Practice Areas

I am here to guide you through every step of the trust formation process, ensuring that your hard earned money is secure and will pass to your loved ones in the easiest way possible.

When drafting a Trust, this generally consists of the preparation of a Revocable Trust, Pour-over Last Will and Testament, Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney and a Living Will. In addition, I also assist my clients with the transfer of their assets into their Trust so that all their assets are funded into their new Trust.

A Revocable (Living) Trust is almost always the foundation of any estate plan. There are many types of Trusts which are done with specific purposes in mind, such as protecting the inheritance of a special needs child, eliminating inheritance tax, and protecting your assets from creditors.

Allow me to assist you in creating a detailed Will that reflects your wishes and safeguards your loved ones' interests. I seem to prepare more Trusts on average every year but I still draft plenty of Last Wills for my clients when it specifically fits their needs.

When drafting a Will for client, I generally prepare a Last Will and Testament, Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills. Depending on the situation, I can advise clients on avoiding probate without a Revocable Trust which includes the preparation of an Arizona Beneficiary Deed.

The loss of a loved one is always difficult but can become overwhelming when adding the daunting process of administering their estate through the court. With my expertise, I can guide my clients to the most appropriate probate process for their situation which can save time and money. Some probates do not have to be done through the court, depending on the value and type of asset. There are many pitfalls when acting as a Personal Representative (Executor) which an experienced attorney can help avoid.

Quite often, I am contacted by the children of my clients after their parents have passed away. Most people have never had to be the administrator of someone’s Trust or Estate and just need a little push in the right direction. Through a properly drafted Revocable Trust, the named Successor Trustee has all the authority to administer the Trust without the need of an attorney. However, if help is needed, I can advise them on what steps to take and keep them out of any legal problems.

In addition, I meet with clients who are worried because they have already been contacted by a beneficiary who are demanding immediate action and money. I can advise on how to best handle these situations before the situation gets out of control and the court will have to get involved.

Watching the slow mental decline of a loved one can be one of the most heart breaking things a person can go through. A Guardianship and Conservatorship can be filed with the court in order to take over the decision making for an individual who can mentally no longer make rational decisions. Properly drafted Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney can generally avoid having to file a Guardianship and Conservatorship, but not always. I can navigate family members through this process with the court.

Many of the guardianships that I file are for incapacitated minors who are turning 18 years old. A person turning 18 is no longer a child and the law automatically assumes they can make their own decisions. Parents often times run into a situation where a doctor no longer shares information with them about their incapacitated adult child. Furthermore, a parent can no longer enroll the child in school or to receive state benefits without filing for a Guardianship for their child.