Many people believe that listing their assets and naming beneficiaries in a will is enough for their estate to avoid probate. However, wills are always required to go through probate, because the court needs to validate them. Probate is the legal process of distributing the assets...
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...
Today’s blog post visits the past with a curious look at the earliest will in history, and a quick jaunt through some strange ideas for bequeathing estates to family members or friends. At our Phelps LaClair offices located in Mesa, Chandler, and Phoenix, AZ, we’ve...
At Phelps LaClair, we love children. They remind us that we need to be looking ahead in anticipation of their lives and their challenges. We all desire that our ceiling should be their floor. So in the spirit of building a legacy that you can...
Safety is a huge concern these days. Television, internet, and newspapers all focus on tragedy, corruption, and international tension. It’s human nature to want to be safe. Phelps LaClair in Gilbert, Chandler, and Mesa also has your safety at heart. It’s written into every estate...
In the world of estate planning, there are similar terms that define very different planning goals. For instance, at Phelps LaClair, we hear this question a lot: “What is the difference between a Living Will and a Living Trust?” As a 2nd generation law firm,...
Nobody gets married planning to divorce down the road. But sadly, nearly half of all marriages do end in divorce. As estate planning lawyers with 40 years of experience, Phelps LaClair knows what happens to a trust in a divorce. Wills Wills and trusts are different, of...
Estate planning is a strategic step to setting your finances and assets in order prior to incapacitation or death. Life has many unexpected turns along the way, and when we plan for them in advance, it saves time, money, and unnecessary headaches. The estate planning...
The primary goal of any estate plan is to guarantee that your assets are distributed to your beneficiaries according to your wishes. However, achieving that goal isn’t always a straight-forward process. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney will give you greater peace of mind,...
Trusts aren’t just for the wealthy, they’re for anyone looking to save their family time and money after they pass away. There are many reasons for creating a trust, from controlling the distribution of your assets to protecting loved ones with disabilities. At Phelps LaClair,...