Events
Willits Senior Center - April 18 and 19, 2024
The Tour's first stop was at the Willits Senior Center (aka William T. Harrah Senior Center) in Willits, California, and it could not have been a better start.
Willits is in the heart of Mendocino County about 150 miles north of San Francisco. From the Tour's base in Anaheim, CA, it's about a 10 hour drive to Willits, depending on how many stops you make on the way. We took 36 hours. Sometimes you have to take your time and enjoy the journey.
We stayed the night in Fort Bragg, CA. If you find yourself in Fort Bragg and need to stay the night, stay at the Surf and Sands Lodge. Some rooms have unforgettable ocean views with access to the coastline from your room, you won't regret it. Check out the pictures. Fort Bragg is also the home of food you talk about years later, seafood or otherwise. For dinner we had crab and chowder at the Princess Seafood located in Noyo Harbor then David's Deli for breakfast and both places were fantastic, 5 stars. (Note: David has been to Princess Seafood at least 6 times since 2018 and anytime he's in Fort Bragg area, he'll stop by to support the restaurant and the fishing vessel, "Princess", which is "manned" by an all female crew.
About an hour east of Fort Bragg, over the mountains and through the Jackson Demonstration State Forest, lies Willits, California, the "Gateway to the Redwoods". A small town with a population of about 5000 where life is hard but the people work even harder. These hard working people have hearts as big as this state. Neighbors taking care of each other and drivers wave hi as they drive by. This was the perfect place to start the Tour. Everyone pitched in to make this event a success. Special thanks to J.L and E.L for allowing us to camp out on their property for 2 days while preparing for the event. Camping under the stars and cooking outdoors was quite an experience.
For 50 years, the Willits Senior Center has been providing a myriad of invaluable services to senior citizens in the Willits area, including financial, nutrition, transportation, social activities, and education. During the day and half at the center, we experienced a staff that was dedicated to the center's mission and willing to go out of their way to help each other. By the way, the center serves lunch everyday and its open to the public. We had huge smothered carnitas burritos, with a cup of hearty vegetable soup, fruit, dessert, and a drink for $8. Wow! On top of that, the food was delicious and the staff was incredibly helpful. If you happen to be in the area, stop by for lunch and support the center.
After the day and a half event, the Tour was able to help 16 clients at the Willits Senior Center with a variety of legal needs, surpassing our pre-event goal of 10 clients. We could not have accomplished this feat without the help from the Director of the Willits Senior Center, Richard Baker, and the entire staff including Greg Mudd and Sherry Bixler.
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FAQs REGARDING ESTATE PLANNING
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T HAVE A WILL?
If you die without a Will, you die "intestate". Intestate means basically, "without a Will". California has intestacy laws that determine who will receives the property of decedents who die without a Will. It is important to remember that these rules do not control property that is transferred outside of probate.
WHAT DOES PROBATE MEAN?
Probate is a legal process through which the estate of the decedent is administered through the probate court in the county the decedent resided. A petition is usually filed by the executor named in the Will, of if there is no Will, then by anyone who has interest in the estate (usually a family member) The court will determine the existence and validity of a Will, identify the heirs or beneficiaries, assess the value of the decedent’s estate, and oversee the executor's administration of the decedent's estate.
HOW DO I AVOID PROBATE?
The most used methods to avoid probate are:
1. Create a Living Trust
2. Hold assets jointly with survivorship rights
3. Use Transfer on Death (TOD) or Payable on Death (POD) designations for assets
4. Gift assets while alive
(Note: Estates that meet the small estates provisions may use the affidavit procedures for small estates.)
WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY?
A power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else legal authority to act on your behalf. You could give someone limited power or general power to make decisions and take actions for you.
WHAT IS AN ADVANCED HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE?
An advance directive for healthcare is a legal document that specifies the medical decisions you want to be made on your behalf if you are unable to communicate your wishes due to illness or incapacity. It is a guide to your healthcare professionals and loved ones in making decisions about your care.