Welcome to the Desert Law Group blog! Here you will find estate planning information and insights, helpful tips to preserve your wealth and protect your assets, and copies of our latest newsletters, Lawyer for Life, Elder Law Update, and Smart Aging Update.
Browse recent posts to gain general information, use the menu at the left to search by topic, or join the Desert Law Group community by subscribing to have new posts emailed directly to your inbox. Topics include: estate planning, probate and trusts, healthcare planning, special needs planning, charitable giving, and more. Check back regularly for updates!
If you would like to receive more information about anything you’ve read on our blog or have questions that you can’t find the answer to, contact our office at 760-776-9977 to speak with an estate planning attorney.
The Beginning of State Planning Mistakes Many families believe signing estate documents means their legacy is fully protected. The planning gaps related to state planning tend to surface years later, often during administration or probate. Estate planning is not a one-time event; to make sure that everything is alright, periodic reviews and oversight are needed. […]
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When markets wobble, interest rates shift, and headlines forecast recession or inflation, many people feel a sense of insecurity about their financial futures. For older adults and their families, economic uncertainty isn’t just an abstract concern; it can directly affect retirement savings, long-term care planning, and peace of mind.
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When people create a trust, naming an adult child as trustee often feels like the natural choice. After all, who knows the family better? Who cares more? While that works well in many situations, it’s important to understand that “family” and “fiduciary” are two very different roles. In some cases, asking an adult child to […]
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For many families, the home is more than a place to live — it’s the largest asset in the estate, especially with rising property values all across the nation. But when a house makes up the bulk of someone’s wealth, it can create unexpected challenges for heirs. Real estate may be valuable, but it isn’t […]
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When people think about estate planning, they usually think about money and assets, such as homes, savings, investments, and inheritances. But there is another asset that deserves just as much protection: your brain. Cognitive health is central to independence, dignity, and quality of life as we age. And while legal documents can’t prevent dementia or […]
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Medicaid planning is one of the most misunderstood areas of elder law. Even highly educated families often come in with assumptions that sound reasonable, but turn out to be incorrect, which could end up being costly. As we head into a new year, it’s worth clearing up a few persistent myths. Myth #1: “Medicaid Is […]
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The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute you’re finishing the leftover Halloween candy, and the next you’re booking flights, mapping out road trips, thawing turkeys and debating over real or fake trees. But as joyful (and chaotic) as December travel can be, it’s also one of the highest-risk times […]
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For many families, the “family home” isn’t just a structure. It’s memory-soaked real estate: pencil marks on the doorframe, backyard wiffle ball games, the spot on the stairs where someone always squeaked because no one ever fixed it. But when aging parents begin to decline, that same home becomes something else entirely: an asset, a […]
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If you still imagine most seniors as reluctant smartphone users who avoid apps and artificial intelligence like the plague, it’s time to update that picture. A new survey from KFF (the Kaiser Family Foundation) found that today’s Medicare beneficiaries are surprisingly comfortable using digital health technology; from apps that manage prescriptions and appointments to online […]
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Most of us hope to stay in the place we know best as we grow older: our home. That wish isn’t sentimental fluff, it’s the reality for a strong majority of older adults. In AARP’s 2024 Home & Community Preferences Survey, 75% of adults 50+ said they want to remain in their current home as […]
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