Wills & Trusts
10 Things You Shouldn’t Include in Your Will – And What to Do Instead
This Kiplinger’s article makes some very important points about what to include and what NOT to include and why. It is also another reason why DIY estate planning can cause problems down the road. Read the full article here. When it comes to estate planning, many people are surprised by what should not be included…
READ MORE →Estate Planning Helps Protect Loved Ones with Mental Health Struggles
It’s important for individuals with mental health issues to work closely with experienced estate planning attorneys and mental health professionals who can provide guidance on creating a plan that addresses their unique needs and circumstances.
READ MORE →Granddaughter Now Sole Custodian of Elvis’ Legacy
It’s another cautionary tale illustrating why talking with your family about your wishes and making sure you work with an estate planning attorney to be sure they are properly executed is important.
READ MORE →What is Your WHY? August is Make A Will Month
Welcome to August! Truthfully, it’s “Make a Will” Month around here just about every day and we are blessed to be able to help people: Safeguard their healthcare choices Protect their loved ones Maintain their financial independence Be there for their loved ones beyond their lifetime SO WHAT IS YOUR WHY? Let us help you…
READ MORE →Does Arizona Recognize Handwritten Wills?
In Arizona, a handwritten will, also known as a holographic will, can be considered valid under certain conditions.
READ MORE →Online Wills in AZ: More Trouble than it’s Worth?
In 2019, Arizona’s Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law House Bill 2656, which gives us here in Arizona the ability to create online wills. On the one hand, it was theoretically perfect timing for the COVID crisis, but on the other, the demands of the law seem to make electronic wills more complicated than regular…
READ MORE →National Healthcare Decisions Day
Each year on National Healthcare Decisions Day, I write about how having a Living Will and a Healthcare Power of Attorney at minimum is extremely important. And this was before Coronavirus changed our lives and continues to do so. Sadly people are still coming face-to-face with what happens if they or a loved one gets…
READ MORE →Should You Name the Same Person Guardian and Trustee for Your Minor Children?
One of the hardest decisions parents make is who to appoint guardian of their minor children in case of their passing. And if that were not a hard enough decision, they will also need to evaluate who will control their family’s purse strings to be sure everyone is taken care of moving forward. That role…
READ MORE →What Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Taught Us About Estate Planning
This week marked the one year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter accident that also killed eight others, including his daughter Gianna. While the exact reason for the crash has yet to be officially announced (it’s scheduled February 9, 2021) the lawsuits have already started. Part of the litigation is a case…
READ MORE →9 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan, 2024-2025 Edition
Examining and potentially updating your estate plan is critical this year more than ever. Estate plans are a work in progress – they require regular reviews and updates. This is especially true given the current environment: an election year, potential shifts in tax laws and ongoing health concerns like COVID-19, flu, and RSV affecting families…
READ MORE →Developing a Pet Emergency Plan: 3 Easy Steps
We’ve been focusing a lot on estate planning for people during the COVID-19 crisis and rightly so, but this plan would work for many bigger emergencies such as fires or earthquakes, etc. With more than 50% of the population without estate planning documents, it seems necessary. But it is also important to have a plan…
READ MORE →The Opioid Epidemic: Using Targeted Trusts
The Opiod Epidemic is back in the news, and is still far reaching in our communities across the country as ever. Every day, more than 115 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 2016, more Americans died due to opioid overdoses than car…
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