Elder Law Mom

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Elder Law Mom We are a full service Estate Planning and Elder Law Firm working to provide Peace of Mind to our clients and their families.

With a founding attorney who is one of an elite group of Certified Elder Law Attorneys, Certified by the National Elder Law Foundation we are uniquely qualified to assist you with all the Estate Planning you need to protect your family from the devastating cost of dementia, disability or disease, and to protect your assets both while you are alive and so you can pass and inheritance to those you love. We are committed to personal service to each client, using only those legal tools and techniques that suit the individual client's needs, goals and personal situation. Services provided include legal consultation and the preparation of:

Revocable Living Trusts • Irrevocable Trusts • Wills • Powers of Attorney • Living Wills • Healthcare Power of Attorney • Medi-Cal Asset Preservation Trusts • House Protector Trusts • Medi-Cal Planning (Medicaid Planning) • Veteran’s Benefits Planning • Asset Preservation • MIDITs • MAPTs • VAPTs • Special Needs Trusts • Life Insurance Trusts • Family Limited Partnerships • Limited Liability Companies • Corporations • Charitable Trusts and Other Estate Planning and Tax Planning Strategies

I wanted to be one of the best Elder Law Attorneys in the Country so studied, and put in the time needed to get the experience required to become Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation (there are less than 40 lawyers in California with this designation.) CELAs must complete a rigorous full-day examination and demonstrate that their law practice is actually focused on special needs and elder law. Once certified, a CELA must continue to practice primarily in elder law and special needs, and complete continuing education credits specifically targeted to advanced practitioners.

My mom has been in heaven for some time now, but not a day goes by that I don’t mentally thank her for all she did for m...
05/10/2025

My mom has been in heaven for some time now, but not a day goes by that I don’t mentally thank her for all she did for me. Over the years, I’ve helped many parents navigate the death of a spouse—the loss of their child’s other parent—gone too soon. Each time I walk with them through the legal paperwork, I’m reminded just how difficult it is to lose a partner.

For some, like my mom, it’s the loss of the primary breadwinner, leaving them to figure out how to return to work and pay the bills. For others, it’s the loss of the one who managed the home—the person who kept everything running—someone truly irreplaceable.

As I’ve watched these brave parents, I’ve come to appreciate even more how much my mom shielded me from the hardest parts. She not only went back to work, but she built a life for us filled with happiness. And beyond that, she saved and invested wisely, leaving me with resources that help care for me in my own later years. I will always be grateful for all she did.

I hope you’re never in the position of being the parent left to go on alone. But if you are, give me a call—I’m here to help you navigate what comes next.

Life is shortAt my church reunion were friends I had known since I was a little girl. Our moms were friends, and we play...
10/27/2024

Life is short
At my church reunion were friends I had known since I was a little girl. Our moms were friends, and we played together as they sat for coffee. Some of us went to school together Kindergarten through 12th Grade. Talking to a friend who I hadn’t seen in person since high school she told me how good it was to see old friends because “life is short”.
I am 14 years older than my dad was when he died. My children, nieces and nephews are all older than my brother was when he died at 20. At the reunion, some of my friends had canes and few had walkers. Life is short and we are fortunate that we are still here to enjoy it.
Life is short. We don’t know how many years we will have. 18? (my friend) 20? (my brother) 53? (My dad) 66? My husband) 91 (my Mom(? We don’t know what troubles they will bring, cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart failure, special needs children. We do know we need to plan our estates, so we take care of those we leave behind. Especially, those who live with disability, special needs and special challenges (addiction etc.). Trusts can be designed to make sure the money is managed and takes care of the loved ones you leave behind. Loved one’s who are receiving public benefits like SSI and Medi-Cal MUST have the protection of a Special Needs Trust, so they can have their benefits and money to pay for all the things public benefits don’t cover.
If you have loved ones you want to protect give me a call.

Picture is the last I know of with my brother and dad.

I want to wish all the Father’s a happy Father’s day. Men are often ignored on this day. I want to honor you as I refl...
06/15/2024

I want to wish all the Father’s a happy Father’s day. Men are often ignored on this day. I want to honor you as I reflect on my dad, and the many who stepped up and did a Father’s job when my dad passed.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer when I was 12. He was given 6 months, but he was a fighter and lived 31/2 years. He never once complained and he worked until the day before his last hospital stay. He left an amazing legacy. He served as City Attorney of Anaheim and was responsible for the contracts on the Stadium and Convention Center among his many other legal accomplishments. He was a decorated Navy Pilot earning Two Navy Crosses and a Distinguished Flying Cross in lieu of a Third Navy Cross. He was fearless.
He loved to play cards and any game, and he won most of the time. Golf was his past time. He was unable to golf after his third bout with pneumonia after cancer was removed from his lungs, and his friends bought him a pool table, so they could come after golf and join him for a game.
I wish I remembered him more, it’s been over 50 years. The legacy he left me was to be fearless, to play to win and never complain. He was a great man and I am lucky to have a dad I am proud of.
After he died others stepped up, a police officer friend taught me to drive. Many (all joining him for Golf in Heaven) were there just showing me what good men do. Help when your mom needs something done around the house, wise advice for my mom on how to invest the small life insurance policy, just being there as I grew up and became a lawyer following my dad’s footsteps. Most of these men had children but a few did not, so whether you have a child or are just an example of a good man Happy Father’s Day.

06/09/2024

Another ONLINE Disaster
I take care of families when their loved one dies. When my clients pass it is my privilege to help the family and I know they are grateful the process is so easy. I am helping a new attorney clean up the mess created when they helped their parents complete documents online when they were in law school. The new attorney thought creating a Trust was easy, just fill in the blanks. It is not that easy.
They made two mistakes:
1. Nothing is in the Trust (this happens all the time) and as courts are frequently requiring proof that a person intended for their assets to be in their Trust and we have NO evidence we have to go to probate. The fees guaranteed by Statute are going to be at least $26,000.
2. The Trust doesn’t say who should get the property when the last parent dies. The Trust passed everything from husband to wife and wife to husband depending on who died first (the parents died close together). This was a second marriage for both and each had children. In this situation the statutory scheme of intestate succession produces a result no one is happy with.
The online service makes it all seem so easy “just fill in the information”. The new attorney and their parents were all smart people, yet the mistake was made. Please don’t go online to create your legal documents. Mistakes cost money.
Give me a call I can make sure your Trust is done right. If you have lost a loved one, I am here to help. Even in this disastrous situation I am hoping we can use some tricks I have learned over my 41 years to help this family honor their parents wishes.

05/14/2024

After they are gone
The loss of a loved one is never easy. Sometimes, we feel relief that their suffering is over, and sometimes shock because we did not expect them to go so soon. The pain of loss dulls over time, but never is truly gone. Unfortunately, when the paid is fresh is when we need to do all the “after” jobs.
The calls from my clients’ families always make me sad with them. “What do I need to do?” Fortunately, my clients have everything in order, so there isn’t too much left to do. My clients all have Trusts and we have made sure that beneficiaries are named on all their accounts. Their estates will pass to their family easily.
There are things that need to be done. The county assessor needs to be notified of the death. (If you want to keep a home in the family you need to file within 90 days). A Notice with a copy of the Trust needs to be sent to all the family and any other person named in the Trust. The last bills need to be paid. The sentimental, valuable and other things the loved one owned need to be divided up, given away or discarded. (This may be the hardest job). Social Security is automatically notified, but others may need to be notified of the death.
Yes, administering a Trust requires some work. It is so much easier than Probate. Probate requires a lot more work. Court filings, multiple notices and typically the estate is tied up for 18 months to 2 years! Most Trust Administrations are inexpensive (costs are mostly related to notices, property transfers and getting receipts for property delivered. Probates, have Court Fees, Statutory Attorneys Fees (and maybe even extraordinary attorney fees), Executor Fees, plus the cost of accounting.
Families who have been through both probate and Trust administration always tell me how glad they are that their loved one had a Trust, their job is so much easier. If you have a loved one who just passed away, give me a call I am here to help you.

My mom is in heaven now, but I think of her every day. I thank her every day for the lessons she taught me, for all she...
05/12/2024

My mom is in heaven now, but I think of her every day. I thank her every day for the lessons she taught me, for all she sacrificed for me and my kids. I thank her for keeping my dad and brother’s memories alive, and for not letting me know how tight money really was after my dad died. I thank her for helping me go to College and Law School. (Not going to College was never an option).
My mom taught me the value of frugality. I still pack a lunch and eat at my desk if I am not going out for a reason. Home cooked meals are best. As I now cook for one, I realize why she made dinner for my kids, whenever she picked them up early for me. It gave her the chance to make her favorite dishes, I wish I had appreciated it more.
My mom grew up in the depression, and the poverty that impacted her childhood taught her the value of a dollar. I am so grateful that she taught my kids to save. I am grateful that I was able to set up her Trust so that the money I inherited would always go to her grandkids and not my husband. I loved him, but always understood that she worked hard for her money and she wanted to make sure I would never go without, and that if anything happened to me her money would be there for her grand kids and not go to my husband and the new wife he might marry. If you are like my mom, and want to protect the inheritance you leave behind, I can help you.

My mom and daughter.

02/14/2024

I ❤️ You Special

I really do love all my clients and everyone on my page.

So, on this day when we celebrate "sweethearts," I'd like to share a warning about "sweetheart" estate plans...
..and make a very special Valentine's offer.

A sweetheart estate lan is one that says, "If I die or become incapacitated, I want my spouse to take over."

Seems reasonable, right?

But what happens if you die or become incapacitated and your sweetheart has dementia?

That sweetheart plan becomes a nightmare.

It happened to my family when my mother-in-law had dementia and my father-in-law was hospitalized. She couldn't even remember he'd left the house.

We had to take my mother-in-law to court to establish our legal authority to manage my father-in-law's care. It was a long, painful process, and it put his life at risk.

You may be sitting on a sweetheart plan and not even realize it.

If you call me and mention this email, I'll review your trust for free.

I usually charge $1,500 for this. But today, in honor of Valentine's Day, I want to help you determine whether your current plan protects you and your sweetheart...
..or if it's a nightmare waiting to happen.

Call me at 714-459-1999 to schedule a complimentary plan review.

With Valentine's ❤️,

Martha

Martha Patterson
Your Elder Law Mom, Protecting You Like a Mama Bear
Geisler Patterson Law
[email protected]

11/26/2023

For me Thanksgiving and Christmas have often been shared with friends. The year my brother
died the Murdoch family shared their Christmas with us. I was still recovering from my wisdom
teeth being removed and my dad was living with Lung Cancer. Nonetheless we joined the late-
night present wrapping and helped Santa bring the grandkids presents, and I stayed the night to
watch as they saw what Santa brought, later my parents joined. This Christmas will always hold
a Special place in my heart as the kindness and friendship shared that day was priceless.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Chanukah, remember that there are those who
are alone (or perhaps need some extra friendship and love as we did). If you have a friend with
Alzheimer’s of Dementia, perhaps the gift of an hour visits and if you are extra kind perhaps
stay for a few hours and give their caregiver the gift of respite.

11/20/2023

Someone evil has created a fake page for my deceased husband. Be careful answering friend requests.

Thank you to every veteran for their service. I want to specially thank our Vietnam Veterans who were treated so poorly ...
11/11/2023

Thank you to every veteran for their service. I want to specially thank our Vietnam Veterans who were treated so poorly when they came home.

My dad was a World War II fighter pilot and earned two Navy Crosses and a distinguished flying star in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. I wish I had known to ask him more. All I know is from my mom. He flew an SB 2C helldiver and there are only a few of these planes left, they were just built to bomb.

Address

5101 E. La Palma Avenue Suite 100-M
Anaheim, CA
92807

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm
Thursday 8:30am - 6pm
Friday 8:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+18664529657

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