Planning Your Living Trust: Four Things You May be Overlooking

As you start thinking about what belongs in your Living Trust, here are four things that often get overlooked—and can have significant, often costly consequences.

Creating Joint Tenancy Assets

In Living Trust conversations, joint tenancy generally refers to real estate and how you hold title to a property. If two people own a property, joint tenancy (with the right of survivorship) means that if one owner dies, that owner’s interest in the property will pass evenly to the surviving owner or owners without having to go through Probate.

Funding, the process of transferring assets into a Living Trust, is part of the Living Trust process. A Grant Deed transfers real property into the Trust. This Deed will also remove property from your Trust–many banks require your home to be removed from your Trust in order to refinance. Guideway can help remove your property from the Trust, then place it back in after the Refi is complete.

Disposing of family keepsakes 

You can’t put a price tag on sentimental value. Small insignificant items that may not hold any monetary value can be important sentimental icons for family members. They can also be the cause of family strife. Smart families divide these up long before anyone dies. In my own family, as my folks aged, they encouraged us to take things home with us when we visited. Other families explicitly identify these items and their distribution in their Living Trusts. When Robin Williams died, his kids sued his wife to get possession of the substantial collection of memorabilia that their father had collected over his career. If he’d identified their distribution in his Trust he would have saved his family a whole lot of grief.

RELATED CONTENT: We Learned Many Things from Robin Williams . . . and Now We’re Learning from His Estate Plan

Assets passing outside of the Trust

Assets such as life insurance, annuities and retirement plans fall outside a Living Trust. Naming a beneficiary for these accounts supersedes whomever you might name in your Trust.

We see this one all the time. You named your ex-wife as your beneficiary for your 401k—but that was in happier times. After your divorce, you removed her as the beneficiary in your Trust. But unless you also remove her as the beneficiary in your 401k account, it’s your ex who will benefit if something happens to you.

Naming backup Executors and alternates

Think carefully about whom you name as your Executor and alternate. Your brilliant banker cousin Jerry may be the perfect choice because he totally gets this stuff, but he’s 67, he’s still sneaking cigarettes and he has a heart condition. Keep Jerry, but identify an alternate who is healthier and younger.

As you update your Trust over the years, plan to review your Executor and alternate appointments. Make sure they’re still available and capable of taking on the responsibilities of this role.

Guideway, we’re a single point of contact

When creating your Living Trust, 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.

We’re also proud of our comprehensive Living Trust package that 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.

RELATED CONTENT:

5 Steps to Funding Your Trust

Your Living Trust: Avoiding the Pitfalls

Is It Time to Check Your Beneficiary Designations?

In-Person Meeting to Restate Living Trust

According to the CDC, those who have been vaccinated no longer need to wear masks in indoor settings. We’re still playing it safe, masking up and social distancing. And while we’ve gotten used to our Zoom meetings, the results of our recent survey indicated that many still prefer one-to-one communications. We’re delighted to be able to provide in-person appointments once again. 

Joan wanted a one/one appointment to restate her Trust

Joan scheduled an appointment in our Walnut Creek office last week to restate her Living Trust. She and her husband had created a Trust in 2005, and her husband died in 2019. At 83, Joan is active, grateful to be in good health. She knew the Trust process was going to be challenging for her, so she didn’t want to do it over the phone or Zoom.

Among Joan’s concerns was naming a Power of Attorney and an Agent for her Advance Healthcare Directive. She has three children who are now in their 60s, and five grandchildren. She is very close to two of her grandchildren. Allison is a banker who lives in Berkeley; Oliver, a vet, is in Boston. Both are in their 30s and likely to outlive her. They are smart, trustworthy and caring. She planned to name Allison her Power of Attorney and Oliver her Agent for her Healthcare Directive. They would be backups for each other’s roles.

 

When naming a POA, consider financial acumen and commitment of time

It might seem more logical to name her children for her Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directive—they’re older, retired. But one of Joan’s daughters lives in Spain, and the logistics make this unsuitable. Another daughter is in poor health, and Joan knows that these roles can require a significant amount of attention and some financial acumen. Her son has trouble managing money, so he was not a good choice. 

Joan is realistic about this decision. She knows that if she becomes incapacitated, the role of Power of Attorney could become a significant responsibility—managing expenses, paying taxes, getting her to doctors’ appointments, moving her to an assisted care facility if it became necessary, etc.

The role of Agent for your Advance Healthcare Directive

The role of Agent for a Health Directive is someone who is legally of age, responsible for making medical decisions on your behalf if you’re incapable of doing so. It’s often a spouse or an adult child.

It’s important that you talk to your agent before appointing him/her—not after a catastrophic event. Make sure this person is willing to take on the responsibility of making crucial medical decisions on your behalf—just as you have detailed. If a situation arises that’s not covered in the Directive, your agent will be responsible for making decisions based on what he or she believes is in your best interest.

Schedule an appointment to create your Living Trust: Zoom or in-person!

You now have a choice--via Zoom or an in-person meeting. Our Trust package includes a Power of Attorney, an Advance Healthcare Directive and a Pour Over Will. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents.

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.

Executor Anxiety: What if the Estate Doesn’t Sell?

There is often confusion about the role of the Executor/Successor Trustee who manages the family’s estate after the death of a parent. An article in The New York Times underscores the uncertainty and anxiety that an Executor may be experiencing. An “Executor” carries out a person’s Will (common in New York because Probate is more workable there), whereas most California people will have a Trust, so the person doing all these tasks is the “Successor Trustee”. Anxiety is not uncommon—none of us has trained for this role, and we don’t normally bring any experience to the job.

 

In the article, one person is the Executor of her mother’s estate. The sale of her house and its belongings will be divided equally among the surviving children. The Executor had the home’s furnishings appraised and is preparing them for sale. She’s concerned that if the furnishings don’t sell, as Executor, she will be responsible for the shortfalls.

Fiduciary duties: Acting in the best interest of the beneficiaries

An Executor is legally responsible for sorting out the finances of the person who died, generally making sure debts and taxes are paid. What’s left is distributed among the heirs. As an Executor, you can’t act against the interests of any of the beneficiaries—these are your fiduciary commitments.

According to these fiduciary duties, you can’t sell assets for less than fair market value without agreement of the beneficiaries. Your job is to settle the financial affairs and divide the assets in accordance with the Will. It’s not your job to pay your siblings if the estate is ultimately not as valuable as everyone seems to think. You are expected to make prudent decisions about how you liquidate it.

 

What’s “prudent” can be a matter of supply and demand

“What’s prudent is going to depend on the nature of the assets,” said Douglas F. Allen, Jr., a trusts and estates attorney in the Manhattan office of the law firm Seyfarth Shaw. If the estate has a valuable 19th-century armoire and you sell it at a yard sale, your siblings could hold you responsible for being careless with their inheritance. Your job is to figure out how to appraise it and find the best venue to sell it, whether that’s at an auction or through an antiques dealer. If the piece appraises for a modest sum, you may decide to sell it at an estate sale. If it sells for far less than the appraised value, then it was only worth that much—it’s a matter of supply and demand. If it’s perceived as just a hulking piece of furniture in the marketplace, then the estate is responsible for the cost of disposing of it. 

A reality check: No one seems to want old bulky furniture

I recently helped a friend downsize. They sold the estate where they had lived for 30 years. They had a home full of beautiful things, including dishes, silver and antique furniture. All of these items were expensive and in excellent condition. We tried all of the online sales sites and didn’t get as much as a nibble. No one wants this stuff, including her own children. So while they may have paid a lot of money for these items, they were virtually worthless in today’s marketplace. They only have value when someone wants them.

When it comes to real estate, partner with a broker you can trust

Decide whether to list property as-is or spend money from the estate on upgrades, repairs and staging. If the broker suggests listing it for $750,000, but it sells for $700,000, then that’s all the money you have to split up, minus whatever expenses you incurred for staging, repairs and broker fees, according to Robert D. Steele, a partner at the Manhattan law firm Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas, where he is head of the firm’s trusts and estates department.

Have these conversations now

To avoid a conflict among your siblings, start the conversation now, before any heirlooms are sold or divided up. Do some research to understand the local market value. Explain the process and whatever guidelines have been laid out in the Will. For heirlooms that have sentimental but limited monetary value, split these up now to avoid turmoil at what will undoubtedly be a difficult time.

Schedule an appointment to create your Living Trust: Zoom or in-person!

You now have a choice–via Zoom or an in-person meeting. Our Trust package includes a Power of Attorney, an Advance Healthcare Directive and a Pour Over Will. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents.

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.

This article is based on an article in The New York Times by Ronda Kaysen.

 

 

Probate: A Story of Greed and Conflict

Covid-19 has left many families grieving the sudden loss of their loved ones. As Guideway assists them in probating their estates, we’re sensitive to the painful loss of family members. In a best-case scenario, the Probate is uncontested by the surviving family members, the Executor settles the estate and it’s divided evenly among the surviving family. But in families where there are resentments and conflicts, the Probate process can be contested and it becomes more complex, as in the following story.

Father divided his estate equally among his three daughters

Dr. Johnson had lived a long, happy life. After his wife died, he modified his Will to make sure that each of his three daughters received an equal share of his estate—a palatial home, a Tahoe house and several luxury cars. As Dr. Johnson became more frail, his daughter Sarah and her husband, Bob, moved in to take care of her father. Her sisters helped occasionally, but Sarah and Bob were the primary caregivers. When their father died, the estate went into Probate, with Sarah named as the Executor.

Caregiver daughter’s fight for larger share of the estate resulted in legal battle

Sarah’s husband Bob believed that she deserved a larger portion of the estate because she had cared for their father for nearly eight years. Bob wanted to inherit the massive home in which they had been living in as they cared for Sarah’s dad. He also felt entitled to the cars and the Tahoe house. Sarah became caught up in the greed and ultimately began fighting for a larger share.

Sarah and Bob contested the Will; and a long, expensive legal battle caused a major rift among Sarah and her sisters. The case was finally settled with some concessions for Sarah and her years of caring for her father. The relationship among the sisters likely will never be the same.

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

As part of Probate, the Court appoints an Executor to settle the estate, and Guideway works with that Executor throughout the Probate process.

The Executor is responsible for:

• Collecting all of the decedent’s Probate property
• Paying all debts, claims and taxes owed by the estate
• Collecting all rights to income, dividends, etc.
• Settling all disputes
• Distributing or transferring the remaining property to the heirs

Access to the decedent’s accounts

The Executor will be able to gain access to all of the decedent’s records–bank statements, savings accounts and income tax returns–to fully understand the financial landscape. This may include valuing assets, taking physical custody of assets and selling assets, as necessary, to pay off debts or expenses.

During Probate, the deceased’s estate becomes a separate tax entity. The Executor must obtain a federal tax identification number and open a bank account in the name of the estate from which to pay creditors. It is also necessary to file the estate’s tax return and a final individual tax return.

Distribution of remaining assets

Once all taxes and debts have been satisfied, the Court will then distribute any remaining assets according to state law. In California, as in most states, the first priority is given to the deceased’s spouse, followed by the deceased’s children.

How could this family conflict have been avoided? 

Dr. Johnson could have:

• Informed his daughters that he was dividing his estate equally among them. At that point, Sarah might have been able to make a compelling case for extra compensation for her years of loyal caregiving.
• Added a no-contest clause stating that anyone who challenges the document will receive nothing.
• Given away most of his estate to his children before he died.

Dr. Johnson could have saved his family a lot of grief if he had created a Living Trust

In this way, his daughters could have avoided Probate altogether. Sarah and Bob, however, still could have contested this agreement.

As the uncertainty of the Covid crisis drags on, many of our clients are scheduling appointments to create or update their Living Trusts. Our Trust package includes a Pour Over Will. For those families with children under 18, this means that they can name a Guardian rather than having the court appoint one for them. A Trust, with a Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directive are providing peace of mind to many. 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.

Denmark’s Key to Happiness? Teaching Empathy!

 

Denmark is one of the happiest places on earth

According to the UN’s World Happiness Report, a survey that classifies the happiness of 155 countries, Denmark has ranked as one of the top three happiest for seven years. The reason? For nearly 20 years, students are required to take a class in empathy.

Danes believe that empathy contributes to the happiness of its people

Empathy helps in building relationships, preventing bullying and succeeding at work. It promotes the growth of leaders, entrepreneurs and managers. In Danish schools, one hour each week is dedicated to empathy lessons for students aged 6 to 16 years—a significant curriculum commitment.

So what does an empathy class look like?

During the Klassens tid students discuss their problems. The whole class, together with the teacher, try to find a solution. Thanks to their empathy training, this solution is based on careful listening and understanding. It sounds a bit like group therapy.

If there are no problems to discuss, children simply spend the time together relaxing and enjoying hygge, defined as “intentionally created intimacy”. In a country where it gets dark very early in the year, it rains, it’s gray, hygge means bringing light, warmth and friendship; creating a shared, welcoming and intimate atmosphere.

So if these kids don’t have problems to discuss, which seems highly unlikely, they have a chance to just take a nice time out and chill, to share quality time with their classmates. Hygge is a fundamental concept for the Danish sense of wellbeing. But hygge isn’t just for the Danes; it’s becoming a global phenomenon. Amazon sells more than 900 books on hygge, and Instagram has more than 3 million posts with #hygge.

Danes learn empathy, that it’s fundamental to teamwork

American writer and psychologist Jessica Alexander, with Danish psychotherapist Iben Sandahl, have conducted field research to understand how the Danes teach empathy.

• Teamwork is a continuing theme–60% of the tasks at school are carried out through some kind of collaborative effort.
• The focus is not to excel over others, but to take responsibility for helping those who are not equally gifted.
• For these reasons Denmark is also considered one of the best places to work in Europe.

Competition is exclusively with oneself, not with others

Danish schools offer neither prizes nor trophies to their students who excel in school subjects or in sports, so as not to create competition. Instead they practice the culture of motivation to improve, measured exclusively in relation to themselves. The Danes give a lot of space to children’s free play, which teaches empathy and negotiation skills. Playing in the country has been considered an educational tool since 1871, explains Jessica Alexander.

An emphasis on collaborative learning; because no one goes through life alone

Danish education brings together children with different strengths and weaknesses to make them help each other in class, working together on various projects. This teaches children from an early age that they cannot succeed alone, that helping others leads to better results.

A child who is naturally talented in mathematics, without learning to collaborate with peers, will not go much further. That child will need help in other subjects to be successful, so it is important that kids are learning these lessons as they go. Teaching children from an early age that no one can go through life alone, that each of us has strengths and weaknesses and we balance each other.

The Danes get it. Going to a lesson of empathy gives great satisfaction and joy to Danish children. Best of all, it prepares them to become happy adults.

We have an opportunity to be happier in 2021

In some ways, the pandemic has brought out the best in us. We’ve learned to have more grace. We’ve dug a little deeper to help those who have been devastated by the fires, loss of jobs and loved ones. I’ve seen a greater sense of community, neighbors reaching out to neighbors. How can we not be heartened by the record-breaking numbers of people registering to vote, then showing up at the polls, sometimes waiting in line for hours—people that spanned demographics. This commitment is something we’ve never seen before. I believe we’re on the cusp of better times.

One more resolution for 2021: Creating a Living Trust

Covid-19 is still very much a reality, and we need to remain vigilant to remain safe. Many of our clients are creating or updating their Living Trusts to help provide some peace of mind. Our Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directive. Ensure that your estate will be distributed according to your wishes if something happens to you. 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.

Remembering AB5: The Pandemic and Gig Workers

Posted at 10:18h in Blog, Wills And Revocable Living Trusts by janet 

It was just a year ago that California’s independent contractors, or gig workers, kicked off the year wondering how to either leverage or circumvent AB5, the law intended to give them workplace benefits. Lawmakers assumed that companies would comply with this new law and convert those gig jobs into full-time positions. While pure in its intent, those who framed this law may have underestimated the scale and reach of the gig economy. Many gig workers are seasonal, others are temporary and/or work part-time in the evenings or weekends. Others are retired seniors who work part time to supplement their social security. The bottom line: Millions of Americans have been working as contractors for years because they need or want the flexibility these jobs provide.

AB5 reconfigured the employment landscape

AB5 intended to fundamentally alter the working conditions for professionals as diverse as musicians and journalists, construction workers, truck drivers and ride-share providers. It includes physical therapists and massage therapists, all of those who work backstage in our theaters and concert halls. It’s the person who cleans your home or office and the great tech guy who responds to your computer meltdowns. The handyperson who’s a whiz at home repair projects is self-employed and not on anyone’s payroll to receive benefits. The people who cut and color your hair, do your nails, walk and groom your dog and deliver your takeout. They’re all gig workers. They’re often doing work they love, but there are no vacation benefits, no sick leave or 401k.

What happened to AB5 when the Coronavirus struck?

By Mid-March, AB5 took a backseat to the looming coronavirus crisis. Here in California, we began a lockdown order that extended through May. This is when nothing was open but grocery stores and pharmacies. We fought over the last roll of toilet paper and there wasn’t a bottle of bleach to be found on grocery-store shelves.

It was gig workers who moved to the front lines of the crisis

Delivery workers, truck drivers and other independent contractors were and still are the essential workers who are keeping the world moving. Since gig workers are classified as independent contractors, these essential worked long hours without benefits.

Before the pandemic, tentative court rulings related to AB5 began to trickle through the superior courts of California. California v. Maplebear Inc., decided in February, a case in which the city of San Diego alleged that a same-day grocery delivery company maintained “an unfair competitive advantage” by misclassifying its shoppers as independent contractors and evading the worker protections under California law.

In April, Judge Vince Chhabria of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California heard an emergency injunction filed by Lyft drivers.

So what’s next for AB5?

As unemployment numbers continue to grow and unemployment claims hit historic levels in California, many are turning to gig work to make ends meet. This may or may not be the time to either suspend or enforce this law. Some criticize AB5 for standing in the way of helping the state’s economy scratch back from the impacts of the pandemic. Here are two sides of this highly controversial topic:

• Graham Walker, the executive director of the Independent Institute in Oakland: “Just when they need the flexibility, AB5 has come along and stifled them. I don’t think Californians who are hurting can afford the limitations forced on them by AB5.”
• According to AB5’s author, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego): “I think it would be the worst time to suspend it. These are billion-dollar companies who are publicly traded, they have enough money to treat their employees correctly.“

The coronavirus will take priority—at least for now

Our legislators and medical experts all tell us that we can’t do anything until we “crush the virus”. Many of our clients are dealing with the pandemic’s uncertainty by creating Living Trusts. Knowing that your family will inherit your estate as you have planned is providing some peace of mind for many of our clients.

Our Living Trust package includes a Power of Attorney, an Advance Healthcare Directive and a Will. If you have children under 18, it means that you can select their Guardian rather than having the court appoint one for you. Schedule an appointment at Guideway today. We guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents.

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.

Guideway: CDP Has Rebranded! New Name; Same Great Service

After more than 15 years, we decided it was time for a change. We did some research, and we learned that what our clients valued most was that we guided them through the legal process—whether Divorce, Mediation, Probate, Living Trust or Business Formation—we were there to guide them. Best of all, we prepare the legal documents. Where appropriate, we also file the documents with the courts.

With Covid, we’re still playing it safe

With vaccines now in production, we are all starting to fantasize about a life beyond the coronavirus. But here at Guideway, we’re still playing it safe, as we have from the beginning. The changes we made have kept our team and our clients safe. We’re still masking and sanitizing. No walk-ins. Our intake process is via Zoom or phone. It’s easy, efficient and safe.

So look for us in 2021 as Guideway

We have a new name, but our high level of customer service hasn’t changed. We’re helping many of our clients create and update their Living Trusts. The coronavirus has created a sense of urgency. Naming your heirs and identifying how you want your estate to be distributed ensures that your family will avoid the Probate process if something happens to you. Our Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive. It also includes a Pour Over Will, and for those families with children under 18, this means that they can name a Guardian rather than having the court appoint one for them.

Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents. For most of our services, we charge one flat fee. Safety is important to us, so we work virtually via Zoom or phone.

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.

Schedule an appointment with Guideway today. We’ll guide you through it.

 

How Will We Eat in 2021?

Here in the Bay Area, our conversations always seem to get around to a discussion of food. What we’ve been eating, what we’re cooking. With the pandemic, it’s about what we’re picking up or taking out. This is our annual review of food trends for the year, based on A New York Timesarticle, How Will We Eat in 2021? Expect these trends to continue into the new year.

A sad consequence of Covid is the demise of our favorite restaurants

This is a heartbreaker. Restaurant owners have been nimble and creative, erecting outdoor seating areas in the summer, plastic pavilions when the weather cooled. When those were closed down, they whipped up takeout meals. But there’s only so much sleight of hand they can manage. A shocking number of restaurants have closed. A neighborhood restaurant, coffee shop or bar is more than just a place to have a drink or a snack. It’s community. It’s millions of jobs and livelihoods, and it’s painful on every level.

The triumph of home cooking

Home cooking experienced a renaissance in 2020. People stayed home and learned to cook or got serious about cooking. My brother is a fabulous cook, and he began focusing on elaborate, time-consuming rituals like roasting bones to make stock, roasting his own coffee beans and creating elaborate Phyllo delicacies and baking bread. There was something about these processes that he found comforting.

Meal kits are back

Diners wearied of the ordinary and were hungry for dishes from their favorite restaurants. Some of these meal kits were elaborate–think a $475 roast-duck package, a $159 mail-order goat shoulder for six and double-stack burgers for $25. On the other hand, fast food thrived. Go figure.

Drinks from cans

It’s not your imagination. Craft brewers have increasingly been putting their beer into aluminum cans. They’re better for the environment than bottles and better for the beer. This trend revved up in 2020 when breweries could no longer sell kegs to restaurants.

You are what you eat

Retailers are reporting a whopping 30% increase in the sale of vegetables. This is, of course, related to the spike in home cooking. Expect to see little-known varieties. There’s some good news here: kale has fallen from favor.

New flavor explosion

Sour and funky, with shades of heat. This is what happens when the fermentation movement unites with the millennial palate, with Hispanic overtones.

Cheese tea, Taiwan inspiration

Cheese tea started in Taiwan and apparently hit the American mainstream. Green or black tea is sipped through a cap of cream cheese blended with cream or condensed milk, which can be either sweet or slightly salty. In San Francisco, they make it with Meyer lemon and mascarpone.

Health craze 2021: Gut flora

Expect more ways to ingest probiotics and prebiotics–foods designed to improve the bacterial health of your intestinal tract. As the obsession with digestive health dovetails with the fascination for fermenting, kimchi, sauerkraut and pickled things will work their way into new territory. Beware! Kefir and kombucha will show up in unexpected places, and kimchi has gone mainstream.

How we’ll diet: Look for “pegan”

Diets emphasizing fat over carbohydrates will dominate. Look for “pegan” — a cross between a paleo and a vegan diet.

Celebrating the new sheet-pan supper!

For someone who doesn’t cook, it’s about time for this trend to resurface! Who remembers camping trips where you tucked these little packets into the coals to cook, or generally overcook? According to Pinterest, searches for “foil-pack dinners” have jumped nearly eightfold in the past six months. Sign me up!

Are Americans sobering up?

Lighter wines, natural wines and drinks with less or no alcohol have become popular. Americans 18 to 34 are more interested in spirit-free cocktails. For those who live in the Napa Valley, this is very bad news, indeed. Vintners with their $100 bottles of cabernet are facing a difficult period as the baby-boomer market fades.

Embracing plant-based meals

Substantial vegetable entrees have become a fixture on restaurant menus. Many diners are now eating less red meat or abandon animal protein altogether, whether for health, economic, environmental or ethical reasons.

Is there hope for dope?

Major food and beverage companies are researching ways to get THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, and cannabidiol, the part of the plant that has therapeutic properties, into more food and drinks.

We’ve continued to work safely with our clients throughout the pandemic

We can’t wait to put the pandemic behind us and reclaim our lives. Yet the vaccine is still months away and we’re left with anxiety and uncertainty. Many of our clients are creating some peace of mind by updating or creating their Living Trusts.

Naming your heirs and identifying how you want your estate to be distributed ensures that your family will avoid the Probateprocess if something happens to you. Our Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive. It also includes a Pour Over Will, and for those families with children under 18, this means that they can name a Guardian rather than having the court appoint one for them.

Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents. For most of our services, we charge one flat fee. Safety is important to us, so we work virtually via Zoom or phone. Schedule an appointment 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.