You may have seen ads running in the Mercury News and perhaps other media outlets for Trust Seminars presented by a San Diego-based law firm. These specific ads attempt to entice you by promising a “free kindle” and a “free dinner” for those who attend the seminars they are giving while they visit the Bay Area.

They claim to “fix” trusts. Their ads suggest that any trust done by anyone other than them is flawed. No surprise: They conclude that only they can fix it. We have seen marketing like this many times over the years.

We have been national and community leaders in this field for over 30 years. We know and are familiar with the real-world issues that trusts must address. We author articles and legal form books that attorneys across the nation rely upon. We have successfully represented thousands of individuals in the Bay Area, including many business and community leaders.

We want to assure you, as a client of Gilfix & La Poll or individual who has a relationship with our office, that we give you the best and most comprehensive representation in the field. Our revocable trusts do not have the problems these marketers identify. Gilfix & La Poll addresses more issues, more comprehensively, than virtually any other firm in the nation.

We have seen this firm’s list of trust document “flaws” that they identify. These lists can be misleading and it is important for you to know that planning must go beyond overly simplistic checklists.

• Our trusts and related planning documents cover every base and offer all the legal tools and protections needed to ensure that you have the power to keep your estate safe.
• Our Family Protection Trusts offer the powerful protections for your children — protection against divorce, against litigation and against future estate tax — that their checklist correctly identifies as important.
• We deal with and understand additional issues they and so many others do not address, including issues related to long-term care planning and special needs.

This type of marketing conjures many confusing “straw man” arguments, where a false problem is presented and then “solved.” Do not be misled by catchy marketing and offers of free meals or gadgets. If you have a trust with another firm, we are happy to take a look and to identify real issues, and we won’t use a superficial approach to do it.

If you have any questions about this, or any other issue related to your planning, give us a call.  We might not give you a free kindle, but we will take good care of you and your family.

The Gilfix & La Poll Team

Pioneers of Elder Law – For over 30 years, Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP has innovated creative legal solutions to help you manage and plan the future of your estate. To contact an estate planning lawyer visit www.gilfix.com or call 800.244.9424.

You may have seen ads running in the Mercury News and perhaps other media outlets for Trust Seminars presented by a San Diego-based law firm. These specific ads attempt to entice you by promising a “free kindle” and a “free dinner” for those who attend the seminars they are giving while they visit the Bay Area.

They claim to “fix” trusts. Their ads suggest that any trust done by anyone other than them is flawed. No surprise: They conclude that only they can fix it. We have seen marketing like this many times over the years.

We have been national and community leaders in this field for over 30 years. We know and are familiar with the real-world issues that trusts must address. We author articles and legal form books that attorneys across the nation rely upon. We have successfully represented thousands of individuals in the Bay Area, including many business and community leaders.

We want to assure you, as a client of Gilfix & La Poll or individual who has a relationship with our office, that we give you the best and most comprehensive representation in the field. Our revocable trusts do not have the problems these marketers identify. Gilfix & La Poll addresses more issues, more comprehensively, than virtually any other firm in the nation.

We have seen this firm’s list of trust document “flaws” that they identify. These lists can be misleading and it is important for you to know that planning must go beyond overly simplistic checklists.

• Our trusts and related planning documents cover every base and offer all the legal tools and protections needed to ensure that you have the power to keep your estate safe.
• Our Family Protection Trusts offer the powerful protections for your children — protection against divorce, against litigation and against future estate tax — that their checklist correctly identifies as important.
• We deal with and understand additional issues they and so many others do not address, including issues related to long-term care planning and special needs.

This type of marketing conjures many confusing “straw man” arguments, where a false problem is presented and then “solved.” Do not be misled by catchy marketing and offers of free meals or gadgets. If you have a trust with another firm, we are happy to take a look and to identify real issues, and we won’t use a superficial approach to do it.

If you have any questions about this, or any other issue related to your planning, give us a call.  We might not give you a free kindle, but we will take good care of you and your family.

The Gilfix & La Poll Team

Pioneers of Elder Law – For over 30 years, Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP has innovated creative legal solutions to help you manage and plan the future of your estate. To contact an estate planning lawyer visit www.gilfix.com or call 800.244.9424.

The California State Assembly recently passed a new bill designed to limit Medi-Cal’s ability to recover assets from the estates of deceased Medi-Cal beneficiaries. As the law stands currently, Medi-Cal can seize a substantial portion of an estate — including a residence — to recover the benefits used to cover medical care through Medi-Cal.

But Governor Jerry Brown’s advisors are encouraging a veto of the bill in order to avoid revenue losses that would hurt the state’s budget, as reported by the Mercury News.  

Even if Governor Brown does sign the bill, the new law would limit but not entirely prohibit Medi-Cal asset recovery.

The Mercury News turned to Michael Gilfix for comment on the growing concerns surrounding Medi-Cal asset seizure.

Gilfix pointed out that whether or not the bill is vetoed, Californians can take steps to protect their estates from Medi-Cal recovery. In the article, he commented that assets, and residences in particular, can be protected through proactive estate planning.

According to the Mercury News, many older Californians who already benefit from Medi-Cal are surprised to learn that their estates, which they hoped to pass down to their heirs, are at risk.

Gilfix & La Poll helps clients plan for Medi-Cal eligibility in a way that legally protects assets to the greatest extent possible and minimizes the impact of taxes on the estate.

Pioneers of Elder Law – For over 30 years, Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP has innovated creative legal solutions to help you manage and plan the future of your estate.
To contact an estate planning lawyer visit http://www.gilfix.com/ or call 800.244.9424.