Articles by author: Courtney Desoto

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"The movie I Care a Lot has raised a lot of interest and questions surrounding Conservatorships (which in some States are referred to as “Guardianships”), as well as the role of Professional Conservators (also known as Professional Fiduciaries). The most common question being asked is: “could this really happen, and, if so, could it happen to me?”

We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about the Conservatorship process to which California attorneys, experts in the field of California Conservatorship law and procedure in the State of California. Hopefully this information will be helpful and provide some assurance that the Conservatorship process in reality is not as depicted in the movie."

"As news about the coronavirus outbreak continues to dominate the headlines and millions of people—in the U.S. and the world over—are being asked to self-quarantine, it has become increasingly significant to pay as much attention to our mental health as we do to our physical health."

Please take a moment to read this important article about COVID-19 scams!

"When you die, your assets go to the people named in your Will or Trust, right? Sure -- except if they’re guns. Then maybe not. With firearms, inheritance gets complicated. Whether your wishes can be followed depends on where you live, what types of guns you own, and the individuals who would inherit."

"Experts say that it’s difficult to know exactly how many older Americans fall victim to financial abuse each year because much of the time, the crimes go unreported. What is well understood is that the financial exploitation of seniors causes significant economic losses—and not only for the elders themselves, but also for other family members, businesses, and programs."

"In the past people automatically named an adult child, close friend or financial institution as executor of their estate. But today there’s another option: the private professional fiduciary. A relatively new phenomenon, the professional fiduciary takes the burden off loved ones at a difficult time and, frankly, does a better job of it."

Paragon Academy's Rock Steady boxing program improving symptoms of Parkinson's patients

Less than a year after putting on their boxing gloves, some Parkinson's patients are starting to see bonafide results from the "Rock Steady" Boxing program offered at Paragon Academy in Santa Barbara. NewsChannel 3 profiled the class in July, 2016 and promised to revisit the story in several months to review the participant's progress.

At the beginning of the program, Parkinson's boxing students were videotaped to demonstrate their current level of agility, balance and flexibility. Several months later after taking the boxing class consistently, they were videotaped again and in many cases the results were dramatic.

Those of us who think of our companion animals as family members are becoming aware of the fact that part of our responsibility to these dependent creatures is to make sure that their care and comfort continue uninterrupted should we become incapable of caring for them ourselves. One way to plan for that contingency is to set up something called a pet trust. To help you decide if this might work for you, here are some basic definitions and guidelines to keep in mind:

Paul Greenwood, San Diego's Deputy District Attorney, has been investigating crimes against the elderly for over two decades. As head of San Diego's Elder Abuse Unit, he's been a front-row witness to the tragedies such crimes have left in their wake.

"I have seen for myself many instances where victims in their seventies, eighties, nineties, never recover," he said. "They don't recover financially; they don't recover psychologically. And emotionally, it can be devastating for them."