Q. Mother recently died after spending two years in a nursing home on Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal just sent us a bill for about $150,000 and says it will file a claim against her home. Yikes! We thought her home was an exempt asset. What do we do about the bill? A. Your situation is all too… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Home; Protection of
Estate Planning for Surviving Spouses
Q. I recently had to lay my wife to rest after almost 50 years together. Our children keep saying that I should review our estate plan with an attorney to see if anything needs to be done and that all is in order. Do you have any suggestions as to things I should look for,… Read More »
When Your Most Valued Assets Are Not Covered by Your Will
Q. My wife and I hold title to our home as joint tenants, and most of our cash assets are in the form of two large IRA accounts and one big annuity. We have basic wills which leave everything to the other and then on to our children. Our son suggested that our wills may… Read More »
Help with Delinquent Mortgage and Property Tax Payments
Q. My wife and I have missed a few home mortgage payments this year, and we are behind in our property taxes. I heard there is a program that might help us out. Do you know anything about it? We don’t want to lose our home. A. Yes. In California, the program is called the… Read More »
The Tax Consequences of Selling a Home After the Death of a Spouse
Q. My husband died last year, and I am now considering selling our home and relocating to be closer to our daughter. I am concerned, however, about the potential tax consequences when I sell. Can you provide any information on this point? A. Yes. The biggest concern when selling property is capital gains taxes. A capital… Read More »
Should We Sell Mom’s Home To Pay For Her Care?
Q. Our mother is in assisted living and may need to go into a nursing home soon. To raise money for her ongoing care, we are thinking of selling her home which is now vacant. Any thoughts as to whether that makes sense? A. Well, here’s the thing: selling mom’s home may undermine her ability… Read More »
What Happens To Our Home Loan If My Spouse Predeceases Me?
Q. My husband and I married years after he purchased what is now our home. We are both now up in years, and we still have an outstanding home loan that we pay on each month. What happens to the home loan if he predeceases me, as my name is neither on the title to… Read More »
Preserving Your Parent’s Low Property Tax on Trust Distribution After Prop. 19
Q. My mom owned her home for 25 years before she recently passed. Her trust leaves it 50-50 to my brother and me. I would like to keep the home by purchasing my brother’s interest for cash, and he is okay with that. Is there a way that we can do this without triggering a… Read More »
New California Homestead Exemption
Q. I hear there has been a change in the state Homestead Law. Can you comment? A. Yes, indeed. A new Homestead Exemption went into effect at the beginning of 2021, and it is good news for California homeowners. But first, a bit of background for those readers who might not be familiar with the… Read More »