Ellingson Law, APC

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Ellingson Law, APC Estate planning attorney Jennifer L. Ellingson, Esq. serves Chico, CA and Northern California.

This page provides educational insights and guidance to help individuals and families make informed decisions about planning ahead.

Join the fight to end Alzheimer’s. 💜The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s brings our community together to...
10/15/2026

Join the fight to end Alzheimer’s. 💜

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s brings our community together to raise awareness and critical funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.

Whether you walk, donate, or help spread the word, every act of support helps make a difference for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Together, we can take steps toward a future without Alzheimer’s.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s
📅 October 17, 2026
📍 Sycamore Field at Bidwell Park
🕘 Check-in: 9:00 AM
💜 Opening Ceremony: 10:00 AM
🚶 Walk Begins: 10:30 AM

Donate here: https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2026/CA-NorthernCalifornia?pg=entry&fr_id=19466

Choosing a trustee is an important part of creating a trust, but the best person for the job is not always a family memb...
10/13/2026

Choosing a trustee is an important part of creating a trust, but the best person for the job is not always a family member or friend.

Depending on your needs, you may consider a professional option, such as a corporate trustee or a licensed professional fiduciary.

These professionals can serve as a neutral third party responsible for carrying out the terms of the trust, which may include managing assets, maintaining records, making distributions, and addressing the needs of beneficiaries.

When does hiring a professional make sense? Contact our office to discuss your estate planning needs.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

Not all Powers of Attorney become effective at the same time, and “durable” and “springing” describe two different featu...
10/08/2026

Not all Powers of Attorney become effective at the same time, and “durable” and “springing” describe two different features of a Power of Attorney.

A durable Power of Attorney remains effective if you become incapacitated. It may give your chosen agent authority immediately, or it can be written to “spring” into effect only after a specific event or condition occurs, typically a determination of incapacity.

A springing Power of Attorney becomes effective only when a specific event or condition outlined in the document occurs, typically a determination of incapacity. A springing Power of Attorney can also be durable, meaning it takes effect upon incapacity and continues to remain effective during that incapacity.

The right approach depends on your circumstances, who you are naming as your agent, and how you want that authority to work. An estate planning attorney can help you structure your Power of Attorney to fit your needs and overall estate plan.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

Your retirement accounts are part of the bigger estate planning picture.Accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s commonly use b...
10/06/2026

Your retirement accounts are part of the bigger estate planning picture.

Accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s commonly use beneficiary designations to determine who receives the assets after the account owner dies. That means your beneficiary choices should be reviewed alongside your will, trust, and other estate planning documents.

A well-coordinated estate plan looks at how your assets actually transfer, not simply what your will or trust says.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

Being married does not mean your spouse automatically has legal authority to handle every decision on your behalf if you...
09/24/2026

Being married does not mean your spouse automatically has legal authority to handle every decision on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

Certain financial, legal, health care, or trust matters may require specific authority established through your estate planning documents.

A Durable Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive, and properly prepared trust can help define who is authorized to act and in what circumstances.

Estate planning is not only about choosing beneficiaries. It is also about making sure someone can legally step in when you need them.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, a time to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and the millions of individuals and ...
09/22/2026

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day, a time to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and the millions of individuals and families affected by it.

It is also an important reminder that conversations about future care and decision-making are often easier when they happen early.

Estate planning tools such as an Advance Health Care Directive, Durable Power of Attorney, and properly structured trust can help document wishes and identify trusted people to step in if someone becomes unable to make decisions independently.

Planning ahead cannot remove the difficulty of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but it can provide valuable clarity for the road ahead.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

09/17/2026

How do you terminate a Power of Attorney?

A Power of Attorney does not have to remain in place forever. It generally ends when the person who created it dies, or it can be revoked during that person’s lifetime.

If your circumstances or relationships change, it may be important to review who has authority to act on your behalf and whether your current estate planning documents still reflect your wishes.

Understanding how a Power of Attorney works, including how it ends, is an important part of maintaining an effective California estate plan.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

If you could not make decisions for yourself tomorrow, would the right people know what to do?Incapacity planning is an ...
09/15/2026

If you could not make decisions for yourself tomorrow, would the right people know what to do?

Incapacity planning is an important part of a complete California estate plan. It can establish who has authority to handle financial matters, who can make health care decisions, and who can step in to manage trust assets when necessary.

It is also important to make sure your wishes are documented and that the appropriate people can access the information they need.
Planning ahead can provide clarity when your family needs it most.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

Turning 18 comes with a legal change many families do not think about.Once your child becomes a legal adult, parents no ...
09/10/2026

Turning 18 comes with a legal change many families do not think about.

Once your child becomes a legal adult, parents no longer have the same automatic ability to access medical information or step in to make certain health care or financial decisions on their behalf.

For a young adult heading to college, starting a job, or simply becoming more independent, a few basic estate planning documents can help prepare for an emergency.

An Advance Health Care Directive and Durable Power of Attorney are worth discussing once a child turns 18.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

Estate planning is not only about what happens after you die.A comprehensive California estate plan can also address wha...
09/08/2026

Estate planning is not only about what happens after you die.

A comprehensive California estate plan can also address what happens during your lifetime if illness, injury, or incapacity leaves you unable to manage your own affairs.

That can include naming people you trust to help with financial matters, health care decisions, and the management of trust assets.
After death, your plan can provide direction for how your estate should be managed and distributed.

Estate planning is about having a plan for both.

📍 Serving Chico and Northern California
📞 (530) 343-3454
🌐 jellingsonlaw.com

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383 Connors Court STE H
Chico, CA
95926

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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