I was recently contacted by a non-profit regarding a handwritten will that named the organization as a beneficiary of the decedent's estate.  The will is being contested by family members and is now part of litigation that could become very costly.

I have seen this issue on more than one occasion. A persons intent to leave a charitable bequest is thwarted by poor planning, ambiguous documents and family members that feel they are not receiving their fair share of the estate. 

How can you assure your estate is distributed as you intended?

• Engage the assistance of an experienced Estate Planning attorney to prepare your Trust &/or Will.  
• Be specific regarding the non-profits you name as beneficiaries.  Include the name, tax ID, address and phone number for each charity. 
• Have your documents notarized, and do not rely on handwritten documents to fulfill your charitable intent.

These steps will help assure your gifts to charity are realized and not held up by costly litigation that accumulates legal fees which diminish the value of the gift. 

916-225-3570   cj@cjwatterslaw.com    http://www.cjwatterslaw.com

The American River Parkway is one of my favorite places to relax and unwind. Although most of my time these days is spent walking the trails, I highly recommend experiencing the trail via a bicycle. This well maintained trail is great for cycling enthusiasts of all levels.
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I​nformation provided by TheAmericanRiver.com
The American River watershed has hundreds of miles of trails suitable for mountain biking. You can also ride the roads along the river or cross some of the many bridges. For more information on trails and groups, visit the sites below.

Mountain Biking Trails & Guides Folsom-Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC) – This mountain biking group has three goals: maintain local trails, keep the public informed and ride. Site has info on group rides, trail maps, trail work parties, club meetings, photos of rides, advocacy issues and quarterly newsletter.

Mike’s Favorite Mountain Bike Rides – Includes a description and photographs of a 16-mile out and back trail ride from Salmon Falls Road down to Salmon Falls Bridge, plus links to many northern California rides.
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TahoeBike.com – Links page for mountain biking in California.
Road Cycling Trips & Clubs Beautiful Vista: Bicycle Rides in El Dorado – Great resource provides descriptions, mileages, elevations and printable maps for several dozen bicycle rides in El Dorado County. The rides vary in length from six to 50 miles, and all but one are suitable for road bikes. They also post a schedule of Wednesday evening group rides.

Bike Trails in Folsom – Photos of riders and construction on the trails in Folsom, and a link to a PDF of the extensive City of Folsom Bike Trail Map.

Central California Cycling – Lists Richard’s favorite bike rides, including the Coloma to Camino Century. Each ride link connects to a general description of the ride. The rides are configured for road bikes (no off-road routes). Most rides offer Century (~100 mile) and shorter options.

Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates – A group that represents bicyclists. Their aim is more a safer trips by bike. Links to biking resources, classes and forums.

Sacramento Area Bikeway Maps – Six detailed bikeway maps for the Sacramento area, including an excellent map of the American River Parkway. An 11″ x 17″ PDF is available for download. Hosted by Sacramento Valley Cycling.
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Sacramento Bike Hikers – The oldest continually active cycling club in the Sacramento area, founded in 1968. Their focus is on recreational and tour cycling. Has photos, club ride and tour lists along with history and an online mailing list.

Sacramento Valley Cycling – Providing links to Northern California bike clubs, centuries and events, regional information, announcement, touring, Sacramento information, weather and bookstore.

Sacramento Wheelman – A non-profit organization for cycling and related activities based in Sacramento. The club was formed over 30 years ago and currently has over 700 members. It is well known for sponsoring the annual Sierra Century, a premier cycling event in northern California.

            916-225-3570   cj@cjwatterslaw.com    http://www.cjwatterslaw.com

You are invited to join me at Eskaton Village in Carmichael for a free presentation on the differences of a POLST and an Advanced Health Care Directive. This event is for seniors and their caregivers. If you know of anyone that has questions about Health Care Directives, let them know about the upcoming event or to contact me for a consultation.

When: July 27th
Time: 1-2 pm
Where: 
Eskaton Village
3939 Walnut Avenue
Carmichael, CA 95608

http://www.eskaton.org/village-carmichael.html