» Estate Planning

Filling durable financial Power of Attorney Form or POA document

Planning for Incapacity in Arizona

When you think about estate planning, you probably focus on the distribution of your estate after your death. But planning for incapacity is an equally important part of putting a complete estate plan in place. This aspect of estate planning protects you, your loved ones, and your estate during your lifetime in the event you become incapacitated an… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with mom

Estate Planning Considerations for Single Parents

Estate planning is an important priority for all parents, but the need for an estate plan is even more compelling if you are a single parent with minor children. Your estate plan ensures that your children’s personal and financial needs will be taken care of in the event something unexpected happens to you. While it is difficult and uncomfortable… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
A hand with a pen filling out an Last Will and Testament

What Happens to Your Will When You Die?

When you make a last will and testament to distribute the property in your estate after your death, your will determines more than who receives the assets in the estate. It also designates the person to administer and distribute your estate, and determines the legal process that will be followed for administration and distribution of the estate. Un… Read More
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Last Will and Probate

Is Probate Always Necessary For an Arizona Estate?

In Arizona, as in other states, probate is a court-supervised process for settling and distributing an estate after a person passes away. A common misconception is that probate is necessary for every estate, which is not the case. Some assets and some estates are not required to go through the probate process. In fact, with help from an estate plan… Read More
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handing over to next generation

What Are the Estate Planning Options for Property Distribution?

No matter what your personal and financial circumstances are, the assets and property in your estate pass on to your heirs and beneficiaries when you pass away. If you take the time to make an estate plan, you make significant decisions about how your loved ones receive the estate, by choosing from three basic property distribution options. The fou… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
Divorce agreement and wedding rings

Getting a Divorce? Updating Your Estate Plan Is a Top Priority.

If you are getting a divorce, you may not realize that the divorce can significantly impact your estate plan, due to an Arizona law that automatically changes key estate plan provisions relating to your ex-spouse and their relatives. Other legal documents and assets may also be affected. After a divorce, getting help from an experienced estate plan… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
Signing up for a secure future

What Are the Steps in the Estate Planning Process?

When you create an estate plan, your estate planning attorney guides you through the process of putting the right legal documents in place to protect yourself and your loved ones for the future. Knowing what to expect in the estate planning process can help you anticipate your attorney’s questions and collect the information you need to provide.… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
Senior couple checking finances outdoors in garden

3 Common Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid

A thoughtful estate plan provides significant peace of mind that the plan protects you and your loved ones for the future. Unfortunately, estate planning mistakes can completely undermine the legal protections that a solid estate plan provides. Read on to learn about the three most common estate planning mistakes to avoid. Mistake #1: Thinking that… Read More
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Categories: Estate Planning
Probate Application and Estate Assets

Why Is It a Good Idea to Avoid Probate?

Avoiding probate is an important estate planning goal for many individuals. But do you know why it is beneficial to avoid probate? In the discussion that follows, we explain the reasons to establish an estate plan that avoids the probate process — and how you can accomplish that goal. What Is Probate? The term probate (or probate administration)… Read More
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Toy house, gavel and text PROBATE.

Can a Non-Resident Serve as the Personal Representative of an Arizona Estate?

A question often asked in estate planning and probate is whether a non-resident can serve as the personal representative of an Arizona estate. That is an excellent question, but it is one of many issues that affect selection and appointment of a personal representative. When you make a last will and testament or a family member passes away, legal i… Read More
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