Site Map

• Home
• About
  • Why Choose Us
• Attorneys
  • Michael Gilfix
  • Francis A. La Poll
  • Mark Gilfix
  • Myra Gerson Gilfix
  • Nicholas Klingenberg
  • Joshua La Poll
• Practice Areas
  • Probate
• Cupertino Estate Planning Attorneys
  • Cupertino Advance Directives
• Sunnyvale Estate Planning Attorneys
  • Sunnyvale Advance Directives
• Mountain View Estate Planning Attorneys
• Los Altos Estate Planning Attorneys
• Advance Health Care Directives
• Asset Protection
• Conservatorships & Guardianships
• Dynasty Trust
• Estate Gift Tax Planning
• Estate Planning
• Family Protection Trusts
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Long-Term Care Planning
• Medi-Cal Asset Preservation
• Medi-Cal/Medicaid Planning
• Prop 19
• Prop 13
• Probate
• Revocable Living Trusts & Wills
• Special Needs Trusts
• Trust Administration & Probate
• Trust & Will Contests
• Areas We Serve
  • Palo Alto
  • Cupertino Estate Planning Attorneys
  • Sunnyvale Estate Planning Attorneys
  • Mountain View Estate Planning Attorneys
  • Los Altos Estate Planning Attorneys
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Have You Reviewed Your Trust Lately?
  • How Can My Special Needs Child Be Cared For and Have Sufficient Resources To Maintain His Quality Of Life?
  • I Have Worked Hard To Build My Estate. What Can I Do To Preserve My Assets For My Children and Avoid Estate or Death Tax?
  • I or My Spouse May Need Long Term Care. How Can I Ensure We Will Be Well Cared for While Safeguarding Our Estate?
  • I Want To Know My Wishes Will Be Honored. What Steps Can I Take To Ensure My Future and My Legacy?
  • If I Have A Trust, Why Do I Need To Sign A Will?
  • Is It A Good Idea To Transfer Assets To Other Family Members Just In Case Nursing Home Care Is Ever Required?
  • Is It Time To Review Your Estate Planning?
  • Medi-Cal Asset Preservation
  • My Spouse Just Entered A Nursing Home. How Can I Protect My Assets?
  • Revocable Trusts - What Are The Benefits Of A Living Trust?
  • What Are The Benefits Of A Living Trust?
  • What is a Power Of Attorney?
  • What Is The Value Of A Durable Power Of Attorney?
  • When Is It Time To Review My Trust?
• Covid 19 Resources In California
• Webinar Registration
• Glossary of Estate Planning Terms
• Media
  • Media
  • Los Altos Town Crier Articles
• In The News
• Videos
• Publications
  • Articles
• Make a Payment
• Blog
  • 2024
    • December
      • Mark Gilfix Discusses Irrevocable Trusts in the San Francisco Chronicle
    • November
      • Attorney Micahel Gilfix Featured in BottomLine’s Estate Planning Article: Living Trust vs. Will
    • October
      • Preparing for the 2024 Elections: Safeguarding Your Family’s Wealth and Future
    • May
      • How to Appoint a Financial Power of Attorney
    • April
      • Ageism: The Silent Epidemic Impacting Us All
      • The Impact of Prop 19 on Prop 13's Property Tax Protections
    • February
      • Protect Your Property: Proposition 19 Survives Repeal Effort, Families Urged to Plan Ahead
    • January
      • The Art of Long-Term Wealth Preservation: California Dynasty Trust Insights
      • Proposition 13 and Homeownership: What California Homebuyers Should Know
  • 2023
    • November
      • Updating Your Special Needs Trust in California: When and Why It's Necessary
      • Proposition 19's Impact on Property Investments in California
    • September
      • Don't Throw Away Those N95s!! Ways to Protect Your Lungs
    • August
      • Part 2: We All Need a Friend, an Advocate, to Be Safe in the Hospital
    • July
      • Part 1: Limits of Advanced Directives and Educated Decision Making
      • Mark Gilfix on KABC Radio Los Angeles
      • Michael Gilfix, CAP, Fellow Visionary Advocate for Elder and Special Needs Law
      • Medicare will pay for more Nursing Home bills than you think – the Jimmo case.
    • June
      • The Importance of an Estate Plan for Business Owners
      • The Importance of Making a Will and When to Do It
    • April
      • Repercussions Of Proposition 19 Hit Close To Home For Los Altos Native
      • CRITICAL Special Needs Planning for Children with Autism
    • January
      • Autism Therapy
      • When to Get Flu Shots and What About the Updated COVID Vaccine?
      • Estate Planning for Adults Without Kids
  • 2022
    • December
      • What Is the Impact of the 2022 Election on My Estate Plan?
    • October
      • Prop 19: How Can I Preserve Low Property Taxes?
      • What Is Prop 19 and How Does It Affect My Property Taxes?
    • August
      • Top 5 Estate Planning Mistakes California Families Make
    • July
      • Protecting Your Children From Themselves: What You Need to Know
    • June
      • Special Needs Planning: What You Need to Know to Protect a Loved One with a Disability
    • May
      • Prop-19 | Potential Property Tax Increase for Future Generations
      • Estate Planning for People with Dementia
    • April
      • Estate Planning Tips: How to Protect Family Assets
  • 2020
    • August
      • Suggested Questions
      • When to Get Flu Shot
      • "Ready Bag" for Hospital - And Other Necessities
    • May
      • “Ready Bag” for Hospital – And Other Necessities
      • Bay Area Estate Planning Lawyers Host Estate Planning Webinar to Ensure Families Are Covered in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemi
    • April
      • Advance Directives: Lessons of COVID – 19
  • 2019
    • December
      • Mark Gilfix presented at 2019 SFASA Conference at Stanford University
    • March
      • Mark Gilfix wins Distinguished Author Award from Trusts and Estates Magazine
  • 2018
    • December
      • Why the Young and Healthy Should Think About Advance Directives?
      • Attorney Mark Gilfix Spoke at Autism Society Conference
      • New Autism App Shows Potential for In-Home Screening of Children
      • Report Warns of Lottery Scams Targeting Senior Citizens
      • Advising Clients About Hospitalization And Operations
      • Ode to My O.R. Team
      • Preserve Your Hearing! Practical Wisdom And Preventive Steps
    • November
      • French Musician Johnny Hallyday’s California Will Leads to Inheritance Dispute
      • Gilfix la Poll Salute 10th Annual Pace Golf Charity Event
      • Michael and Mark Gilfix Speak at Avenidas About Tax and Planning Issues
    • October
      • The Link Between Caregivers and Immigration Policies
    • August
      • Report Warns of Rising Alzheimer’s Costs and Their Impact on Families
      • Long Term and Asset Protection Planning
      • Trump Tax Reform and Your Tax and Estate Planning Seminar
    • July
      • San Francisco Launches New Conservatorship Measures to Help Patients With Mental Illness
      • California May Allow On-Campus Medical Marijuana Use for Special Needs Students
      • California Faces Growing Concerns and Lawsuits Over Nursing Home Evictions
    • June
      • How Robots Could Help Ease the Looming Caregiving Shortage
    • May
      • Hugh Hefner’s Will Forbids Heirs From Using Drugs and Alcohol
      • Robot Caregivers Elicit MIX of Worry and Enthusiasm Among Americans
      • Attorney Michael Gilfix Featured as Great Giver in Pace Newsletter
    • April
      • ER Visits Increase Disability Risk for Seniors, Says Study
      • Key Differences Between Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
    • March
      • Practical Tips for Choosing an Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home
      • How Assistive Technology Can Help Individuals With Disabilities
      • To the Bay Area Community: Thank You.
    • February
      • Can a Smell Test Help Identify Dementia Risk?
      • One of Three Tax Seminars are Full
    • January
      • Gilfix & la Poll Offers Free Estate Planning Seminars on Trump Tax Reform
      • Advising Clients About Hospitalization & Operations
  • 2017
    • December
      • Recognizing Signs of Elder Abuse Through a Forensic Lens
      • Experts Warn of Skyrocketing Alzheimer’s Costs for Caregivers
    • November
      • Lawsuit highlights dangers of nursing home abuse and neglect
      • Nursing Shortage Leaves Families Struggling to Find At-Home Care
    • October
      • Why childless couples should not ignore estate planning
      • Betsy DeVos sparks concern among special education advocates
      • Four practical tips for avoiding family inheritance disputes
      • Clean Hands, Save Lives, and Avoid Misery
      • Be a “Patient Advocate” for Hospitalized Loved Ones
    • September
      • Safety tips to prepare the home for comfortable aging
      • Gilfix & La Poll invites you to join the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 14
      • Mark Gilfix Article on Technology Innovation and Long Term Care in The Elder Law Report
    • August
      • The financial toll of caregiving on special needs families
    • July
      • Mark Gilfix Discusses Estate Planning With the Star of the Investigation Discovery Show, “Reasonable Doubt”, Melissa Lewkowicz
      • Why a durable power of attorney is a valuable estate planning tool
    • June
      • Latinos face rising health care costs amid Alzheimer’s crisis
      • California couple’s eviction highlights dangers of elderly financial abuse
    • May
      • ‘Finding Dory’ puts spotlight on children with special needs
      • Thank You For Making our 13th Annual Special Needs Seminar our Best Yet
      • Gilfix and La Poll invites families to attend 13th Annual Special Needs Trust Seminar
    • April
      • Autism costs rise dramatically with age: study
    • March
      • Military retirees can now use special needs trusts for SBP payments
      • Estate planning implications of winning the lottery
    • February
      • Why young adults should consider estate planning
    • January
      • Smartphone app helps nonverbal children communicate through symbols
      • California Caregiver Law Aims to Prevent Elder Abuse
  • 2016
    • December
      • Robin Williams’ family battles over estate
      • Michael Gilfix, National Experts Form Trump Policy Analysis Group
    • November
      • Three mistakes parents of special needs children should avoid
      • National Gilfix & La Poll Article on Multigeneration Strategies and “New Economy” Services
      • Study reveals misconceptions about long term care costs
    • May
      • How fear of death can present a hurdle to retirement planning
      • What is the Difference Between Conservatorship and Guardianship in California?
    • April
      • Choosing Wisely: avoiding bad care and maximizing the chance of getting good care
    • March
      • Gilfix & La Poll attorneys speak at NAELA Summit
    • February
      • How an IRA Trust can help avert disaster
      • Home Care and Financial Abuse
  • 2015
    • December
      • Avoiding fights over inheritance with revocable living trusts
      • Women bear the brunt of costs for Alzheimer’s care, says study
      • California’s Aging Population: Implications for Elders and Caregivers
    • November
      • Thank You for the Amazing Turnout at Our Estate Planning Seminars!
    • October
      • Gilfix & La Poll to hold living trust seminar with special guest Len Tillem
      • A Warning About Ads to “Fix” Your Trust
    • September
      • Gilfix & La Poll presents estate and long term care seminar at Avenidas Center
    • August
      • Survey reveals more than one-third of wealthy individuals lack estate plans
      • Nike launches groundbreaking shoes for people with special needs
      • Michael Gilfix in Trusts & Estates Magazine: Addressing Financial Elder Abuse
      • Top reasons women need to consider estate planning
      • U.S. Government focuses on elder justice at conference on aging
      • Preventing Elder Financial Abuse
      • Important Documents for Your Children
    • July
      • The Importance of having an Advocate when receiving Medical Care
      • A Party to Thank our “Peace of Mind” Program Members
    • June
      • Life Settlement Companies Allow Policyholders to Fund Retirement Using Life Insurance
    • May
      • Michael and Mark Gilfix Appear on NBC Bay Area and KTVU Fox Television Programs
    • April
      • Mark Gilfix Discusses His Background, San Francisco and Special Needs Families in 7×7 Interview
      • 11th Annual Special Needs Trust Seminar presented by Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP
    • February
      • Considering the Move to an Active-Adult Community? We’ve Got Advice on Evaluating the Options.
      • Go Red for American Heart Month: Four Fun Ways to Get Heart-Healthy With Loved Ones
      • Despite Pervasive Myths, Estate Planning Significantly Benefits Young and Growing Families
    • January
      • Increasing Focus On the “Invisible Patient:” It’s Time to Recognize and Treat Caregiver Burden
      • Estate planning and the single person
  • 2014
    • December
      • Innovative Tech Companies Take on Autism
      • Wealthy American Parents Face Inheritance Dilemma
    • November
      • Computer-Based Messaging May Help Individuals With Autism Develop Better Relationships
      • Planning for Family — To Protect Family Assets — During the Holiday Season
    • October
      • Planning for the future: ideas and technologies for aging in place
      • For a second or third marriage, make estate planning part of wedding planning
      • Thank You to All Attendees of Our Very Successful Seminars
      • Two New Studies of Alzheimer’s Disease Deliver Promising Results
    • September
      • Adult Siblings of Special Needs Individuals Find Considerations and Resources in California
      • Talking to Dad about his driving: the surprising side of difficult conversations
      • Michael Gilfix discusses Medi-Cal asset seizure in Mercury News
      • Long-Term Care Insurance: Options Abound, As Do Complications
    • August
      • Gilfix discusses Medi-Cal planning in the San Francisco Chronicle
      • Planning a summer vacation for your special needs child
    • July
      • Navigating intestacy for surviving spouses in California
      • Crummey trusts can maximize benefit of annual exclusion
      • Within the context of estate planning, charity can come in many forms
    • June
      • Even with recent tax reforms, it may not be wise to bypass a bypass trust
      • Palo Alto Breaks Ground on Innovative Playground for All Children
    • May
      • If Used Properly, Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Can Be the Gift That Keeps on Giving
    • April
      • Long-Term Care Planning: Never Too Soon
      • Health Care Decisions Day April 16, 2014
      • Wall Street Journal Features Gilfix & La Poll
    • February
      • Face Lifts, Dementia, and Elder Financial Abuse
    • January
      • Handling a Large Inheritance Can Be More Difficult than It May Seem
      • How to Reduce Expenses After Retirement
      • Damage Done by Explosive Growth in ADHD Diagnoses
      • 529 College Savings Plans Can Be Incorporated Into Estate Plans
  • 2013
    • December
      • Does Your Living Trust Need Fixing?
      • Hiring Caregivers – Guidelines and Caveats
      • Protecting the Residence from Medi-Cal Estate Recovery
      • When Should an Estate Plan Be Reviewed?
      • Reminder: The Affordable Care Act Does Nothing to the Cost of Long-Term Care
      • Ethical Wills
      • Can Google Defeat Aging?
    • September
      • California Families With A Special Needs Child Deserve Better State Support; Role of Special Needs Trusts
    • August
      • Estate Planning: Consider A Living Trust
      • Gifts to Grandchildren: UGMA and UTMA
      • Gilfix (No. 110) Participates, Places in 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio.
      • Expanded Free And Available Health Services For California Seniors; Long-Term Care Costs Not Addressed
    • July
      • Long-Term Care Insurance and Alternatives – The Role of Prudent Planning
      • Will Managed Care Help California Seniors?
    • June
      • Having Memory Issues? Talk To Your Doctor
      • Studies Indicate That Late-Life Depression Can Contribute To Dementia
      • Nursing Home Alternatives
    • May
      • Nursing Homes: When You Are Concerned About The Quality of Care
    • April
      • Women And Estate Planning
      • Worried About the Cost of Nursing Home Care? You Should Be
      • Estate and Financial Planning Basics
    • March
      • How to Protect Your House Before and After Moving to an Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home
      • March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
    • February
      • Hoping To Avoid Probate and Federal Estate Taxes?
      • Ninth Annual Special Needs Trust Community Seminar
      • Protect Your Assets if a Nursing Home is Needed
  • 2012
    • December
      • It’s All In The Genes
      • Long-Term Care: An Overview
    • November
      • Will Your Estate Be Able to Support Your Retirement?
    • July
      • Estate Tax Laws & Alice in Wonderland
      • Special Needs Trusts for Disabled Family Members
      • Special Trust Planning for Special Children
      • Advance Health Care Directive
      • Nursing Home Care: Protecting the Nest Egg
      • The Fear of Long-Term Care & Losing Your Home
    • May
      • Trusts Success Stories: Real World Examples
    • April
      • Listen to Mark Gilfix Discuss Multigenerational Planning on Lomah Podcast
      • Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Family
• Testimonials
• Contact
• Site Map