Phelps LaClair is an estate planning law firm serving Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix and Scottsdale. We help our clients to protect the wealth they have labored to build, and to pass it on to succeeding generations. With another presidential election on the horizon for 2020, many...
In a recent blog post, we discussed the importance of naming a financial durable power of attorney to act on your behalf in the decision-making process. That person is given legal authority to carry out any financial directives in your stead, should you become incapacitated...
The proliferation of social media platforms and their widespread use by billions of people has created a new, essential aspect in planning your estate. We all have photos and videos we have created and uploaded to the internet. Some have used streaming services to gain...
Wondering when to start estate planning? It’s a question that pops up from time to time, but in young adult life it can seem unimportant. Many young people consider estate planning the type of task that can gets pushed off for another time...
Hopefully, you’ve already created an estate plan that benefits your spouse or partner as well as any children and grandchildren in your family. But there are some other important family members you may have forgotten to consider when estate planning—your pets. Planning ahead for your...
There are definitely important things to include in all estate planning: making sure all of your assets are covered, naming beneficiaries, and reducing tax burdens are a few items among that crucial list. But you also want to be aware of what should not be...
DIY, or do-it-yourself, has become a common phrase in modern language. And while a DIY attitude may work well to foster creativity for daily life, when it comes to estate planning, DIY can cause devastating complications—which is the last thing you want your family to...
There’s one crucial step that many people skip after signing their trust document—actually funding the trust. If you forget to complete this step, your assets will remain subject to probate and be vulnerable to creditors after you’re gone. No matter how detailed the instructions you...
Choosing the right executor for your will is one of the most important parts of an estate plan. But what happens if you or your executor move to another state? Do you need to draft a new will? Can you have an out-of-state executor? Here’s...
Have you drafted your will yet? If you have one, when was the last time you made an update? Many factors can invalidate a will, such as moving to a new state or changes in state laws. Whether you still need to draft your first...