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...
When a parent passes, sometimes we are shouldered with the heavy job of managing their after-death affairs. Unless this process is planned in advance and in detail with professional help, it quickly becomes a heartache. Some bereft children are left asking themselves questions like, “How did...
Some assets work well in a trust, but others don’t. We’re going to help you outline what doesn’t belong in a trust and give you a quick breakdown on how revocable living trusts work. After getting your feet wet here, you can dive even further...
Prince is back in the news again. Early this month, the IRS announced that Prince’s estate was undervalued by $80 million. As you may recall, the probate battle over Prince’s estate has been dragging on since 2016. Every day that passes costs the estate money...
The idea that only elderly or wealthy people need an estate plan is absolutely false. Everyone needs an estate plan no matter how large or modest your assets are. At Phelps LaClair, we have been serving clients in the Phoenix Valley for over 40 years....
There's nothing worse than watching your hard-earned assets dwindle during your golden years. But that is exactly what can occur as a result of spending time in a long-term care facility. Unfortunately, more than half of older Americans will end up in a skilled nursing...
Last Will and Testament—This is what many people think estate planning is. The truth is that while a will is part of it, an estate plan is so much more. At Phelps LaClair, we believe that everyone needs an estate plan, no matter how much...
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...
You’ve begun taking steps toward planning your estate. And rather than creating a will, you’ve decided to establish a trust fund, which, if funded properly, will enable your assets to be privately distributed to your loved ones without the delay or expense of probate court....
Why Do You Need a Revocable Trust? “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” is an oft-quoted saying that means if you want something badly enough, you will go to extraordinary lengths to get it. At Phelps LaClair, serving Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix and Scottsdale, the saying...