One of the most important steps in making a will is having it witnessed. Whether your will is typed, handwritten, or electronic, without the signatures of witnesses it will not be legally valid. But you have to be careful who you choose to be your...
Everyone needs a will. If you die without one, then the court gets to decide who inherits your property and who gets to care for your children. But what should you include in your will, and what should you leave out? In this post, we...
Your home, vehicles, and investments aren’t the only things you need to include in your estate plan. You should also name beneficiaries for your personal property. Treasured items like a hope chest or a grandfather clock tell the tales of your family’s history. But passing down...
The death of a loved one is a challenging time. Unfamiliar legal terms, documents, and processes can make this time even more overwhelming. If you've received a notice of probate of will, or have to send them out as the executor, you may be wondering...
A nursing home is a facility that offers a step up in care from an assisted living facility. Both are on the continuum of long-term care. However, in a nursing home, elderly or disabled residents are provided with accommodations and personal care services, as well...
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...
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...
Mother’s day is coming up, and that means Moms all over the world will be honored for their nurture, training, and love. If you’re a mother, we want you to know we value your role as an influencer more than any other person’s role in...
Every estate planning law firm will advise you to avoid probate when and wherever possible. Phelps LaClair is no exception. We tell our potential clients what having an estate go through probate will entail. There will be court costs, legal fees, and time lost in...