This week's question: A few years ago you wrote a column in the Almaden Times about a good pamphlet that pertains to rights and obligations of senior citizens. I did not save a copy of that pamphlet and even if I did, it's probably out of date by now. Do you know whether there is a new one available?
/s/Vickie V., Almaden Valley
Dear Vickie- As a matter of fact, yes, Vickie, I do know a little about that pamphlet. A brand new one was just published in April, 2009, by the Office of Media and Information Services of the State Bar of California. It is entitled "Seniors & the Law-A guide for Maturing Californians" and it was made possible by a grant from the California Bar Foundation.
In one word, this new pamphlet is great!! It is 16 pages of excellent information especially for our senior citizens. A wide range of topics include Social Security highlights, reverse mortgages, and whether there is any special tax relief for seniors.
Other topics include whether a landlord can turn down a senior citizen on the basis that the person is a senior citizen. (The answer is "no".) You may have read in this column from time to time a little about living trusts. That topic is covered as well in an area of the pamphlet entitled "How will my property be distributed after my death?" The area also includes "What is a revocable living trust?"
A particularly helpful article is included that deals with "Losing a Spouse or Parent".
For example:
* Make funeral and burial arrangements;
* Obtain several copies of the death certificate;
* Gather relevant documents, such as the will, insurance policies, trusts, and stock, bank account and annuity statements;
* Contact the Social Security Administration (if the deceased was an eligible recipient);
* Send a notification and death certificate to the director of public health (if the deceased was a Medi-Cal recipient) within 90 days after the death;
* Notify any life insurance companies of the death;
* Contact the trustee of any trust and executor of any will and/or the attorney who prepared it;
* Call the administrator of the decedent's pension plan;
* Notify the decedent's banks and financial institutions;
* Contact credit card companies; and
* Be sure that insurance or Medicare claims have been processed before paying any medical bills.
As I mentioned above, I believe this pamphlet is just excellent, so good that I ordered and received 50 for my Almaden Times readers. If you would like to stop by my office for a free copy while they last, just stop in between 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (No, this is not a sales gimmick; your contact information will not even be asked about.) Our office is located at the corner of Camden Avenue and Trinidad, off Almaden Expressway. No questions asked.
If you would prefer, you can go online and see and order this or 18 other very useful pamphlets published by the State Bar of California. Other topics include "How Can I Find and Hire the Right Lawyer", "How Do I Use the Small Claims Court", "What Should I Know About Serving on a Jury", and many other topics.
Each free, 16-page consumer guide has its own email address for ordering: seniors@calbar.ca.gov is the email address for the Seniors and the Law pamphlet. The other pamphlets are listed in the State Bar web site. Just go to your favorite search engine and enter: State Bar of California. From there select Public Services and then Consumer Information. You can contact them for as many of the free pamphlets as you need.
Good question, Vickie. I hope the above information is helpful.
/s/Donald J. DeVries, Almaden Valley
Donald J. DeVries is an attorney practicing law in the Almaden Valley. Past Almaden Times articles since 1986 can be accessed through his web site: www.almadenvalleylawers.com
