During times of national crisis when lives are hanging in the balance, it is important to talk about things relating to incapacitation, end-of-life issues, and death. We know it can be a fearful and painful discussion to have, but it is better to have it...
Most people count family, charities and close friends as their beneficiaries when they come to us for estate planning. At Phelps LaClair, we also have clients who consider their pets to be family members. The emotional bond can be quite strong between humans and animals....
Estate planning is what you do to ensure that your wishes will be followed if you are incapacitated or you pass away. It accounts for how you want your assets distributed and what decisions are made for medical care or end of life. Phelps LaClair,...
When planning for retirement, there are several important estate plan factors that we focus on at Phelps LaClair. The first is protecting the wealth you have worked so hard to acquire. The second is the best way to pass on your wealth to the next...
Every parent has their child’s well being front and center in their thoughts each and every day. For those parents of special needs children, it is almost non-stop around the clock. Perhaps their greatest concern is, “what will happen to my child after I die?”...
Everybody needs to have regular exercise to stay healthy. Yes, we are an estate planning law firm, but Phelps LaClair is also big on exercise as a way of increasing life satisfaction, good health, and longevity. But not every form of exercise needs to be...
As a second generation estate planning law firm, we at Phelps LaClair understand the anticipation of retirement. Retirement planning, like estate planning, requires an honest assessment of your dreams, desires and goals for your golden years. Estate planning deals with your assets: financial accounts, real...
Elder financial abuse is at an all time high. In the age of digital living, there are traps and pitfalls designed to defraud you of your hard earned wealth. Phelps LaClair serves clients in the Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix and Scottsdale communities who are among the...
The unsettled estate of a deceased celebrity is back in the news. We recently discussed the problems surrounding Aretha Franklin’s multimillion dollar estate, which is now in probate. Had she established a living trust instead of leaving a handwritten will, the estate would not have...
Which are the best vehicles for estate planning: living trusts or limited liability corporations? Phelps LaClair has prepared thousands of estate plans for our clients in the Phoenix Valley. We can say with certainty that there is no “one size fits all” estate plan. Some...