Glendale Estate Planning Lawyers


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Mesa Family Lawyers


1731 W. Baseline Road, #101
Mesa, AZ 85202
(480) 263-1699

Glendale Family Lawyers


8546 N 59th Ave #212
Glendale, AZ 85302
(602) 509-0955

Phoenix Family Lawyers


343 W Roosevelt St #100
Phoenix, AZ 85003
(480) 680-9126

Avondale Family Lawyers


12725 W Indian School Rd,
Avondale, AZ 85392
(623) 399-4222

Estate Planning Attorneys in Glendale, Arizona


Estate Planning Lawyer Giving Advice To His Clients

Helping with All of Your Estate Planning Needs, Including Wills, Trusts, Advanced Health Care Directives, and More

Estate planning isn’t just for the elderly and wealthy. You never know when a serious accident might happen, leaving your loved ones scrambling to act in accordance with what they think your wishes are. Your estate plan can also include documents that let doctors know which treatments you’d like to receive and refuse if you ever have a medical condition that destroys your ability to communicate your preferences. To learn about all of the benefits that planning your estate offers, schedule your free consultation with one of our Glendale estate planning attorneys today.

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Plan Your Estate With Wills and Trusts

You don’t need a fancy house on a sprawling property to use estate planning. Your will and other estate planning documents can be used to designate who you would like to receive any of your possessions and real estate property. With an estate plan in place, your family members won’t have to argue about who gets what, because you will have already decided for them. You can choose who will receive your most important belongings, rather than being snatched up by greedy relatives or defaulting to the state.

If you don’t plan your estate before you pass away, your estate will be distributed according to Arizona’s intestacy laws. If you have a surviving spouse or children, grandchildren, etc., they will be the first in line to receive your estate. If you don’t have a surviving spouse or descendants, your estate would next go to your surviving parents, if applicable. If your parents predeceased you, it would next go to their descendants, or your siblings, nieces, nephews, etc. Relatives further from you on the family tree stand little chance to get any of your possessions through intestate succession. Friends and charitable organizations stand no chance at all.

Whether you have a family business, a large estate, or even a relatively small one, our Arizona estate planning attorneys have the knowledge and experience to help you achieve your goals for your estate. We can also help you amend your estate plan if you have experienced family changes like the birth of a child or a divorce. If necessary, we can coordinate with your accountants and wealth management team to make sure that your estate is planned as strategically as possible.

Attorneys for Glendale Estate Planning


A well-crafted estate plan will help your beneficiaries enjoy every advantage and avoid pitfalls in the probate process. For example, if you have designated an expedient and responsible executor in your will, they will have already gotten to work on your estate before a court could assign an executor to your estate if you passed away intestate. A properly executed will should be validated by the court, while a will that doesn’t comply with Arizona’s statutory requirements could be susceptible to disputes. If you are ever left in a coma or similar medical condition after an accident, your loved ones could destroy their relationships and spend thousands of dollars litigating which choices should be made.

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Contact Our Estate Planning Attorneys and staff today for assistance with planning your estate in Arizona.

My Arizona Lawyers estate planning team help people throughout Arizona by safeguarding their future with a reliable Arizona estate plan.  Our experienced estate lawyers have great attention to detail and personally attend to our clients who are seeking:  Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Planning.  Call our office for a free consultation (480) 833-8000 You can also fill out our on-line consultation request form, and we will assist you by scheduling a free consultation.

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Arizona Estate Planning FAQs


What happens if I pass away without an estate plan?

If you pass away without planning your estate, it is known as dying “intestate.” This means your estate will be distributed in accordance with your state’s intestacy laws. In Arizona, two of the main factors that affect intestate succession are whether or not you had descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.), and whether or not you were married. If neither of these are applicable to you, the court will then look to parents, their descendants, siblings, and so on.

Why else do I need to plan my estate?

When planned strategically, you can distribute your assets to your loved ones with as little tax liability as possible. It can also reduce the amount of time your estate spends in probate, which will in turn save your loved ones money in attorney’s fees and court costs. Having a clearly planned estate will also save your family members additional stress and confusion beyond what they will already experience when you suffer a medical emergency or pass away. You can use estate planning documents to indicate which types of medical treatments you would like to accept or refuse, or designate someone to make these decisions for you if you become incapacitated.

What is a will?

Creating a valid will allows you to decide who will inherit your possessions after you pass away. You can also use a will to leave money and assets to charitable organizations. You can use your will to name an executor for your estate, as well as a guardian for your children should you pass away while they are still minors.

What is an executor?

An executor is the person in charge of your estate when you pass away. If you don’t designate an executor in your estate plan, the court will have to designate one for your estate when you pass away. One of the main responsibilities of an executor is to find all the relevant estate planning documents, identify the beneficiaries, and inventory the decedent’s estate. The executor should also obtain the death certificate, and file it with the accompanying estate planning documents in the court. The executor will then pay any debts, sell any property as necessary, and distribute the estate to the intended beneficiaries.

What are the legal requirements for a valid will in Arizona?

In Arizona, a will must be a written document created by a person 18 years or older and of sound mind. It must be signed by the testator, as well as two witnesses. If this is done in front of a notary, it will be a self-proven will.

Can I change or cancel my will?

Yes. You can change your will by using a codicil, a will amendment meant to supplement a pre-existing will. Or, you might just want to start over with a new will. There are a few ways to cancel, or revoke, an existing will. You can burn, tear, rip, shred, or otherwise destroy your previous will. You can also revoke your will by creating a new will that is materially inconsistent with your original will. But the clearest way to indicate your most recent and intended will is by stating that you revoke and cancel all previous wills in the document.

What is probate?

Probate is the official legal process of validating a will and distributing assets as instructed. There are several factors that can affect how long the probate process takes. The executor of the estate has several responsibilities, and probate can’t finish until all of these duties are fulfilled. Larger estates with more assets and beneficiaries will typically take longer to complete than smaller estates. Probate can also take longer if there are several assets the decedent did not include in the will, meaning the executor has to sell them. The probate process will also be drawn out if your will is disputed or challenged.

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a document that allows you to designate someone to act as your agent and make important decisions on your behalf. You can use a power of attorney to give your agent the authority to buy, sell, and transfer properties, make business decisions, pay bills and expenses, give gifts, and more. Depending on how you phrase the power of attorney, its powers can be broad and lasting, or limited in scope and duration.

What is a power of What is a health care power of attorney??

A health care power of attorney, sometimes called a health care proxy, is like a regular power of attorney, except it specifically gives the agent the authority to make medical decisions on the testator’s behalf. A health care power of attorney generally goes into effect if the person becomes incapacitated per at least one doctor’s medical opinion. This can be if someone develops a condition that affects their decision-making abilities, like a traumatic brain injury or dementia, or if they are unconscious or in a coma.

What is a living will?

Instead of, or in addition to, a health care power of attorney, you may want to use a living will to make your wishes known if the worst ever occurs. A living will, also known as an advanced health care directive, lets your doctors and loved ones know whether you wish to receive certain medical treatments under specific circumstances. For example, you may not want to be kept on life support if you are in a persistent vegetative state.

How do I revoke a power of attorney?

You can revoke a power of attorney at any time if you are of sound mind. The health care proxy and any other interested parties, such as medical providers, should be provided with a copy of the revocation. You can also write your power of attorney to end on a certain date or when a certain condition has been met.

What is a trust?

A trust puts money or assets aside during your lifetime for someone else’s benefit. The asset will be kept safe and maintained by a third party known as a trustee, and can earn income through interest, rent, etc., until the grantor passes away, and the property is transferred to the beneficiary. One of the main benefits of using a trust is that it doesn’t have to go through probate. This can also be more private and faster as well, in addition to the potential to increase the trust’s value.

Do I need an attorney to draft my will and other estate planning documents?

Most courts offer self-help forms that allow you to create a will, trust, power of attorney, and other estate planning documents without an attorney’s help. But that doesn’t mean you will be provided with free estate planning advice. If you have a variety of assets, or your estate is complex due to any number of factors, you may need more detailed planning than self-help court forms provide. An estate planning attorney can help you avoid taxes and probate, and make sure all your documents are drafted clearly and concisely so that your wishes are clearly conveyed. For more information about our high-quality estate planning services at budget rates, call or use our online form to request your free consultation today.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is the process of creating valid legal documents to determine how certain issues will be resolved after your death, including the distribution of your assets, how you would like to be buried, and more. You can also create documents that will give a loved one the power to make medical decisions on your behalf if you ever become physically or mentally incapacitated. Some of the documents may choose to use include:

Wills Trusts GENERAL POWER OF ATTORNEY HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY living will

Who Needs An Estate Plan?


In Arizona, anyone who is over the age of 18 years old and of sound mind can create an estate plan. Thus, you don’t necessarily have to be rich or have many assets to warrant estate planning.

Do you own a home? A vehicle? A bank account? If you answered yes to any of these questions, or own any other type of property, you have an estate. That means that you should at least consider creating an estate plan. This is also the only way that you can guarantee that your estate benefits anyone you aren’t legally related to, as well as any charitable organizations that you support.

Another common misconception about estate planning in Glendale, Arizona is that you don’t need to worry about it until you are older. Unfortunately, life is unpredictable, and you never know how young or old you’re going to be when you go. So, even if you feel young and healthy, your loved ones will be grateful if the worst occurs, and you have an estate plan in place.

Do you have children? Anyone who depends on you? Someone who deserves to have their financial burden eased? Then you should create your estate plan.

Woman Asking For Advice On Estate Plan Law With A Estate Plan Attorney
Glendale Estate planning attorney infographic

Using Trusts to Achieve Your Estate Planning Goals

Depending on the goals you wish to accomplish through your estate, it may actually be more efficient to distribute some of your assets through trusts rather than through your last will and testament. When you contribute assets to a trust, a trustee will hold the asset, maintaining it and keeping it profitable.

There are several reasons you may find it advantageous to distribute your estate through one or more trusts:

  • Trusts transfer to your beneficiaries either when you pass away or when a certain condition is met, without going through the probate process. This usually means that a beneficiary will receive the contents of a trust much sooner than what they would receive from a will.

  • Because trusts get to bypass the probate process, this also helps maintain the privacy of both the grantor and the beneficiaries.

  • Trusts can be used to serve specific purposes, such as providing for your child’s education, or to financially support a loved one with an illness or disability.

  • When planned properly, using trusts can help you avoid some tax liability on your estate. For example, if your estate would be subject to federal estate tax liability, you could use a trust to bring your estate back under that amount.

  • While many trusts go into effect after you pass away, you can also transfer assets through a trust during your lifetime. This is known as a living trust, which you can create to either be revocable or irrevocable.

Leave Important Decisions in the Hands of Someone You Trust with a Power of Attorney


Glendale Lawyer Explaining A Power Of Attorney To His Clients

Whether you’re in a medical state that renders you incapable of making decisions, will be out of the country for an extended period of time, or simply need someone else’s assistance in completing important daily transactions, you should consider using a power of attorney. This document enables someone you trust to act as your agent, or your attorney-in-fact. You can choose which specific conditions you would like to trigger the power of attorney, and a power of attorney can be revoked unless you are legally incapacitated.

It can be uncomfortable to think about giving someone the authority to make significant decisions about your life. But wouldn’t you rather select someone for this responsibility, rather than leave these decisions up to your doctors or whoever wins in court?

You can also limit the scope of authority that your power of attorney has. A general power of attorney is the broadest, giving the agent the authority to make financial decisions, business decisions, and more. Also, a limited or special power of attorney only gives the agent the authority to complete specific transactions. Whereas, a health care power of attorney, also known as a health care proxy, gives the agent the authority to make decisions regarding your medical treatments should you become incapacitated. If you would like to make some of these decisions in advance yourself, you should use an advanced health care directive, or a living will. Hopefully, you will never find yourself in a situation where these documents become necessary, but it will save yourself and your family pain and strife if you have already made your wishes known.  All these are something that our experienced Glendale Estate Planning Lawyers can assist.

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Rest Easy Knowing Your Estate is Planned by an Experienced Arizona Attorney

Clearly, there is more to planning your estate than simply writing out your last will and testament. There are specific requirements for each type of document, and these vary by state. Failure to meet these requirements could mean your will and other estate planning documents will be invalidated, leaving your estate as a free for all after your passing. Fighting over assets after your death could destroy the relationships within your family. Make your wishes clear with a clearly drafted, valid Arizona will.

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Let Our Glendale Estate Planning Attorneys Properly Address Your Estate

If you want your estate planning documents to be validated in court, your estate to pass through probate as quickly as possible, and want to reduce the tax burden on your loved ones after your death, an experienced Arizona estate planning attorney can help you achieve these goals. Our legal team has the skill set to help you protect business interests, as well as your spouse, children, and other family members. You can be assured that we will thoroughly review each aspect of your estate plan to reduce the risk of potential probate disputes, which in turn will reduce how much your family needs to spend during the probate process. 

Many people are intimidated by even the thought of establishing a trust, assuming that they simply don’t have the net worth to qualify. Our estate lawyers can walk you through every aspect of trusts so that you can be confident in your decision to transfer assets this way. Reduce tax liability and probate fees, and make sure your bequests are used in a way that you approve of, all with the guidance of your Arizona estate planning attorney.

Even if you already have an estate plan, your circumstances may have changed so that it is no longer as strategic as it possibly could be. Whether you need a codicil or an entire new estate plan, our attorneys can help you decide what is best for your situation. Our Glendale Estate Planning Lawyers offer free initial consultations, as well as prices and payment plans that will fit your budget.

You don’t need to spend your entire estate just to plan it- call to discuss your options with one of our Glendale Estate Planning Lawyers today to see just how affordable it can be. Schedule your consultation by using our online form or calling (623) 640-4945 today.

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