Probate is a long and costly process that can take a year or more, and it’s best to avoid it if you can. For a small estate with property valued below a certain threshold, the best way to skip the probate process is to use...
A properly drafted will can help ensure your assets are properly distributed after you’re gone. Your will should include your appointed executor, named guardians for minors, as well as a list of your assets and beneficiaries. But there are many things that are either unnecessary,...
Drafting a will is an important first step in settling your affairs. But with so many types of wills out there, it can be overwhelming to know which one will be right for you. Luckily, you don’t have to choose just one—you can write several...
If you are legally married, it’s important to know how your marital status will affect the distribution of your estate. For instance, whether or not your spouse inherits your property depends on which state you live in. Some states consider certain assets to be community...
If you’re planning to leave your home or any other real estate property to someone else when you pass, a beneficiary deed can smooth out the process. At Phelps LaClair, we help Arizona residents bequeath property and avoid probate with a variety of reliable estate...
Have you started working on your estate plan yet? There are many common myths and misconceptions about estate planning that can cause people to make mistakes with their plans, or prevent them from making one at all. If you’ve heard and believed any of these...
Have you ever wondered exactly what it means to be named as the executor of an estate? An executor has many important duties to carry out, and understanding what the executor of an estate has to do can help you make better choices. We put...
Don’t let your family be blindsided by an invalid will. If you’ve already handwritten your will, or if you are considering writing one, it’s important to understand whether or not it is valid in Arizona. Here’s everything you need to know about handwritten wills in...
When is the best time to create an estate plan? As a young person, you think you are invincible, so it doesn’t occur to you to plan ahead to old age. Later, when you are involved in your career, you often feel too busy to...
As the baby boom generation enters retirement, elder care planning has become an important topic in the estate planning community. One of the biggest concerns is elder law. Simply put, elder law addresses the legal needs of an aging population. It is a specialty field...