The following information is not intended as legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship. The information provided on this site is as current and reliable as possible. No general information can replace a one-on-one conference with an attorney to discuss your particular and individual situation. This information by itself is not to be relied on to do legal estate planning.
Educated choices require you to have access to the proper resources. We want to encourage you to educate yourself so you can make the best decisions for your loved ones when the time comes.
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On December 7, 2021, Arizona’s “Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony” took place at the Pearl Harbor Memorial located on the grounds of Wesley Bolin Plaza at the Arizona state capitol. Highlights of the event included a helicopter landing entrance by a 100-year-old World War II veteran and an original “Rosie the Riveter,” along with a commemorative flyover by several WWII biplanes and music by the 108th Army Band, Arizona Army National Guard. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony befitting such a solemn occasion.
Johnson & Associates, P.L.L.C. was represented on the program by Community Relations Manager Steve Johnson, who spoke immediately following Governor Doug Ducey. Steve was asked to share the circumstances of his initial meeting with Ken Potts, one of the two remaining survivors of the USS Arizona who were present during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
This summer, Apple announced the “Digital Legacy” program. In the event of your passing, instead of denying family or loved ones access to vital files, photographs, and other content if they do not know your passwords, the Digital Legacy program allows designated users access to your iCloud account and personal information. In the past, we’ve had to litigate this repeatedly for family members to access the pictures, contacts, files and so on—which took a lot of time, effort, and money.
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Crimes, counterfeits, scams, and fraud are often perpetrated against the unaware, and while many of us are just doing our best to endure the impacts of Covid-19, others—often very convincingly—are doing their best to rip off unwitting seniors and others who may not yet be aware of what these criminals are up to. Coronavirus-related scams have already claimed many victims, and educating yourself can be a very significant first step to ensuring that you do not become another fraud statistic. The December issue of AARP Online contains two articles written to educate and enlighten readers about this:
Article 1
Are you confused by the numerous legal documents that affect older adults? Don’t let a court-appointed representative be responsible for making these important decisions on your behalf. This presentation covers which documents you and your family should consider for planning purposes as you age--take advantage so you know your choices and have a say when it comes to elder law and power of attorney.
Tough talk approved by two tough ladies: attorneys Lora Johnson and Yvette Ashworth have selected two hard-hitting and extremely important videos to share with you. In light of the current pandemic, it's more important than ever to have the conversation with your loved ones about what "quality of life" means to you along with your important health care decisions in any given circumstance. Now more than ever, decisions may be made for you completely based upon written documents such as your living will. In truth, you may be isolated in your treatment and your decision maker may not be able to be present. What happens then? We feel like the attached videos are very enlightening in a time period such as this. If you need assistance or have questions about this, give us a call!
Video 1: Do You WANT To Be On A Ventilator? Discuss Your Wishes NOW
Arizona now has a 24-hour helpline for seniors unable to pick up groceries on their own: (602) 264-4357. Furthermore, seniors can shop at Target, Bashas, Food City, and AJ’s Fine Foods without the crowds on certain days in the morning:
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We never know when things are going to become difficult, and certainly no one could have anticipated the scope and impact of the current pandemic. We found the articles below to be powerful and insightful reminders that estate planning and tying one's loose legal ends isn't just something to do when the weather is fair--or something to put on hold until some future point when the time is just right. Here's some sound advice regarding getting one's ducks in a row:
Click Here to Read the Kiplinger Finance Advice and Business Forecasts Article
Interesting research and studies seem to indicate possibilities for a different approach to Alzheimer's Disease. We found this article to be well worth reading.
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Here's a great article about something that we discuss with our clients every day regarding making your beneficiary designations align with your estate plan. Well worth a read!
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In my office we frequently have clients who feel the same devotion to their pets that my children and I feel to ours. I am always saddened by the fact that most of our pets’ life expectancies are so much shorter than ours and we have to say goodbye to them long before we would like to do so. Sometimes, though, our pets survive us, and most people take seriously their personal responsibility in making sure that their orphaned pets live out their lives safely and with love.
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I frequently have clients who decide to pursue litigation over a trust or probate estate because “it’s what my parents [or sibling or child] would want” or “it’s the principle of the matter.” However, sometimes it’s not always best to litigate a matter. How does one decide?
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Johnson & Associates recently received exciting news about what the Department of Veterans Affairs "Mission Act of 2018" can do for all qualified veterans.
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A recent visit to the dentist highlighted an important point to me: improper estate planning can have dire consequences for a family. As she cleaned my teeth, my dental hygienist asked me what type of law Johnson & Associates had as its focus. Once I referenced elder and estate law, her storytelling immediately began. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “I bet many people don’t realize what can happen if things aren’t properly set up. We had a serious issue in my family.”
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Arizona statutes govern the transference of property from a deceased person to beneficiaries. Despite many similarities to this process in other states, Arizona has added its own nuances, and Arizona’s recently passed Senate Bill 1204 (Arizona 53rd Legislature, 2nd Regular Session), became effective on August 3, 2018. The passage of this bill added some key revisions which impact the Arizona Probate and Trust Codes.
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For any of you who practice in the areas of VA Pension Aid and Attendance, we have a PDF digital copy of a VA internal memorandum which might be helpful in clarifying the recent changes, which became effective on October 18, 2018. If you would like a copy of the memorandum emailed to you, please send a request to steve@johnsonestatelaw.com for a prompt response.
A couple of years ago, I was able to have lunch with retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice in United States history. For me, it was a significant moment as I was able to spend a few hours enjoying one-on-one conversation with a true history-maker and trailblazer. I discovered that Justice O'Connor, despite retirement, was still quite opinionated and bold in expressing her viewpoints. It was certainly a lunch date to remember.
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People often ask us questions like “How much money in assets should I have to warrant doing a trust?” Our answer revolves around questions such as “What are your concerns?” and “What are you trying to accomplish?”
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