state governors are taking the booster seriously.

• Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. “In my view, if you were vaccinated more than six months ago, you’re not fully vaccinated,” said Lamont on Nov. 18 during a press briefing. He was encouraging everyone to get boosted—even before the federal government authorized extra shots for everyone.
• New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had a similar response in mid-November, saying she defined “fully vaccinated” as receiving three shots of the mRNA type. She also opened up booster eligibility to all of her state residents before the CDC and Food and Drug Administration did.

Infections with the omicron variant have been reported in at least five states. Omicron is distinguished by at least 50 mutations, some of which appear to be associated with increased transmissibility. The World Health Organization dubbed it a “variant of concern” on Nov. 26.

The social implications of changing vaccination status

An increasing number of venues require proof of vaccination for entrance. New York City’s Key to NYCrequires that people 12 and older show identification and proof they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for access to indoor dining, fitness and entertainment venues. France’s Pass Sanitaire is required for access to all cultural venues, restaurants and bars. Passengers of long-distance trains, buses and domestic airlines need this pass. Think of all of the workplaces that have vaccine mandates—the Department of Defense, Goldman Sachs, MacDonalds, Cisco, American Express, Facebook, Ford, etc. It’s a growing list.

One doctor doesn’t quantify “fully vaccinated”

Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences thinks more suitable terminology would be to call someone “adequately” vaccinated against covid rather than “fully” vaccinated, since it’s possible that more boosters could be needed in the future — making “full vaccination” a matter of semantics and a moving target.

Businesses don’t appear to be checking for boosters at this time, but that could change. There may be a time when patrons present a two-shot vaccine passport, only to be turned away as inadequately protected.

A thoughtful gift for your family this holiday: Create or update your Living Trust.

As you prepare your home for winter and get caught up on vaccines that will help you and your family stay healthy through the coming months, this is also a great time to create or update your Living Trust. With families gathered for the holidays, it’s also the perfect time to encourage aging family members to create their Living Trusts.

We’re proud of our comprehensive Living Trust package that includes a Power of Attorney and Advanced Healthcare Directive. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents. Schedule an appointment with Guideway today.

Guideway services the entire Bay Area

Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.

 

The Kickoff: Holidays 2021

Let the season begin! That old excitement is back in the air. What can we expect? A white Christmas in many parts of the country. People on the move. Crowded airports and train stations. Busy restaurants. Americans happily spending money again.

Forget the “need-to-haves”. Americans are ready for the “I deserve-to-haves”

Salesforce is predicting demand for products in the adventure industry–luggage, sporting goods, and vacation-wear purchases will increase as Americans get back to planning trips again. After a year of living virtually, we’re looking forward to in-person celebrations. A year of schlumping around in sweats has led to our wanting to buy clothes again. Party clothes, glitter and glamorous accessories. Consumers with money in their pockets will be looking to upgrade their wardrobes with investment pieces like jewelry and watches that they can show off.

And the family thing? For many, it never gets any easier

This year the conflict transcends the usual criticism over children’s life choices. Polarized politics and Covid have created mine fields for many families. Some people are not inviting unvaccinated family members to Thanksgiving; others are scoffing at relatives who insist on masks.

“Now it’s no longer whether you just disagree about the long-term effects of climate change,” said Jill Suitor, a sociologist at Purdue University, where she leads a project investigating family conflict in 550 multigenerational families, “but whether you believe that having certain family members present poses a serious danger to other family members.”

But those classic fights about politics or where to spend Christmas are really about something much deeper, especially in 2021. Psychologists caution us that we’ve been through a lot. There’s a yearning for love, connection and, above all, belonging. There’s a theme of “We hope that our parents will understand this year. Maybe this time, my in-laws will accept me.”

But after a year apart, we’re further apart

Feelings will be hurt this year and efforts to express love may be clumsy, awkward or marred by pride and stubbornness. Though the pandemic has increased tensions within families, it has also created an opening. Now more than ever, people are recognizing the importance of being together, understanding how precious and fleeting life can be. There will be a lot of empty places at holiday tables, and we’ve experienced painful losses. Being grateful for our blessings may inspire us to lead with love and tolerance this holiday season.

 

One thoughtful action item for your family this holiday: Create or update your Living Trust.

As you prepare your home for winter and get caught up on vaccines that will help you and your family stay healthy through the coming months, this is also a great time to create or update your Living Trust. With families gathered for the holidays, it’s also the perfect time to encourage aging family members to create their Living Trusts.

We’re proud of our comprehensive Living Trust package that includes a Power of Attorney and Advanced Healthcare Directive. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents. Schedule an appointment with Guideway today.

Guideway services the entire Bay Area

Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.

Divorce in the New Year? Inspiring Stories of Coming Back Stronger

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers tells us that the number of Divorce filings are one third higher than normal in the month of January. Not hard to figure out why. Too many people make silent promises that they’ll never spend another year—and most of all—another holiday, with their current spouses.

It takes hard-hearted parents to leave during the holidays, so they don’t

They wait until January, “Divorce Month”. But it’s still November, and while we’re just ratcheting up to the holidays—many people are absolutely miserable, secretly planning their escapes. While Divorce will be emotional and disruptive, take inspiration from a few New York Times readers who moved on from their divorces—stronger, happier and more capable!

• Twelve years after a difficult divorce, I look back with pride at the life I’ve built. I went back to graduate school, built a career and kept the house and maintained it beautifully. Took trips around the world with my girls and taught them how to be strong independent women.
• I relish each small successful repair, every picture hung perfectly, done by me with no screaming or worsened damage. I never felt as good sitting in a psychiatrist’s office as I do now when I’ve selected just the right drill bit to mount that anchor.
• Six years ago, I left a 30-year marriage and was terrified I would not know how to handle things — an apartment, finances, car repairs, caps on jars. All this fear, despite holding a demanding job. I learned how to use tools and fix things, and it was so satisfying. Now I know I can handle anything on my own.
• One very capable woman tells her story. Last fall, when local infections were sky high, the firewood still needed to be cut and split and family couldn’t come help me — so out I went. I felled over a dozen trees, cut everything into pieces, got it all back to my house, and split all the logs into firewood.
• A single dad weighs in. After the divorce I stayed in the marital home, took on shared custody and relished the opportunity to prove to both myself and my girls (and my son) that I could manage both a taxing job and being a good dad as well as a passable “mom”. It was a hectic period with very long days and short nights, but boy, was it worth it!

Guideway’s Divorce and Mediation Services

Guideway has been assisting Bay Area couples with their Divorces for nearly 20 years. If you and your spouse can reach agreement on division of assets and liabilities and a parenting plan, you don’t need an attorney, and we can save you a significant amount of money.

Divorce can seem overwhelming, but it’s a very methodical process

If you can figure out division of assets, you don’t need a lawyer, and we can save you a lot of money. Most of our clients may not have worked out the details, but they know they are willing to reach agreement—and that’s the critical component of an amicable Divorce.

Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents. Schedule an appointment with Guideway today.

We service the entire East Bay and North Bay areas

Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.

Thanksgiving 2021: The Year We Get Even

Who remembers last year’s Thanksgiving? Too afraid of Covid to travel, we became a nation of solitary diners hunkering down to a box of takeout, perhaps salvaging our meal with a good bottle of wine. My brother in Florida never got out of his pajamas. He watched the Macy’s parade and nonstop football; dinner was scrambled eggs and toast. I was lucky–my neighbor loves to cook and treated us to shrimp etouffee. More than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is the time for sharing traditions with those we love. For many of us, the 2020 holidays created traditions we’d just as soon forget.

This year Americans are on the move

This year promises to be the year we get even. With our vaccinations, booster shots and money in our pockets, Americans clearly are ready to get out of town. Trips within the U.S. are the most popular holiday destination this year. Many are making up for having missed their families last year. Others are heading to the beach. Think Mexico, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, the Turks, Caicos and Aruba.

Travel insurance is a good way to add a financial safeguard to a trip

While vaccines are readily available, Covid remains a concern for travelers. Travel insurance that includes coverage for Covid-related problems is the No. 1 search by consumers before buying a policy, according to Squaremouth’s data.

The best pandemic travel insurance includes valuable Covid-related coverage for trip cancellation, medical emergencies and medical evacuation. There are plans that offer primary medical coverage, meaning you won’t have to use your own health plan first. If you are traveling overseas, Covid medical coverage is available—it’s likely not included in your existing coverage.

Another useful coverage is “cancel for any reason” travel insurance. This coverage gives you the flexibility to cancel your trip no matter the reason. You get reimbursed 50% or 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs under a “cancel for any reason” claim.

A hard travel lesson to learn

Many people are not aware of this regulation. Your passport has to be good for at least three months from your departure date. If it isn’t, you will not get your boarding pass. One of my friends learned this bitter lesson the hard way. He and his partner were boarding a plane for a three-week trip to Spain and Portugal in Dec. His passport expired in February. They had everything booked—Airbnbs, car, etc. They lost everything. Check the expiration date on your passport.

Traveling offshore for the holidays

If you’re looking to venture beyond the U.S. this holiday season, make sure you check the destination country’s entry requirements well before you depart for your trip. If you don’t meet the requirements, you won’t be allowed in. They sneak in little forms that need to be completed before you leave or land. If you’re flying through London Heathrow Airport, there’s a London Locator form that has to be completed online or you can’t get on the plane. Be careful and research these requirements.

I’ve traveled internationally several times in the last six months

It takes planning and stamina. Every foreign country requires a PCR test. You will need to get the (negative) results back before you leave. The results must be good for 72 hours. I flew into Bucharest, Romania. My PCR test had to stretch across a few time zones and days. Think ahead.

Covid travel also can be stressful and expensive. In a trip home from Mexico City, they didn’t like the PCR test results that I got at the Red Cross in St. Miguel de Allende. They made me get another one at the airport in Mexico City, resulting in my missing my flight. I had to purchase another ticket for $750 that routed me through Guadalajara for three hours, putting me into SFO at 10pm. All this for what should have been an easy four-hour flight home.

RELATED CONTENT: Itching to Get Away? Travel in the Time of COVID

Create a Living Trust before you leave

Regardless of where you’re traveling this holiday season, we encourage everyone to create or update your Living Trust before you leave. When creating your Living Trust with Guideway, you’ll work with a dedicated specialist who is available for questions and support throughout the process. We’ve been in business since 2003 and have expanded to three Bay Area offices–Dublin, Oakland and Walnut Creek. More than 60% of our business comes from referrals and repeat business.

Our comprehensive Living Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and Advanced Healthcare Directive. We provide a hard copy as well as a soft copy of your documents. More questions? Contact us today.

Guideway services the entire Bay Area

Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.

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