What if Your College Kid is Sick or Has an Emergency?

If your kids need help, these are the healthcare documents you may need

Sending kids off to school in the fall has always been an important ritual that marks the changing seasons. It’s an exciting time for kids: A time for learning, social development and a growing independence. Parents are just glad to get back into familiar routines.

Nothing’s normal anymore: Be prepared with health care documents

Anxiety over COVID is forcing new conversations as kids return to college campuses this fall. At 18 or more, these students are officially adults, but they still depend on their parents for food and shelter. Parents declare them on their taxes and pay for their health care. While these kids may be testing their independence, they remain closely tied to their families.

It may seem morbid to talk about health care documents for robust young people, but accidents and illnesses happen to young adults. COVID infects every demographic, and young people are vulnerable too. Nothing is normal anymore. If your kids are away at college and something happens to them, you want to be the one making decisions for them.

 

If there’s a medical emergency with your child, these three forms will help you come to the aid of your child.

 

1. Advance Healthcare Directive

Also referred to as a Healthcare Agent or Medical Power of Attorney, a Healthcare Power of Attorney. By signing this document, you are appointing someone to act on your behalf to make medical decisions if you become incapacitated. Your agent will have access to your medical records and your permission to talk with your health care providers. In this case, your son or daughter would sign this document, giving you, as a parent, permission to act in your behalf. At California Document Preparers, we include an Advance Healthcare Directive in our Living Trust package, along with our Power of Attorney.

 

2. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) authorization (also called a HIPAA release)

This is a more narrow document that permits healthcare providers to disclose your health information to anyone you specify. A standalone HIPAA authorization (meaning that it is not incorporated into a broader legal document like an Advance Healthcare Directive) does not have to be notarized or witnessed; however we include Notary on our form.

This document alone will often suffice for you to get information from the health care institution treating your child. In a HIPAA authorization, young adults can stipulate that they don’t want to disclose information about sex, drugs, mental health or other details that they prefer to keep private. As with the broader Advance Healthcare Directive, a HIPAA release can also be included in a Living Trust, but it is always included as a standalone document in our estate planning package to conform with particular California rules and so that your agent doesn’t have to share your Trust document just to get health care information.

3. Power of Attorney 

A Power of Attorney enables a designated agent (in this case a parent) to make financial decisions on the student’s behalf. The POA can begin immediately after signing the document or only if your child becomes incapacitated. As the designated Power of Attorney, the agent can sign tax returns, access bank accounts, pay bills, make changes to a child’s financial aid package or figure out tuition problems.

Fortunately, most families will never need these forms, but it’s always a better idea to be prepared in case you do.

What else changes at 18?

As teenagers turn 18, they’re adults according to the law. They can now vote, serve in the military and on a jury, sign a contract and get married without parental consent. They still can’t legally drink alcohol and car rental companies usually will not allow them to rent cars, but their legal status is decidedly different than it was at 17. All males with U.S. citizenship must register for the selective service upon reaching the age of 18.

 

COVID has created urgency on so many levels

As the COVID crisis drags on, many more of our clients are scheduling appointments to create or update their Living Trusts. Our Trust package includes a Pour Over Will, and for those families with children under 18, it means that they can name a Guardian rather than having the court appoint one for them. Creating a Trust helps provide some peace of mind during these uncertain times. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents.

Our Trust package includes a Will, Power of Attorney, an Advance Healthcare Directive and Incapacity Planning. At California Document Preparers, for most of our services, we charge one flat fee. We’re helpful, compassionate and affordable.

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.

COVID, Ventilators and Your Healthcare Directive

In April, 91-year old Minna Buck revised her Advance Healthcare Directive. She doesn’t want to be intubated if she becomes infected with COVID. Ms. Buck has done her research and knows she doesn’t want any part of intubation. She knows that even if she survived, the recovery would leave her weak and disoriented, a burden on others, with a negligible quality of life.

No Intubation for Ms. Buck

Buck is clearly in the high-risk group. “No intubation,” she wrote in large letters on the form, making sure to include the date and her initials. “I don’t want to put everybody through the anguish,” said Buck.

Ventilators represent a loss of personal control

For older adults contemplating what might happen to them during this pandemic, ventilators represent a terrifying lack of personal control. Ventilators pump oxygen into a patient’s body while he or she lies in bed, typically sedated, with a breathing tube snaked down the windpipe. This can be the greatest fear: helplessly being hooked to a machine with the end of life looming. Yet for others, there is the hope that the machine might pull them back from the brink, giving them another shot at life.

Who will care for these patients? Where?

“It’s a very long, uphill battle to recovery,” and many older patients may never regain full functioning, said Dr. Negin Hajizadeh, an associate professor of critical care medicine at the School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell on New York’s Long Island. “Who’s going to take care of these patients after a prolonged ventilator course ― and where?”

Quality of life issues motivated one single woman to change her healthcare directive

In St. Paul, Minnesota, Joyce Edwards is 61, unmarried and lives alone. In late April, Edwards revised her Advance Healthcare Directive to specify that “for COVID-19, I do not want to be placed on a ventilator. I have to think about what the quality of my life is going to be. Could I live independently and take care of myself — the things I value the most? There’s no spouse or adult children to take care of me. Who would step into the breach and look after me while I’m in recovery?”

End of life care discussions: Think about what’s important to you

COVID has created some immediacy around end of life decision-making. Experts advise older adults to discuss what’s most important to them–independence, time with family, mobility, living as long as possible. Think about what represents a good quality of life—this will provide context for the ventilator decision. For Minna Buck, quality of life and independence outweighed living as along as possible. At 91, she has lived a long, full life.

During this health crisis, many are feeling an urgency to create a Living Trust 

As the COVID crisis drags on, more clients are scheduling appointments to create or update their Living Trusts. Our Trust package includes a Pour Over Will, and for those families with children under 18, it means that they can name a Guardian. Creating a Trust helps provide some peace of mind during these uncertain times. Best of all, we guide you through it and we prepare the legal documents.

Our Trust package includes a Will, Power of Attorney, an Advance Healthcare Directive and Incapacity Planning. At California Document Preparers, for most of our services, we charge one flat fee. We’re helpful, compassionate and affordable.

Schedule an appointment today

Our offices are open and we’ve instituted stringent sanitation procedures. We can also provide our services virtually via Zoom or phone. Schedule an appointment today at one of our three Bay Area officesin Dublin, Walnut Creek or Oakland. Please wear your mask and stay safe.

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.

Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home

Living Trusts are an important service for us, and creating a Trust often inspires people to get serious about life planning. Many of those who are retired or who are nearing retirement begin to make plans for what they hope will be the next twenty or more years. Health and economics influence every decision, but having a plan—and acting on it–provide peace of mind for many seniors and their families.

Aging in place is a concept that has gained popularity for some very good reasons

Many retirees move to where they can be close to their kids and grandchildren. Remaining in the home where you’ve raised your family and celebrated important milestones may be the most logical place to live out your life. But not every home is suitable for aging seniors. Isolated access, stairs, loose floorboards, porches, electronic gates and winding driveways can seem insignificant now, but what if you have a stroke? You’re suddenly completely isolated, unable to get into or out of your own home.

Ben and Sara have decided to age in place

Ben and Sara have been trying to sell their 40-acre property in the Napa Valley for the last five years. It’s accessible from a steep, winding road that finally ends at their driveway. Visitors hit the buzzer and an enormous, yawning wood and iron gate slowly swings open. Their lovely home is on a single level, but the property traverses the hillsides. Sara and Ben are in their late 70s, still busy and active. Over the years they have spent a lot of money remodeling their home. They have tried to sell, but have not found a buyer who will meet their price. They’ve decided to stay right where they are and age in place.

Really bad idea. This is not the kind of home in which to be aging in place

Ben and Sara are isolated in their home. When the power goes out, that huge gate won’t open and there is no other ingress/egress. When they’re no longer able to drive, they will be completely isolated. Their nearest neighbors live another half mile away, up more winding roads. Their three grown children all live on the east coast.

Maintenance on their 40 acres is becoming a burden

They have a gardener, but Ben does a lot of the work himself. He enjoys the physical effort, including fussing over his tomatoes, olives and grapes. He knows, however, that he is doing less and aching more. While Ben and Sara are financially secure, maintaining their property is a constant drain.

Ben and Sara would be better off taking a financial loss, selling their estate and buying a smaller home or cottage in Napa where they can safely grow old within walking distance of the library, cafes and activities.

Choosing to stay in your own home can be an expensive proposition

Despite the costs, the United States Aging Survey shows that many Americans age 65 and older say they want to stay right where they are, in the homes where it’s comfortable and familiar. But to age in place successfully, it’s often necessary to remodel your home to make it safer.

How will you age?

Consider how you might age before remodeling your house to accommodate life after retirement. Although medical advances and improved diets are keeping seniors healthy and active longer, the years inevitably take their toll. Eyesight and hearing may worsen; it may be difficult to navigate stairs, step over a threshold or climb into a bathtub. It’s not unlikely that at some point you will require a walker or a wheelchair. If arthritis is in your gene pool, you could have difficulty grasping and turning doorknobs.

Falling is a concern as we become less steady on our feet

Seniors dread falling, as old bones heal slowly. Replacing a hip or knee requires a long recovery period. Removing potential hazards is critical to home safety for aging seniors.

What remodeling do you need to age in place?

In the same way that you baby-proof a home, you need to age-proof it for seniors. You might not need as big of a house as you think. If you live in a two-story home, you may want to move to a smaller home on a single level. You may think about remodeling that second floor to make room for a family member or friend to live with you as a caretaker.

Some common remodeling projects for those considering aging in place 

• Install non-slip flooring. Falls are a leading cause of death and injury for older Americans. Replace the floor with a nonslip surface or install nonslip rugs.
• Walk-in tub or shower installations. Making a bathroom safer may require a walk-in tub or shower.
• Wider doorways for wheelchairs. According to the ADA, doorways should be at least 32 inches to make room for a wheelchair or walker.
• Installing a ramp. A ramp will make entering your home in a wheelchair more manageable.
• Install stair lifts or handrails. A stair lift for someone who can no longer access upper levels of a house is an important consideration.
• Change faucets to levers. A small thing, but a big difference maker to someone with crippling arthritis.
• Bathroom remodeling. Remodeling a bathroom quickly gets expensive. Making room for a wheelchair can mean new plumbing and electrical.
• Lower the kitchen countertops. Those in wheelchairs will need to have cabinets and counters lowered.

Creating a Living Trust is an important part of financial planning

Our Living Trust portfolio includes an Advance Healthcare Directive and a Power of Attorney. In this legal document, you can detail your preferences for your retirement years. You can state your wishes to remain in your own home or move to a retirement community. When the time comes, you can identify your preferences for moving to assisted care or a nursing facility or staying in your home.

California Document Preparers assists our clients in the preparation of Living Trusts. Our dedicated team guides you through every step. Schedule an appointment today by contacting us at one of our three Bay Area offices. Our dedicated team is helpful, compassionate and affordable.

‘Tis the season for Holiday Scams

I dodged a scam this week from a company that called to renew my subscription to McAfee, my antivirus software. They directed me to a website and told me I had to pay $420 for a two-year subscription. This felt a little hinky, but then, I’ve had a computer virus and it’s frightening how quickly it infects your entire hard drive and destroys files.

I hedged a bit, suggesting that I only wanted a one-year subscription

Apparently this wasn’t an option. Now I was getting really suspicious. I asked this guy to call me back in an hour, and I quickly contacted my computer guy. Subject line: “Is this for real or a scam?” He responded within 15 minutes. “SCAM. These guys don’t make calls.” He just saved me $420 and likely more. Once these guys find an easy mark, they’re eager to make another score.

This incident alerted me to potential holiday scams

Holiday scams target online shoppers. Stats show that a whopping 60% of us are buying our gifts online this year. ZeroFOX warns that scammers’ most successful efforts snare shoppers by impersonating major brands with phony websites and social media campaigns. Those most at risk—sites and campaigns related to fashion, tech and sporting goods—all the stuff we want!

These phony sites and fake posts entice you to spend money for products you’ll never receive. Many are designed to harvest credit-card numbers and other personal data to commit identity theft or sell on the dark web. Scammers may distribute malware-loaded links or attachments via supposed coupon offers or “order confirmation” emails asking you to verify an order you never placed. Gift-card frauds also shift into high gear during the holidays.

Be alert; watch for signs of a potential fraud when there are:

• Ridiculously deep discounts on hot items–especially if they’re on unfamiliar websites.
• Spelling errors or shoddy grammar on a shopping website or in an email.
• Branding errors. If a phony website is masquerading as a well-known brand, there’s a good chance that the branding is poorly executed.
• Shopping or travel sites that don’t list a phone number or street address and offer only an email address. These are often offshore and have no contact information or accountability.
• Sites that don’t have privacy policies.

A few tips for secure online shopping this season:

• Mouse over links in emails and social media ads. This will display the destination URL, and you can click through only if you’re certain it’s a legitimate site.
• Be an informed consumer. Doing some quick online research could save you some heartache. Google unfamiliar sites. Search for their names along with keyword terms like “scam,” “complaints” or “reviews”.
• Before purchasing, make sure return and refund policies are clear.
• Don’t buy anything from a site unless the URL begins with “https://” or there’s a padlock or unbroken key icon in the address bar or at the bottom of the browser window. These indicate a secure connection.
• Don’t buy anything online while using a public wifi network, as it may not be secure.
• Don’t make a purchase or donation if a website or caller seeks payment by wire transfer, gift card or prepaid card.

Forget about really great deals and free gifts

Finally, if an unsolicited email asks you to click on a link or download an app to receive or be eligible for a really great deal or to arrange delivery for a free gift, ignore it. This is the one where you’ll know as soon as you click that it’s too late. You could be infecting your computer with a virus as well as setting yourself up for fraud.

The holidays: A very good time to talk to your family about creating a Living Trust

Many of our clients have told us that the holidays are the perfect time to talk to reluctant parents about creating a Living Trust. For many families, it sets the stage for a discussion about appointing a Power of Attorney and an Agent for their Advance Healthcare Directive. A Trust is really about families, and it’s one of the most thoughtful thing you can do for those you love.

California Document Preparers assists our clients in the preparation of their Living Trusts. Our dedicated team guides you through every step. Schedule an appointment today by contacting us at one of our three Bay Area offices. Our dedicated team is helpful, compassionate and affordable.

Are You Responsible for Your Parents’ Debt?

The baby boomers–that big, bold generation that marched, protested, innovated and made things happen–are leaving another legacy. That of debt. The boomers, unlike their frugal parents before them, have not done a very good job of preparing for retirement. The number of senior households with debt increased from about 44% in 1989 to more than 61% in 2013, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances. The median debt in households headed by people 60 or older rose from $9,038 in 1989 to $40,900 in 2013. Children of these baby boomers find themselves asking “are we responsible for our parents’ debt?”

Many seniors will die with their debts still unpaid

If you don’t have any assets, your debts will typically die with you. “In most cases, your debt belongs to you, and it isn’t passed to anybody else,” says Lisa LaMarche, president and co-founder of Milestone Wealth Advisors in Greenville, Delaware. “It doesn’t go to your children.”

If you have assets, expect creditors to be the first in line to get paid

If you have any assets at all, your creditors go to the front of the line to get paid from the proceeds of your assets during the settlement of your estate. In essence, your heirs will end up paying your debts because your creditors will be paid first—before any inheritance is transferred. If you die with credit card debt or an outstanding mortgage, they will have to be paid off if your heirs want to keep the home. If there’s additional debt, the house likely will have to be sold to pay those debts.

In community property states such as California, a spouse is responsible for debt incurred during the marriage.

Things to do if someone you love dies with debt:

If there’s no Living Trust or if there’s a Will, you will need to go through Probate.

• Get professional help. California Document Preparers can help you. Bring a Living Trust or Will if they exist. If not, you will need to go through Probate, and we can assist you. While it may sound overwhelming, it is actually a very straightforward process, and we guide you through every step.
• Cancel credit cards. If you’re handling a deceased loved one’s affairs, you should cancel credit cards immediately. This freezes the account and keeps any additional charges from being made. Creditors will need to make official claims for repayment with the estate. You will probably need multiple copies of the death certificate, and some creditors will require official copies. In California, children are not required to pay their parents’ credit-card debt.
• Inventory your loved one’s assets.You can hope that your father, mother or spouse left everything in good financial order, which will allow you to easily locate brokerage, bank and credit card accounts and mortgage documents.

There’s a good possibility, however, that this is not the case

When my own parents were getting close to the end of their lives, my brother and I stepped in. While they had a Living Trust, it hadn’t been updated in 20 years, and they had made some good investments over the course of that time. When we asked about current financial documents, my stepfather opened a cupboard and a huge mass of documents literally spilled out onto the floor We spent hours trying to get a clear financial picture. Our most immediate priority was updating their Trust while they were still able to legally sign documents.

• Determine what your loved one owes. Ask credit-card companies and other creditors for statements showing outstanding balances. This will help determine what is owed and what you’ll need to sell to pay the debt.
• Have beneficiaries file for assets that pass without Probate.Retirement accounts, life insurance and some other assets are not considered part of the estate. They pass directly to the designated beneficiaries. These beneficiaries can start filing immediately after the death.

Single and Alone? Who Will Care for You?

A growing number of Americans are unmarried and childless, and they may be facing the prospect of an uncertain, solitary old age. A New York Times article, Single? No Kids? Don’t Fret: How to Plan Care in Your Later Years, by Susan B. Garland, tells how one childless woman has strategically planned for her old age.

A multipronged retirement plan based on creating community

Sarah Peveler is 71, divorced and childless, and she’s actively orchestrating her retirement plan. She needed to find a place with a mild climate, where she could make friends and walk everywhere. She decided on Tarboro, NC—75 miles from Raleigh, a nice-sized town of 11,000 with mild weather.

Ms. Peveler paid cash for her one-story home. One of the bedrooms can be converted into an apartment if she needs a caretaker. Several mini-strokes had caused some cognitive impairment, so Ms. Peveler’s doctor monitors her regularly. A family history of dementia means that she is checking out assisted-living facilities. With no immediate family, Ms. Peveler has developed a surrogate family of friends and neighbors who keep tabs on her. She also signed up for EyeOn App, a service that signals three friends if she doesn’t reply within a half hour to scheduled cellphone alerts.

“Elder orphans” need to build their own support systems

Adult children typically help elderly parents negotiate housing, social-service and healthcare options. “Elder orphans”—aging Americans without children–need to build their own support structures. People who are aging alone need to make plans when they are still independent and functional. They need to learn about community resources and when to start using them. Services could include senior-friendly housing and the growing number of home-delivered products and services that target the aging solo market, including healthy meals and doctors who make house calls.

Creating a team that can help make important decisions

One of the first steps childless people should take is to hire an elder-law lawyer to draw up documents that will protect them if they become incapacitated. Childless people typically turn to a friend, lawyer, clergy, a niece or nephew to make medical decisions. A bank’s trust unit can take on financial tasks, with a friend, a relative or a lawyer monitoring the bank’s decisions.

One elder-law attorney suggests appointing a team that includes a lawyer, healthcare and financial agents, an accountant and a geriatric care manager. The team can step in if/when it becomes necessary. The client could assign a network of friends and neighbors to call the lawyer in an emergency or if they notice cognitive decline.

Housing options for elder orphans seeking community

One very successful housing model is one that includes its own built-in support system—a continuing-care retirement community. Residents generally start in an independent living unit. When it becomes necessary, they can move to the facility’s assisted-living unit or a skilled-nursing facility. Entrance and monthly fees for this kind of facility tend to be substantial.

Most seniors want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible

Changes in Medicare mean that seniors who qualify can now get in-home services such as help with chores and safety devices. Simple home aid not only impact patients’ wellbeing but reduce costs for taxpayers.

In Washington, D.C., clients of Iona Senior Services can arrange for a care manager to be on call as their health deteriorates. If a client is discharged from a hospital, for example, the care manager, in consultation with the designated healthcare agent, would arrange for rehabilitation or home care.

Volunteer neighborhood groups responding to the needs of their communities

Meanwhile, as the huge baby boomer population ages, a growing number of volunteer neighborhood groups is providing both social connections and practical help to those who are home alone.

In an earlier article we wrote about the Caring Collaborative, an organization that brings senior women together to help with short-term illness or disability. In places like New York City, senior single women can become anonymous and lonely. When “Eileen” broke her ankle and was laid up for several months, she called the Caring Collaborative, and they responded. One woman brought a wheelchair, another a shower chair. Some stopped by each day just to chat. Others brought lunch or dinner.

Many organizations are responding to the growing needs of an aging boomer market

• More than 200 organizations in the Village to Village Network in the New York area provide rides to medical appointments, snow removal, home repairs and computer support. Villages in 150 additional neighborhoods are in development. Tax-deductible membership fees can range from $100 to $400.
• Entrepreneurs and companies, many nationwide, are moving into the longevity market. On-demand services, accessible by a phone app or a computer, can connect people to personal assistants and food delivery.
• “The on-demand marketplace will be the best friend of elder orphans,” said Mary Furlong, a Silicon Valley consultant to companies that cater to seniors. Lyft is working with healthcare systems and retirement communities to provide rides to non-emergency medical appointments and other destinations.

For those aging solo, community is essential. It’s easy to become isolated at a time when you most need to be connected. Experts urge seniors to reach out to community organizations and find ways to get involved. Look for senior centers, libraries and other organizations that host events, lectures and other programs. They’re great ways to meet interesting new people and make friends.

Creating a Living Trust is another important part of retirement and life planning

Our Living Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive. Schedule an appointment today by contacting us at one of our three Bay Area offices. Our dedicated team is helpful, compassionate and affordable.

California Court Reverses Ruling Against Assisted Suicide

It’s been two years, and the assisted suicide law remains controversial

The End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) went into effect in June, 2016, and it continues to be contentious.

• Opponents argue that it is both immoral and unconstitutional, that there is too much room for abuse.
• Advocates believe that terminally ill Californians deserve the right to “choose a peaceful death, free of unbearable suffering,” as per John Kappos, who represents Compassion & Choices, a group that supports the law.

A California appeals court overturned a lower court order that had reversed the state’s assisted-suicide law. The ruling reversed the May 2018 judgment from Riverside County Superior Court Judge Daniel Ottolia that declared the law unconstitutional because it was adopted during a special legislative session that addressed improving the medical system and health of Californians.

To avoid abuse, checks and balances have been carefully built into the law

The EOLOA allows adults to obtain a prescription for life-ending drugs if a doctor finds they have six months or fewer to live. For those who want to use the EOLOA, checks and balances have been carefully built into the law.

• A patient must make two oral requests, at least 15 days apart. There must be witnesses and second opinions about their conditions.
• The process is spread over time to avoid someone’s making an impulsive decision.
• EOLOA is voluntary for both patients and healthcare providers.

Doctors failed to show they were harmed by failing to help terminally ill patients

In the Riverside ruling, the doctors failed to show they were harmed. EOLOA is voluntary for doctors–they can choose not to help terminally ill patients die.

The appellate ruling has no immediate impact on the current status of the law because the appeals court had put the trial court judgment on hold during California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s legal challenge.

News that the lower court ruling had been reversed buoyed advocates of doctor-supported death. “Our patients will be tremendously relieved,” said Dr. Catherine Sonquist Forest, a family physician in Northern California who has six terminally ill patients considering the option. “Thousands across the state will find great solace in knowing this option is there.”

Will this law yo-yo back and forth as opponents and advocates battle it out in court?

The law may be facing another legal fight, as the ruling skirted the larger issue of whether the legislation was unconstitutional. The case was sent back to the lower court, and the lawsuit could be amended and refiled. The court spelled out how the law’s challengers might be able to show harm to plaintiffs.

The Pros . . .

Justice Marsha Slough said it was not a stretch for the Legislature to consider assisted suicide as an extension of a discussion on the efficiency of the health-care system. She said there was no reason to “drag this case out” before finding lawmakers acted within their authority.

And the Cons

The Life Legal Defense Foundation, representing the doctors, is considering its options. “Assisted suicide is not health care and places countless Californians at risk of deadly harm,” said Matt Vallière of the Patients Rights Action Fund.

In 2017, the first full year assisted suicide was legal in California, 374 terminally ill people took drugs to end their lives. The District of Columbia and six other states — Oregon, Colorado, Montana, Vermont, Washington, and Hawaii — also allow assisted suicide.

A big part of end-of-life planning is creating a Living Trust. Our comprehensive Living Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive, where you can identify an Agent who will make decisions for you if you become incapacitated. Make an appointment today by contacting us at one of our three Bay Area offices. Our dedicated team is helpful, compassionate and affordable.