Many Tucson residents have heard of wills and understand that they serve a purpose in the estate planning process. A will is a testamentary device that provides the heirs and beneficiaries of a decedent’s end of life estate with instructions on what the decedent...
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Probate
Court of Appeals finds joint account not part of probate
After a loved one dies, the last thing most family members are thinking of is money. However, at some point, estate administration is needed, and the wishes of the deceased must be done. This is done through the probate process, and a recent ruling shows how...
The role of public fiduciaries in Arizona’s probate system
Many estate planning devices used by Tucson residents to manage and distribute their assets after they die or if they become incompetent to perform those roles make use of a person who acts as a “fiduciary.” A fiduciary in this context is a person who has demonstrated...
The responsibility of being the personal representative of an estate
Many times when a person is asked by a loved one to agree to act as the personal representative of an estate after that person’s death, the answer is yes. However, that person is rarely fully aware of what he or she are agreeing to do. Being appointed as the...
What happens if you die without a will or trust?
Sometimes a person puts off executing an estate plan until it is too late. If a person in Southern Arizona dies without a will or trust, their assets will be distributed to their heirs per the laws of “intestate succession.” This applies to both community property and...
What are the three types of probate in Arizona?
Sometimes when a person in the Tucson area passes away, it is necessary for their estate to be probated. This may be the case if they do not have an estate plan or if they only have a will, not a trust. Through probate, a person’s estate assets will be located, any...