One of the most important decisions you must make when making your estate plan is who will handle things for you when you die. The Importance of a Personal Representative or Trustee. In Arizona, a “Personal Representative” administers your estate and remains in charge until your estate is legally closed. Depending on the complexity of [...]
Many people wonder why they should consider having a “Living Trust” (sometimes called an “inter vivos trust” or “revocable trust”) if they have a will. Isn’t just having a Last Will and Testament (“will”) good enough? Well, not necessarily. It depends. That is not to say that you don’t need a will—you do. Even if [...]
Can you guess what any successful business, large or small, has in common with the seamless and efficient administration of someone’s estate? Give up? The answer is that they both have a capable, responsible, trustworthy person at the helm. The Importance of a Personal Representative to Your Estate Plan. When you pass away, someone [...]
No one likes to think about death. Especially their own. But we cannot escape death no matter how much we do not prefer to think about it. Death comes to all of us. Like it or not, a little planning now will ensure that your wishes are carried out and will save your family considerable [...]
Some people think it is OK if they draft their Last Will and Testament themselves, and save themselves some time and money. Oftentimes people like the idea of just saying exactly what they want to say in their wills. Or else they just do not want to be bothered going through the formalities of having [...]
Funny how your parents cannot see your college grades without your permission —even if they are the ones paying for your education. If you are 18 and single, the good news is that you are an adult. The bad news is that if you should have a medical emergency, your parents cannot make any medical [...]
One of the saddest and most controversial cases touching upon the area of estates and trusts is the right-to-die case of Theresa Marie (“Terri”) Schiavo. The Terri Schiavo Right-to-Die Case As you may know, on February 25, 1990, Terri Schiavo, who lived in Florida with her husband, Michael, suffered a heart attack. Terri had never [...]
You may have heard of a Power of Attorney, but you may not really know what it is or why it is such a valuable estate planning tool. So let’s look at the power behind a Power of Attorney. What is a Power of Attorney? A power of attorney is a legal document that gives [...]
Maybe you can install your own adobe tile floors, make your own Mata Ortiz pots, teach yourself a foreign language, and improve your golf game on your own. But when it comes to preparing your estate planning documents, this is no do-it-yourself project. Save Yourself Money and Headaches: Hire Competent Estate Planning Counsel. The problem [...]
We’ve all heard the saying, “you get what you pay for.” That is so true when it comes to estate planning documents. More Than Just Forms. Estate planning requires a lot more than just filling out a form. Don’t get us wrong, the forms are important, but putting together a comprehensive plan requires careful thought, [...]
