THE NIGHTMARE YOU MAY BE LEAVING YOUR FAMILY AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO AVOID IT

In California, you generally have the foIIowing two options regard ing your estate: (1) you IeI the government decide what happens to your assets (in which case, costly probate is usually involved); or (2) you take full control of what happens to your assets (and avoid costly probate entirely).

In the following, I address the most common questions that I receive as an estate planning lawyer.

How much is probate and why do I want to avoid it?

The cost of probate is set by statute in California under Probate code § 10810 and is based on your gross estate (which could equate toa small fortune). This statutory fee is payable to your personal representative as well as to the attorney. Aside from the actual cost of probate, the length of time to administer and close probate usually takes overa year but can take multipIe years in some circumstances.

If you have no plan, you'll have no say and the gov'ernment will decide on your behalf

Failure to plan means your estate will default to the California plan under the Probate Code. Even if you had certain independent authority to administer a decedent's estate, the court must approve certain transactions including the estate's final distribution.

Said differently, your family will be at the mercy of the court.

I have a will. Isn't that enough?

Most people believe a will is the answer, but unfortunately a will alone does not avoid probate. A will allows you to control how your property is distributed but the will still needs to be probated. Another important aspect about wills you should keep in mind, is that wills are only effective after your death. If you become incapacitated, your will provides no protection with respect to your financial affairs or medical decisions.

So, in addition to a will, what else do you recommend?

A trust. Even witha small estate, a trust helps you avoid the headache and non-confidential process of probate. A trust allows for planning during incapacity and gives immediate control of your trust assets to your successor trustee. A trust also allows you to maintain control over your property and distribution to your family. Families with young children may not want their children to inherit their share of the estate at 18. A trust allows parents to control the distribution to their respective spouse or children for a sum of years or age of the beneficiary.

Setting Up a Trust is Faster, Easier and More Affordable Than Most People Think

Is it difficult and time consuming to set upa trust?

Getting a trust set up can be completed in just a few short weeks and requires very little time on your part but there are a few traps you will want to avoid when considering your options.

What are the traps I should avoid when setting up my trust?

It can be tempting to use an inexpensive website to generate a seemingly “simple” trust for your estate plan. Over the years, we have worked with countless clients that have gone this route. Without fail, these plans are almost never in line with our clients' actual goals or expectations and can have significant negative tax implications or other unforeseen liabilities. This is often due to a question within the generic online questionnaire either not being fully understood, answered incorrectly, or an important question was simply never posed.

What is the safest way to set up my trust?

Using an estate planning attorney.

Does it matter what attorney I hire?

Yes! The majority of attorneys that provide bargain planning set up cookie-cutter products with the sole goal of avoiding probate. This is obviously a start but almost always falls short of our clients' expectations. Often, corners are cut relating to taxes, as set allocation, succession, child guardianship, and more intimate legacy planning.

What makes you different?

LS Carlson Law understands that there i s no “one-size- fits-al I” approach to estate planning. Your assets, children, wishes, and needs are unique to your situation, which is why it is critical to devise a plan specific to your circumstances. Getting this wrong could unravel your objectives and be extremely costly. We also understand needs change over the years and are active in making sure your plan remains in line with your current goals. Our team also works to minimize tax exposure and knows what it takes to minimize your liability both now and upon any asset transfer. Simple or complex, we will ensure your estate plan holds up when it matters most.

How do I consult with you?

Easy — simply call our office and schedule a complimenatry consultation with me. During this meeting, I can determine what plan is best for you and your family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Honey Esq. isa California- based attorney who practices exclusively in the area of trusts, wills , estate planning, and succession planning with special expertise in advising high net worth individuals and administering taxable estates, including the preparation and review of estate tax returns. Ms.

Honey has an LL.M in Taxation and has drafted, planned, and administered various irrevocable trusts, such as special needs trusts, charitable remainder trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, GST trusts, and irrevocable life insurance trusts. She currently heads the Estate Planning division at LS Carlson Law, PC,a law firm headquartered in Aliso Viejo.

City of Hope is answering a call to provide highly specialized cancer care to Orange County, delivering innovative clinical trials, pioneering treatments, nationally recognized compassionate care, and top clinical experts to treat even the most aggressive cancers.

Because when you have cancer, you want everything possible to treat it, especially hope.

Among City of Hope’s extraordinary cancer experts are the physicians recognized by Orange County Medical Association as Physicians of Excellence for 2022.

• Nishan Tchekmedyian, M.D. – Recently named Regional Medical Director for City of Hope Orange County, Dr. Tchekmedyian is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who has led innovative research in immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer and a new targeted therapy for a rare mutation seen in lung and other cancers. Dr. Tchekmedyian has received numerous honors for his research and high-quality, patient-focused care. He practices at City of Hope Huntington Beach and City of Hope Irvine Sand Canyon.
• Hang T. Dang, D.O., FACOS, FACS – Dr. Dang is a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist with aesthetic fellowship experience who focuses on the treatment of benign and malignant breast diseases at City of Hope Newport Beach Fashion Island. Dr. Dang provides high-quality, patient-focused and personalized cancer care. She has significant experience educating women about breast cancer and is active in numerous professional organizations. 
• Wade Smith, M.D. - Dr. Smith is a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer treatment and is the Director of Clinical Research at City of Hope Newport Beach Fashion Island. He is an expert in immunotherapy, especially for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant breast and other cancers. Dr. Smith is a frequent speaker on metastatic breast cancer and remains heavily involved in educating his community on breast cancer awareness/early detection.

Lennar Foundation Cancer Center

City of Hope is redefining the delivery of advanced cancer care as its Irvine cancer center nears completion. Lennar Foundation Cancer Center will be a focal point for innovation, providing patients access to the expertise of more than 400 physicians and 1,000 researchers and scientists who are focused on one thing – ending cancer.

The comprehensive cancer center and academic center will offer unmatched expertise in treatment and research. Distinguishing services include access to highly specialized cancer care experts, Phase I–III clinical trials, an array of treatment options for eradicating the most aggressive cancers, highly targeted genomics, precision medicine, and nationally recognized supportive care programs.

Orange County’s only specialty cancer hospital exclusively focused on treating and curing cancer will open at the Irvine site in 2025.

In addition to the cancer campus, City of Hope is developing a care network that expands access to its services. City of Hope’s four current clinical locations – two in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Irvine, already deliver many advanced treatments to Orange County residents.

To make an appointment at any of City of Hope’s four Orange County locations, call:
Newport Beach Fashion Island: (949) 763-2204
Newport Beach Lido:
(949) 999-1400
Irvine Sand Canyon:
(949) 333-7580
Huntington Beach: (714) 252-9415

February 9 to March 6, 2022

he Broadway sensation WICKED looks at what hap-pened in the Land of Oz...but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friend-ships...until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

With a thrilling score that includes the hits “Defying Gravi-ty,” “Popular” and “For Good,” WICKED has been hailed by The New York Times as “the defining musical of the de-cade,” and by Time Magazine as “a magical Broadway musi-cal with brains, heart, and courage.” NBC Nightly News calls the hit musical “the most successful Broadway show ever.”

Single tickets for WICKED start at $ $44.75 and are avail-able online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, or by calling (714) 556-2787; for inquiries about group ticket discounts for 10 or more, call the Group Services offices at (714) 755-0236.

Protect Your Family from Viruses, Bacteria, Chemicals and Mold

There’s a phenomenon that happens in the atmosphere when it rains. A term for it - petrichor - was coined in 1964 by Australian scientists.

It attempts to describe the earthy smell associated with thunderstorms. The result of compounds like activated oxygen and plant oils in the soil contribute to what smells like the cleanest, most fresh air possible. Puréfi Air Systems is a local Orange County distributor for the 97-year-old parent company Aerus - and the company that manufactures products that can replicate that incredible phenomenon…indoors.

There aren’t many companies out there that I fully get behind as a mom. Especially in this day in age, when so many social media influencers prioritize followers over function - image over quality standards. Puréfi stands apart. Not only are they dedicated to educating and helping Orange County residents breathe easier in their homes, offices and schools, they strive to give back where their employees live and work.

The past couple of years have been challenging for us all, not just those of us who have children at home, and the anxiety over airborne pollution and contaminants - not just COVID-19 - seems to have peaked. In our extended family as an example - my mother is asthmatic and several family members face a similar set of allergens and respiratory conditions, so clean air is certainly a priority. Puréfi tackles that on behalf of families like ours, with the only air cleaning technology awarded the prestigious Space of Technology Seal of Approval. (You read that right.)

ActivePure’s portable filtration, purification and sanitization system technology works by destabilizing the outer shell of a virus, pollutant, or bacteria which turns them into harmless by-products. Aerus worked with NASA to design and patent the technology, which makes this “air and surface defender” the only one that actively seeks out contaminants in your home or office. Other technologies can be passive or slow, as they wait for the pollutants to be pulled into their filters. ActivePure doesn’t wait. It neutralizes and continues to protect beyond the initial cleaning 24/7.

Keeping particulates at bay is more important than ever and this is the only technology proven to inactivate 99.99% of SARS COV-2,” says Kaeli Wilson, owner and CEO of Puréfi, whose own family have been utilizing similar technology since 1995.

“My parents were struggling to overcome an air quality issue at their hatchery in Hemet when they met a farmer from Minnesota who was here in California on vacation who suggested a solution, something he called ‘a thunderstorm in a box.’ Dad bought the air cleaning system and in a matter of days, the air quality problem was gone. We’ve been serving Southern California residents ever since.”

So what is it about ions, wave patterns, wind, solar, and oxygen? Well, they go together, first and foremost. More importantly, they’re natural elements designed to keep the environment healthy for its own sake - and thankfully, we benefit from cleaner air. ActivePure works by recreating photocatalysis, the very same process found in nature.

Ridding the air of mold, mildew, viruses, pollen, tobacco smoke, dust, pet dander and chemical particulates in our homes, office, schools, and hospitals is especially critical now that we’re spending close to 90% of our time indoors.

I found it particularly surprising to discover that indoor levels of pollution may be 2 - 5 times higher - and occasionally more than 100 times higher - than outdoor pollutant levels and that "energy-efficient homes trap pollutants" according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

As ActivePure's systems are portable, with no installation required, you can get one set up in no time, and they’re actually whisper-silent, unlike so many of the so-called kid-friendly devices out there that clutter the home with noise pollution and produce ozone while they’re at it.

While also featuring complementary HEPA, Ionization and Activated Carbon technologies, there’s just no downside. Especially for those with asthma, allergies, COPD and now COVID transitioning to endemic, general health has never been easier to access.

The scientists were onto something when they started talking about an atmospheric perfume in the 60’s. Smells like an obvious choice to me.

For a Free Indoor Air Analysis, contact Puréfi - The Air & Surface Defender
(949) 295-9323
www.purefiyourair.com

World-renowned lung cancer experts offer treatment breakthroughs and highly specialized cancer care

City of Hope Orange County is changing the lung cancer story by providing residents much-needed early detection screenings, innovative prevention programs, and top experts in lung cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. The world-renowned cancer research and treatment organization is also correcting the myth that lung cancer is only a disease of people who smoke.

“Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in Orange County. City of Hope is responding to this pressing need by bringing our world-renowned lung cancer experts and pioneering research closer to home for patients and their families,” said Annette M. Walker, President, City of Hope Orange County. “We are here for everyone impacted by this disease.”

City of Hope Orange County is addressing lung cancer incidence in the community and speaking out about available resources for prevention, early detection, and the highly specialized lung cancer care available at its four Orange County locations. City of Hope is currently taking appointments for lung cancer screenings at its Newport Beach Fashion Island location, with screening taking place at Newport Diagnostic Center.

“There’s a real need to separate lung cancer facts from fiction. Although people who smoke and people exposed to secondhand smoke are at high risk, it can impact anyone with lungs at just about any age,” says Edward S. Kim, M.D., M.B.A, City of Hope Orange County Physician-in-Chief and renowned lung cancer specialist. “Perhaps even more importantly, advanced cancer centers like City of Hope are working on new therapies that offer better outcomes than even a decade ago.”

City of Hope Orange County is working with The White Ribbon Project, an international organization dedicated to promoting awareness about lung cancer. Heidi Onda co-founded The White Ribbon Project with her husband Pierre, a primary care physician, after being diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer three years ago. She had no known risk factors or symptoms and did not know then that anyone could get the disease.

She has since learned the sobering statistics about the disease, which kills more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined and is the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women.

“Why isn’t this common knowledge?” she said, adding that radon exposure is the number one cause of lung cancer for people who have never smoked. “The White Ribbon Project aims to increase awareness of the facts about lung cancer by changing the public perception of the disease. Lung cancer can happen to anyone, no one deserves it, and we need to talk about it.”

Danny Nguyen, M.D., a medical oncologist and hematologist who treats patients at City of Hope Huntington Beach and City of Hope Irvine Sand Canyon, says people can reduce some of the risk factors for lung cancer through lifestyle choices but other factors like age and genetic mutations cannot be controlled. “I have patients in their 30s and 40s who have been diagnosed with lung cancer despite having never smoked,” he said.

Lung cancer survivor and grateful patient Sherman Johnson, who is benefitting from Dr. Nguyen’s expertise and personalized care, attests to the lifesaving benefits of lung cancer research and pioneering treatment.

“It’s important to call attention to the impact of this disease as well as the need for greater funding of lung cancer research that is leading to breakthroughs in treatment,” said Johnson, who never smoked. “My lung cancer story was changed by pioneering science, and it may change yours.”

For more information on City of Hope Orange County’s lung cancer screening and treatment programs, visit CityofHope.org/orange-county/lung.

To make an appointment at any of City of Hope’s four Orange County locations, call the numbers below.

Newport Beach Fashion Island: (949) 763-2204
Newport Beach Lido: (949) 999-1400
Irvine Sand Canyon: (949) 333-7580
Huntington Beach: (714) 252-9415

by Molly Keating, MA, CT, O’Connor Mortuary

We are entering a familiar world with familiar places but the way we are experiencing them is altered. We are different, too.

So, what does it look like to transition from the deep sorrow of one place into the space where the sorrow has been more digested, is more manageable and incorporated into our lives?

How do we transition out of grief?

I believe, when we ask this question, we are really saying – “when can I get back to living?” or “when can I stop being sad?”

Life lesson time:

1. Grieving is part of living.

2. You have permission to stop feeling sad whenever you want to. Being bereaved doesn’t mean you must remain and always be sad. Being bereaved means you lost something that caused tremendous pain. There is sadness and there is transition and learning to live with the loss.

3. Taking each day at a time is wise and removing guilt or “shoulds” is necessary.

Re-entering the world after huge loss

For bereaved people, this largely means taking on the monumental task of writing a new narrative while also cherishing the old one. For example, a widow goes out for drinks with girlfriends to a place she previously frequented with her husband – she’s prepared to do this but knows it will be hard. There’s tenderness in those memories and simultaneously there’s a new story waiting and new memories to be made.

This is what a transition out of grief can look like. It’s hopeful, it’s full of movement, and it’s open to change.

COVID has taught us all SO much about change. How instantly change can come, how devastating it can be, and how we can come out of it all into a world we still feel hopeful about.

Will we ever be the same?

No.

But that is true at the end of every day (hopefully), right? We are people with the potential to always change and grow and that is beautiful. We can never be ready for forced change like death – but we can slowly, adapt and still find a way forward.

So, as we open our doors to summer and a season of warmth and leisure, lets collectively bask in the need of this time to be warmed and rested. We are not done changing, we are not done learning, we are not done living. On this side of resurrection, I’m grateful for all of those truths. Here’s to stepping out into transition.

O’Connor Mortuary
25301 Alicia Parkway
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 581-4300
www.oconnormortuary.com

I was in middle school at my best friend's house when her Dad got a call one afternoon. It was a complete stranger, albeit an incredibly friendly one, who had taken the time to sort through who my friend’s grandmother was and why she happened to be strolling up and down his street in the middle of the day. On our way over to pick her up, her Dad attempted to describe what was happening in her brain. Over dinner that night, I watched her between bites halfway expecting her to forget which utensil to use for the salad and the soup. But there, surrounded by her family at the dining table she'd eaten at a thousand times or more, she was sharp. Clear. Quick witted and lively.

Not a real specific disease, as I learned later through some of my own research, but more an umbrella covering the impairment of at least a couple of different brain functions; dementia’s group conditions affect memory loss and judgment, often the two most important pieces in the typical motions of an everyday life. Parkinson's, Huntington's and Alzheimer's all snug up neatly under the umbrella, as does vascular dementia. At some point, like with my friend’s grandmother later that year, it can become necessary to offer more care than is available around the home. That’s when care in a senior living community like Serra Sol Memory Care in San Juan Capistrano becomes so vitally important.

An Agemark facility, in conjunction with Protea Capital Partners - two of the foremost names in senior residence care - Serra Sol Memory Care prides itself on offering "a truly inspired life" for its residents.

A partnership between Protea Senior Living and Agemark Senior Living - two of the foremost names in senior residence care - Serra Sol Memory Care prides itself on offering “a truly inspired life” for its residents. As with all things, there are homes that feel like sterile hospitals and communities that feel like home. Serra Sol certainly falls in the latter category. Providing exceptional care is the tip of the iceberg at the new South Orange County location, and like most icebergs, the weight of their mission hovers below the surface, imbuing each day with meaning derived from little things that mean a lot. As the management company who will oversee all day-today operations, Agemark creates true communities that are warm and welcoming, and works diligently to give those in their care love, laughter and joy and encourages residents to live life fully - despite the challenges they face.

Renowned for turning the traditional image of an old-folks home into a passionate, engaging, mission-driven community, Agemark's custom touches at Serra Sol include an onsite Director of Nursing, Physician oversight, assisted telemedicine appointments, balanced menus and dining services, on-site physical, occupational, and speech therapy from preferred partners, and regular communication of resident’s assessment and needs with loved ones.

My friend later shared that her grandmother's room at the senior care residence might not have been a replica of her bedroom in the home she lived in for years, but all of the important things were there - photos, cards from the grandkids, her favorite reading chair. At Serra Sol, they understand that in addition to making sure your loved one’s health-related needs are met, equally important is the warmhearted staff who care deeply about their feelings, and the routine and familiarity of place that sparks an awareness of the positive memories they carried in with them.

As far as personalized care goes, Serra Sol has it all. In fact, through the 26 Agemark communities spanning six states, everything from the environment to the friendly faces one sees each day contribute to an elite level of service. The leadership teams are all handpicked, ensuring that each member of the staff exemplify the values they hold close: professionalism, integrity, compassion. Employees assist with daily outings and activities, customizing them to each resident's passions and interests. From social gatherings to individual spiritual practices, crafts, baking, yoga, walking, or trips to local attractions, keeping residents motivated and excited for the day-to-day means stimulating their minds and bodies. After all, feeling engaged combats memory loss, and can even trigger new neural pathways to link old and new memory together.

Serra Sol boasts an incredibly safe and secure environment, keeping those with memory loss top of mind.

Secured entries and exits, alarm systems, and emergency call buttons complement lovely natural vegetation and water features in the residence’s secure outdoor courtyard, perfect for dining or simply enjoying an afternoon chat. Restaurant-style meals are served in a beautifully appointed dining room, and a multipurpose area serves to house crafts, cooking, games, film screenings and more. A state-of-the-art Tovertafel table features a game system providing cognitive stimulation to its players in the form of movement and interaction. Don’t miss the ice cream sundae dipping station in the dining area, where everyone can enjoy a sweet treat. Additionally, activities and outings will be in abundance, with a Life Enrichment Coach on hand to ensure residents are able to cultivate their current interests as well as try new things.

Choose one of three floorplans, and enjoy a private or companion room. All feature en suite, private bathrooms, walk-in showers with grab bars for safety, and a bench for comfort. Storage space ensures residents can bring their favorite objects from home - making each suite a welcoming, warm respite at the end of the day. My friend’s grandmother passed away a few years after she moved into the home, at a ripe old 93. I’m told she was surrounded every day by the comforts of her own memories until the end, and remained a hilarious, crisp fighter regardless of what came her way. I understand the perils that a disease like dementia can bring a bit better now that I’m older, but that only amplifies my gratitude for the safety and sense of community that the residents of Serra Sol Memory Care enjoy. Set the standard for care for your own loved ones, at Serra Sol.

SERRA SOL MEMORY CARE 31451 Avenida Los Cerritos San Juan Capistrano (949) 485-2022 SerraSol.com