Nickerson Law: A Professional Law Corporation

08/28/2026

⚖️ Power of Attorney or Limited Conservatorship?

They aren't the same thing.

A Power of Attorney allows an adult to give another person authority to assist with certain financial or legal matters.

A Limited Conservatorship is different.

It involves a California court determining that an adult with a developmental disability needs assistance in specific areas and granting the conservator only the powers the court finds necessary.

California Courts also requires families seeking conservatorship to consider less restrictive alternatives first.

So which one is appropriate?

That depends on the individual.

There isn't one legal tool that's right for every family.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/27/2026

❤️ When someone passes away, families often feel like they need to handle everything immediately.

Usually, they don't.

Not everything has to happen on Day One.

During the first few weeks, some priorities may include:
🔐 Securing the home and other property
📂 Locating the estate planning documents
👥 Determining who has legal authority to act
🛡️ Protecting important assets
📞 Contacting the appropriate professionals
📋 Beginning to identify accounts and property

There will be time for many of the other details.

The first step is getting organized and understanding the plan.

During a difficult time, having a roadmap can make a big difference.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/26/2026

Grandparents often want to leave an inheritance to a grandchild with special needs.

The intention is simple: provide additional support for someone they love.

But how that inheritance is structured can be extremely important.

For an individual receiving means-tested public benefits such as SSI, receiving assets directly may affect eligibility. This is why the grandparents' estate plan should be coordinated with the family's existing special needs planning.

Effective planning considers not only how much a beneficiary receives, but how those assets will be received and managed.

Sometimes the best gift grandparents can leave is one that has been carefully coordinated for the future.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/24/2026

🔑 You sold the old house and bought a new one. Congratulations!

But there's one more question worth asking:
Is the new property actually coordinated with your estate plan?

Many homeowners assume that because their previous home was held in their living trust, the new home is automatically covered too.

Don't make that assumption.

After purchasing a new property, it's a good time to review:
🏡 How is the new property titled?
📄 Does it coordinate with your living trust?
🔑 Did anything else change during the move?
👥 Does the rest of your estate plan still reflect your wishes?

California Courts notes that a living trust avoids probate for assets that have actually been placed into the trust.

Getting the keys is exciting.

Just make sure your estate plan makes the move with you.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

Comprehensive Estate Planning Services, Specializing in Tailored Solutions for Special Needs Trusts. Trust our Expertise to Safeguard Your Legacy. Call Today.

08/21/2026

💬 Some of the most important estate planning happens around the kitchen table.

Here are five conversations every family should have:
❤️ Who would make decisions if I couldn't?
📂 Does someone know where my important documents are?
👥 Who have I chosen as trustee or executor?
🏥 What are my healthcare wishes?
🏡 Are my loved ones prepared if something unexpected happens?

These conversations aren't always easy, but they can make a world of difference later.

You don't need to solve everything in one conversation.

Sometimes the most important thing is simply starting it.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/20/2026

⚖️ Does having a Limited Conservatorship mean someone loses the ability to make all of their own decisions?

No.

In California, a person under a Limited Conservatorship keeps the rights that the court has not specifically granted to the conservator.

The court looks individually at the areas where assistance may be necessary.

That can include decisions involving:
• medical care
• education
• contracts
• residence
• access to confidential records

California law is designed so a Limited Conservatorship provides the help that's necessary while encouraging as much independence as possible.

The goal isn't simply to take control.

It's to find the appropriate level of support for that individual.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/19/2026

🏡 A parent passes away.

Their home is in the family trust.

What happens to the house now?

The answer isn't always, "Sell it."

A successor trustee may first need to:
🔐 Secure the property
📄 Review the trust instructions
🏠 Address insurance and ongoing expenses
💰 Determine the property's value
👥 Determine what should happen with the home under the trust

Depending on the plan, the property might eventually be sold, distributed, or handled another way.

California Courts notes that property held in a living trust generally does not need to go through formal probate. But that doesn't mean there's nothing left for the trustee to do.

Trust administration is a process.

And real estate can be one of the biggest pieces of it.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/18/2026

♿ A good special needs plan shouldn't live in a vacuum.

Parents may spend years carefully building a plan for their loved one.

But an important question remains:
Who needs to know about it?

Depending on your family's situation, that could include:
👥 Your successor trustee
💰 Financial professionals
❤️ Caregivers or family members
⚖️ Your estate planning attorney

Not everyone needs every detail.

But the people who may eventually have a role should understand that a plan exists and where to turn when they're needed.

A strong plan isn't just about documents.

It's also about communication.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/17/2026

🏡 Selling a home that's in your trust?

The sale may be finished when you hand over the keys...

But your estate planning may not be.

If you're selling property held in your living trust, especially if you're buying another home afterward, it's a good time to make sure everything stays coordinated.

Ask questions like:
🔑 How is the property currently titled?
📄 Is the trust information current?
🏠 Are we purchasing another property?
📂 Will the new property be properly coordinated with our estate plan?

Real estate changes.

Your estate plan may need to change with it.

If you're buying or selling property and already have a trust, don't forget to think beyond the closing table.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com

08/12/2026

🔑 You bought the house. You got the keys. The boxes are finally unpacked

But there may be one more thing to think about:
Does your new home fit into your estate plan?

If you already have a living trust, buying a new property is a good time to make sure the ownership of that property coordinates with your plan.

Why does that matter?

A trust only controls property that is properly connected to it. California Courts notes that property placed in a living trust can generally pass to beneficiaries without going through probate.

Buying a home is a major life event. 🏡

It's also a great time to take another look at your estate plan.

🌐 www.jeffreycnickersonlaw.com