029: Knowing Alzheimer's (Elder Advocacy Encore Edition)
Release Date: 07/29/2019
161: What’s Yours, Mine, and Ours? Untangling Community vs. Separate Property in Estate Planning
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe is joined by the accomplished Ruth Koller Burke, Partner at Koller Herlihy LLP, whose 25+ years of experience span estate planning, trust administration, and probate litigation. Ruth’s dual expertise as both an estate planner and litigator—gained through years of representing Fortune 500 companies and managing high-stakes family dynamics—brings an invaluable perspective to this discussion. Together, Kirsten and Ruth dive deep into the complexities of community and separate property in estate planning. From clarifying...
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160: Celebrity Probate Case Files: O.J. Simpson
Absolute Trust Talk
In this special Absolute Trust Talk episode, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert step into the captivating world of celebrity estates, taking a closer look at the probate of O.J. Simpson. Unlike traditional probates, where assets are distributed to heirs, O.J.'s estate paints a very different picture—one dominated by overwhelming debts, including a $117 million judgment. From the auctioning of memorabilia to an intriguing home equity dispute, this episode uncovers the complexities faced by executors in balancing creditors' claims and legal obligations. Whether you're a...
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159: Trustees' Checklist: Essential Notices You Can't Afford to Miss
Absolute Trust Talk
Trustees, are you confident you’ve completed all your legal responsibilities? This final, crucial question is one every trustee should ask—but the answer is rarely simple. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into the often-overlooked legal notices trustees are required to send before making final distributions. They discuss the critical 120-day notice to trust beneficiaries and heirs, informing them of their rights to contest the trust. They also cover essential notifications to the Department of Health Care Services and...
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158: Avoiding Trustee Liability: Critical Steps Before Distributing Assets
Absolute Trust Talk
Being named a trustee is a significant responsibility that demands careful attention, time, and effort—and missing critical steps can lead to complex legal consequences. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into real-life cases where trustees overlooked essential duties. They discuss three crucial questions every trustee must ask before making final distributions: 1. Have I done everything necessary concerning income taxes? 2. Is there a supplemental property tax...
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157: Avoiding Probate Hassles: Understanding California's 2025 Law Change
Absolute Trust Talk
A significant shift in California probate law is on the horizon, promising to make estate transfers more accessible for many homeowners. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into a game-changing legislation effective April 1, 2025. This new law allows for a simplified transfer of primary residences valued up to $750,000 to heirs—without the need for probate or a formal estate plan. They discuss how this expansion of the small estate affidavit and petition procedures can ease the burden on families, making property...
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156: Probate Alternatives: Real Estate Affidavits and Succession Petitions Explained
Absolute Trust Talk
In the third episode of their probate alternatives series on Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into two streamlined legal procedures that help families avoid the costly and time-consuming probate process when transferring small real estate estates in California. They explain an affidavit procedure for properties valued under $61,500 and a petition for determining succession to property for estates under $184,500. The discussion covers the requirements for each method, including waiting periods, the role of a probate referee, and when each...
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155: Spousal Property Petitions: An Easier Alternative to Probate
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into the spousal property petition, a vital tool that offers a faster and more cost-effective way for surviving spouses to claim assets from a deceased spouse's estate. They break down the legal nuances, sharing practical examples of how this process works and how it can sometimes be used even after both spouses have passed away. With real-world scenarios and expert advice, this episode sheds light on probate alternatives that can ease the estate administration process for families. Whether...
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154: Unlocking Assets Without Probate: The Benefits of Using a Small Estate Affidavit
Absolute Trust Talk
Navigating the probate process can feel overwhelming, so what if there was a way to avoid it entirely? In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, associate attorney Jessica Colbert and managing attorney Kirsten Howe introduce the small estate affidavit—an often overlooked yet highly effective tool for bypassing probate when certain conditions are met. Together, they break down what it takes to qualify for this process, explain how it works to transfer personal property without court involvement and point out some important details and potential challenges. Don’t miss this insightful...
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153: AB Trusts After 2013: What You Need to Do Now
Absolute Trust Talk
Welcome back to Absolute Trust Talk! In this exciting episode, associate attorney Jessica Colbert steps into the spotlight for the first time, accompanied by managing attorney Kirsten Howe. Together, they continue the series AB Trusts: Do You Have One? Do You Need One? This episode uncovers the surprising reason many couples have AB trusts without realizing it, and what steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation. You’ll also learn why it might be time to reconsider an AB trust, especially if you are the surviving spouse and want to make changes. Don’t miss out on this...
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152: The Truth About AB Trusts: Will Your Wishes Be Followed?
Absolute Trust Talk
Welcome back to Absolute Trust Talk with Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert! In this second episode of our AB Trust series, we dive into a vital question: Will your wishes truly be honored? While AB Trusts are a common estate planning tool for couples, they have potential challenges. One significant issue is when the deceased spouse's wishes are unintentionally—or even deliberately—overlooked or altered. Tune in as we explore how and why this happens and, more importantly, what steps you can take to ensure that your estate plan works exactly as intended. ...
info_outlineKirsten and Dori begin their discussion defining exactly what Alzheimer’s is and what it does to the body. Dori then goes on to share the importance of her organization and details how the Alzheimer’s Association helps families and individuals impacted by the illness. Dori highlights vital warning signs, how a patient is diagnosed, the advantages of being diagnosed early, and how crucial it is to plan ahead financially if at all possible. One in three seniors who die each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the state of California alone. Alzheimer’s is a rapidly growing national health crisis, and the more we all understand, the better. We recommend listening and sharing this episode, because one way or another, this disease touches us all.
Big Three From Episode #029:
- If possible (with early diagnosis), plan ahead with your family.
- If you notice warning signs, talk to a physician.
- If you are a caregiver, you are not alone!
FOCUS Your Business and Continue to Provide Innovative Solutions For Critical Elder Care Issues.
We’re thrilled to announce to you that we’re bringing a unique educational event to our community this fall called, Elder Advocacy & Law Boot Camp!
Our goal is to build Contra Costa’s most important annual gathering of long-term caregivers, geriatric case managers, social workers, and nursing home administrators to learn about effective tools and resources for urgent matters facing our elders.
This is a one-day educational experience aimed at strengthening your elder care solutions. For more information or to take advantage of our early bird pricing click here. We can’t wait to see you there!
Time-Stamped Show Notes:
2:15 – Over 5 million people all across our country have Alzheimer’s. Dori explains what Alzheimer’s is and what it does to the body, and identifies the ways in which Alzheimer’s differs from other dementias.
5:59 – Dori discusses what her organization does and how it helps those who have Alzheimer’s and their families.
11:15 – Dori describes the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and explains how these differ from normal signs of aging.
22:30 – Dori and Kirsten discuss how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed in a patient.
27:35 – Dori identifies the advantages of getting a firm Alzheimer’s diagnosis and early detection.
30:08 – Dori explains what a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis looks like.
36:30 – Kirsten and Dori discuss the importance of planning ahead financially if possible.
39:55 – Dori describes what families experience when they get in touch with the Alzheimer’s Association.
48:00 – Dori discusses other community resources available to seniors in need.
Episode #029 Freebie: Know the 10 Signs
As mentioned in this episode, signs, and symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be confused with normal signs of aging. Regardless, it’s a growing epidemic, and it’s important to be able to understand and recognize key warning signs of the disease. Absolute Trust Talk guest Dori Sproul works hard to educate clients, the community, and all who contact her through the Alzheimer’s Association on tips, tools, strategies, resources, and all aspects of this illness. Today, she is sharing an exclusive tool with listeners called “Know the 10 Signs – Because Early Detection Matters” — a detailed checklist to help you identify the early signs of Alzheimer’s. Click here to download your checklist now!
Resources/Tools/Links Mentioned in This Episode:
TrialMatch – website tool to match with clinical trial
1.800.272.3900 – Alzheimer’s Association Help, Crisis, and Resource Line to address questions or concerns 24 hours a day
ALZ.org – educational content, tools, and resources