Online resource center to help you explore these key issues, and others, regarding your estate.
Mr. Miller has many years of experience in designing and implementing a comprehensive variety of Trusts, Wills, and other estate planning documents, as well as settling estates in the most expedient and appropriate method. Further, he counsels and assists clients on becoming eligible for VA benefits and Medi-Cal.
Learn moreMr. Miller has been active in the area of VA Pension and Medi-Cal for well over a decade. He uses various specialized types of Trusts as well as non-trust strategies to gain eligibility for his clients and save the family money.
Learn moreMr. Miller has been settling estates (both simple and complex) for well over 40 years. The starting point is always to create a strategy to settle the estate in the most efficient manner possible with a minimum of taxes. Often times the strategy created allows the family to bypass Probate Court proceedings.
Learn moreThe rights and benefits conferred on married couples by various federal and state entities are being expanded in new and, occasionally, surprising ways. It is still true, of course that heterosexual marriages are the ultimate legal couple, with the broadest rights available to them. However, with the recent Supreme court decisions overturning the Defense of … Read more
Preparing an application for benefits from the VA, such as VA Aid & Attendance Non-Service Connected Disability pension or other benefits, can be an onerous task for the uninitiated. Recently, the federal government has asked that veterans seek the advice of accredited professionals to help with the claims process, citing that properly completed applications may … Read more
I hope that everyone had a fantastic long weekend over the Labor Day holiday. This year, fast food employees participated in a strike in order to call attention to the fact that, at their low wages, it is difficult, if not impossible, to make ends meet on a fast food job. Indeed, McDonald’s was recently … Read more
When planning your estate, considering your personal long-term needs is an essential part of the process. Determining whether you may qualify Medi-Cal benefits or VA benefits in the future helps to ensure financial stability if you have some long-term health issues. In order to effectively plan to qualify for these benefits, you may make a … Read more
Surviving spouses are eligible for a number of benefits after the death of their spouse. There are estate tax benefits, such as the marital deduction allowing estate tax-free transfers to the surviving spouse, a simplified probate procedure (the spousal petition), and the list goes on. Most benefits are available only to surviving spouses who are … Read more
Introduction Problem Current Law Net Worth Test Income Test Net Worth Strategies New Law Changes Income Strategies Annuities Effective Date Conclusion Introduction: The Veterans Aid & Attendance Non Service Connected Disability Benefit can be a god-send to families trying to afford the costs of assisted living or in home care. Most of the cases that … Read more
The Supreme Court has officially struck down Article 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which affects same sex married couples who were legally married during the brief time the state allowed same sex marriages. Additionally, the Court determined that proponents of the controversial Proposition 8 do not have standing to defend the voter-approved … Read more
For those who require assistance with daily activities, such as eating, bathing, and moving around, some of the cost of care can be covered through the VA Aid & Attendance Non-Service connected disability pension. Although the benefit can be very helpful, topping out at over $24,000 per year in assistance, it can also be difficult … Read more
We are holding workshops July 23 and July 25 at Shadowridge Country Club. You can afford the best care without going broke! Do You Know the VA’s & Medi-Cal’s Hidden Secrets for Obtaining Benefits? This workshop focuses on the two government benefit programs that can help in this area and their best kept secrets. These … Read more
In the wake of a number of national tragedies, the gun control debate has made mental illness one of the focal points of the debate. However, mental illness is a much larger issue than a few national news stories. For many, suffering from mental illness is a daily war with themselves. In general, mentally ill … Read more
About Living Trusts is hosted by the Law Offices of Merwyn J. Miller, as your online resource center to help you explore these key issues, and others, regarding your estate.
Dear Mr. Miller: My mother is 82 and still lives alone. Over the last year, she has become noticeably more forgetful. She repeats stories, sometimes f...
Dear Mr. Miller: My mother passed away recently, and I have been named the Successor Trustee of her trust. I expected to be sad after losing her, but ...
Dear Mr. Miller: About ten years ago, my husband and I paid an attorney to create a Living Trust. We signed all the documents and put them in a safe p...
