In May, 2017, Money Talk 1290 - a radio show presented by Arlington Financial Advisors - interviewed Terri about the financial aspects of estate planning for seniors.

Baby Boomers, born 1946 to 1964, are a hardy lot. They’ve worked most of their lives. They probably have a home and may have saved up some money for retirement, which many are now entering. For the most part, they have been taking care of themselves. But what about their kids and their kids’ children?

It is estimated that some 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer's disease and that number is expected to rise to 16 million by 2050. Every 66 seconds, someone in this country will develop the disease, which is a progressive brain disorder that can have overwhelming physical, emotional and financial implications for today’s families.

For an overview of our services and a few brief testimonials from some of our clients, please watch the video.

Hello Friends – We’re growing again! Our firm has opened a new law office in Santa Barbara at 1825 State Street, Suite 206. It’s our goal to provide greater convenience for our clients in Santa Barbara County, providing our complete range of estate, elder care, and special needs planning services.

Many people believe they don’t have enough in assets to warrant the need for an estate plan, but, if you have a car, a bank account, a house, life insurance policy, and/or retirement account, you need a plan. Here are some of the things to consider to maximize the value of the assets you do have and make informed decisions while you are alive to benefit your heirs and beneficiaries after your passing.

For those thinking about taking up permanent residence in a continuing care community after retirement, there are a number of factors to consider. These residential facilities can be the perfect solution to retirement living for many people, who want to live in relative comfort in a safe environment, where they will be taken care of for the remainder of their lives. However, like the purchase of anything, you will want to do some fact finding beforehand.

By Cari Jackson Lewis of Terri Hilliard PCWhy do we celebrate Black History Month? According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, in 1926 Carter G. Woodson began “Negro History Week” (the precursor to Black History Month) in order to dispel the misconception that black people had made little impact upon the United States other than as a formerly enslaved people. At that time Dr. Woodson, a Harvard PhD, former sharecropper and the son of former slaves, sought to teach Americans — including African-Americans — about the contributions that people of African descent had made to American society and the world.

A while ago, we talked about protecting your digital assets, such as e-mail, video, photography, and social media accounts. Designating how you wish these to be handled upon your death is important, if those individuals you will leave the assets to will have any chance of accessing these assets.

While we’re alive, we gather a library full of paperwork and access codes relating to such things as insurance policies, bank records, taxes, digital accounts, medical reports, personal property, and real estate and other assets. Protecting this kind of information is very important, but, surprisingly, many people forget to properly manage their documents and digital assets.

This past year has seen the deaths of many of our beloved icons, including entertainers, sportsmen, newscasters, historic leaders, and political figures. Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher, George Michael, John Glenn, Muhammed Ali, David Bowie, Nancy Reagan, Arnold Palmer, Gene Wilder, Florence Henderson, Merle Haggard, and many others of note have left us, but they also left behind their legacies.

Hello Friends – I have great news! Our firm has opened our fourth office at 600 Hampshire Road, Suite 211, in Westlake Village, CA. The new facility is now the headquarters for the Hilliard Law Center, which provides estate, elder care, and special needs planning services.

Marybell Estrada, my new Firm Administrator is all about family. A proud mother of three, she also has eight siblings and 22 nieces and nephews. Now, I’m happy to welcome her as part of the Hilliard Law family of clients and associates.

Sunday, September 25 – from 2 to 4 p.m. – a number of expert panelists will be presenting an important educational program to discuss the critical issues related to aging and end of life.

The number of children being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD has been skyrocketing. Children who are described as impulsive, hyperactive or have difficulty paying attention in school have not been receiving the assistance, diagnosis or attention they deserve.

As a member of the Board of Director of Senior Concerns, I get a firsthand look at many of this wonderful organization’s outreach programs. One of these is Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels is actually a national organization serving approximately 2.4 million seniors in over 5,000 communities around the country.

It is estimated that some 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer's disease, which is a progressive brain disorder, and which can have overwhelming emotional and financial implications for today’s families. As our population ages, the prevalence of the disease rises — doubling every five years after age 65, according to the National Institute on Aging.

January 1, 2016, California signed into law Assembly Bill 139, which was intended to allow individual homeowners to transfer their real estate when they die outside of a will and without going through probate. The property owner simply fills out a new form and records it. Actual ownership of the real estate noted is not transferred until death.

An estate plan is simply a set of instructions that outlines what you want to happen if you become incapacitated and when you die. Regardless of your wealth—modest or monstrous—your plan details your desires, family situation, assets, and how and by whom you want your affairs handled, when you can’t. Then, your estate attorney translates the information into legally enforceable instructions.

Some people don’t believe they need an estate plan. Daily, I hear “my life and estate are simple.” However, if you don’t set up your own, the state of California will “simply” decide what happens to your estate for you.