Estate planning in Arizona often focuses on crafting a will or a trust. These are obviously important, but there are other vital areas that can be covered through an estate plan. Two of them are a living will and a durable health care power of attorney. Rather than...
Estate Planning
Key facts prospective personal representatives should know
Being the personal representative of a person’s estate is a significant responsibility under Arizona law. The personal representative is appointed by the court to perform the duties after a person dies. This is to distribute assets, oversee their affairs and...
Here are some trusts that you may need in your estate plan
Are you overwhelmed by the estate planning process? It is understandable if you are. There are a lot of options out there and making sense of them all can be difficult and time-consuming. But if you want to protect your assets and your loved ones, you need to know how...
Who should I choose to be the executor of my estate?
In your will you can designate someone to serve as the executor of your estate. This is an important role, as the executor will be tasked with overseeing the probate process, ensuring all assets are collected, debts and taxes paid, heirs are located and finally...
How does a beneficiary’s premature death impact an estate?
From a practical standpoint, estate planning functions on contingencies. All plausible alternatives require consideration based on priorities and current circumstances. The most prudent person, however, cannot fathom every scenario. A beneficiary who predeceases the...
Do you need an incentive trust in your estate plan?
It’s normal to worry about how your estate is going to be used once you’re gone. After all, we’ve all heard stories about squandered wealth and mismanaged inheritances. But don’t let the stress of estate planning deter you from taking the action necessary to ensure...
Helping you administer estates and trusts
When creating an estate plan, an individual is likely to name an individual they trust to administer their trust or estate after they pass. Oftentimes, this individual is aware of this and is prepared to take on this role. Despite having prior knowledge of this role,...
Should I include a no-contest clause in my will?
When you execute a will, you want to ensure that your last wishes are carried out in the way you see fit. What you don’t want is infighting amongst your relatives or challenges to your will which may drag out the probate process. You may consider adding a no-contest...
Should you create an estate plan on your own?
Far too many people put off estate planning until it’s too late. Sometimes they struggle to cope with the idea of their own mortality, while in other instances people simply think that they don’t need an estate plan. Many of those who do create estate planning...
What does a court investigator do in a guardianship?
There may come a time when you need to appoint a guardian or conservator. If something happens to you or your spouse, you may need someone to take care of your children and make legal decisions on their behalf. Likewise, an elderly family member could become unable to...