California: Guides to handling legal issues after death of a loved one in California

EAGLE PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR CALIFORNIA

Guardian Angel Guardian Devil

and

Guiding Those Left Behind in California

and

A Will is Not Enough in California

and

How to Defend Yourself Against Your Lawyer

and

Beyond Grief to acceptance and peace

GUARDIAN ANGEL GUARDIAN DEVIL
By AMELIA E. POHL, ESQ.

Guardianship (in California it's called Conservatorship) can happen to anyone

a The SENIOR too ill to care for himself

a The MINOR whose parents are deceased or incapacitated

a The MENTALLY ILL

a The DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULT

a The comatose ACCIDENT VICTIM

The general public knows and understands that Probate is a good thing to avoid because of the inconvenience and high legal cost. THE PURPOSE of Guardian Angel Guardian Devil is to make the general public aware that a guardianship is even more expensive and time consuming than Probate. The good news is that guardianship is easier to avoid than Probate. This book explains how every competent adult can take steps to avoid guardianship WITHOUT PAYING EXPENSIVE LEGAL FEES.

Copyright 2009 ISBN 1-932464-32-8 6" x 9" 250 Pages

Guiding Those Left Behind in California

By Amelia E. Pohl, Esq. and California attorney MARY S. FALK

This book is a must for those who have experienced or anticipate the loss of a loved one in the state of California. It explains all of the legal and practical things that need to be done. In particular, the book discusses:

What needs to be done during the first week, answering questions such as: Is an autopsy necessary? Should we allow an anatomical gift?

How to notify public and private agencies of the death

How to locate the decedent’s assets

What bill do (or do not) need to be paid

When Probate is (and is not) necessary

Whether you should consider a challenge to the Will

How to get possession of the decedent’s property

What are the legal rights of the surviving spouse and other family members

As you read the first six chapters, you will become aware of the many problems that can come up when someone dies in California. With a bit of planning, most, if not all, of such problems can be avoided. The final chapters of the book suggests different methods of arranging your own finances so that your family will not be left with more problems than happy memories of you.

Although this book is based solidly on California law, it is an easy read. Legal concepts are explained in simple, everyday language. There is glossary in the book in the event you come across an unfamiliar term.

A Will is Not Enough in California 2nd Edition

By AMELIA E. POHL, ESQ. and California attorney MARY S. FALK

The Organization of the Book

Many people who have a Will think that they have their affairs in order. Should they die, then their property will go to the people they have named in their Will. But it isn’t all that simple.

1. What will your beneficiaries inherit?
2. How will your property be transferred?
3. Can you (should you) avoid Probate?

We devoted a chapter to each of these issues. Once you read chapters 1 though 3, you will have an understanding of what will happen to your property should your die, with or without a Will.

Chapter 4 explains what a well drafted Will can do.

The rest of the book deals with things that a Will cannot do and why a Will is not enough. The book explains how to:

CHAPTER 5.	MANAGE YOUR PERSONAL DEBT
CHAPTER 6.	LIMIT YOUR BUSINESS DEBT
CHAPTER 7.	PROVIDE FOR A MINOR CHILD PROVIDE FOR A DISABLED PERSON
CHAPTER 8.	APPOINT SOMEONE TO MAKE YOUR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS IN THE EVENT YOU ARE TOO ILL TO DO SO
CHAPTER 9.	APPOINT SOMEONE TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES IN THE EVENT THAT YOU CAN’T
CHAPTER 10.	A MEDI-CAL QUALIFYING PLAN This chapter explains how to qualify for MEDI-CAL in CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER 11	PROTECT THE HOMESTEAD when on MEDI-CAL
CHAPTER 12	WHEN TO UPDATE YOUR ESTATE PLAN

The MEDI-CAL Chapters (10 and 11) alone are worth the price of the book. These Chapters are COMPREHENSIVE. They tell: what property is exempt and does not count as an asset when applying for MEDI-CAL; the rights of the spouse of someone who is receiving MEDI-CAL benefits; how to legally spend-down so that the patient can qualify as quickly as possible for MEDI-CAL; how to protect the homestead once a person qualifies for MEDI-CAL and much, more.

This book is written for the general public. It is both interesting and easy to read.


	How to Defend Yourself Against Your Lawyer By AMELIA E. POHL, ESQ. Copyright 2004 ISBN 1-892407-57-4 6"x 9" 274 pages This book is about the unhappy experiences people have with their lawyers, included that of the author. She became involved in a law suit and found herself in the role of client, rather than lawyer. She become concerned about lawyers who do not provide their clients with loyalty and respect. This book is a result of those concerns. The book is divided into chapters that cover the most common problems that take people to a lawyer: divorce, probate, criminal, personal injury, starting a business, making a Will, buying a house, etc. Each chapter tells of the misadventures of the unwary as they sought the services of a lawyer without a clue as to what they were "buying." This book is funny, sad, interesting, but most of all informative. It tells the reader how to become a savvy consumer, i.e., how to find the right lawyer for the right job. If you ever find the need to employ a lawyer, you will be glad you read this book. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION 6" x 9" 274 pages Copyright © 2004

Beyond Grief to acceptance and peace

By AMELIA E. POHL and noted psychologist BARBARA J. SIMMONDS, Ph.d.

Copyright 2002 ISBN 1-892407-47-7 80 pages 6" X 9"

Chapter 1: Grief Before Death Most deaths are expected. Family members often begin to grieve their loss before the death occurs; although many do not recognize that the anger and sadness they are experiencing is all part of the grieving process.

Chapter 2: The Grieving Process This chapter explains the grieving process and gives suggestions about how to help someone who has suffered a loss

Chapter 3: Helping a Child Through the Loss Children do grief. Too often family members do not recognize that a child may be having difficulty accepting the loss. This section explains how to recognize when a child needs help to get past the grieving process.

Chapter 4: The Adult Orphan Baby boomers have spent half a century with their parents. Now many find themselves suddenly "orphaned." Dealing with that loss may be difficult to do.

Chapter 5: Strategies to Cope with the Loss Not everyone struggles with the loss of a family member, but for those who are experiencing difficulty, this section offers simple, practical, things to do that may help.

Chapter 6: The Problem Death The sudden death, the violent death, the death of a child; these are all problem deaths. This sections gives community resources that one can turn to for assistance in coming to terms with the loss.

TABLE OF CONTENTS