Christopher J. Charles
Managing Partner | Certified Real Estate Specialist
Legal Background
- State Bar of Arizona Certified Real Estate Specialist.
- An experienced litigator with a focus on real estate and business law.
- Member, American Bankruptcy Institute.
- AV® Preeminent™ Rating by the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rating system, which connotes the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.
- Specialties: Aggressively representing property owners, lenders, and businesses in litigation; landlord-tenant disputes; vacation rentals; breach of contract; collections; creditor’s rights; fraud; misrepresentation; commission disputes; foreclosures and trustee sales.
Mr. Charles publishes a monthly column titled Laying Down the Law in the Arizona Real Estate Journal.
Mr. Charles is certified by the Arizona State Bar as a Specialist Expert Witness
Representative Clients
- BMO Harris Bank, N.A.
- Banco Popular North America
- U.S. Bank
- Lendmark Financial Services
- LA Development, Inc.
- RE/MAX Alliance Group
- RE/MAX Solutions
- The Agency, Luxury Real Estate Brokerage
- Book My Vacay – Vacation Rental Property Management
- Home Wise Realty Group
- Scottsdale Life Assisted Living
- HDB Properties, LLC
- Whole Truth Church of God in Christ
- Desert Streams Lutheran Church
- Scottsdale Worship Center
- Church for the Nations
- Star Vale Mobile Home Park
- State Bar of Arizona
Personal Notes
- Christian Legal Society, National Board of Directors (2018 – Present)
- Christian Legal Society, Phoenix Chapter, President (2014-2017)
- State Bar of Arizona’s Civil Jury Instructions Committee (2011-2016)
- Salvation Army, Phoenix Advisory Board Member (2006-2011)
- Scottsdale Bible Church, Elder (2020 – Present)
- Instructor for the Arizona School of Real Estate and Business
- Member of the Arizona Trustee’s Association
- Christian Legal Society, Treasurer (2023 – Present)
- State Bar of Arizona College of Trial Advocacy (2005)
University of San Diego School of Law, San Diego, CA - Associate Editor
University of San Diego International Law Journal - College of Law of England and Wales
London, England - B.S., Finance
Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business, Tempe, AZ - Juris Doctor
University of San Diego School of Law
- 7 Steps to take to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in Arizona
- Understanding the Boundaries of Clergy-Penitent Privilege
- How to Negotiate Earnest Money and Avoid Pitfall od Forfeiting Unlawful liquidated Damages
- New Rules for Evictions
- Upcoming Seminar! Learn More About Short-Term Leases
- What To Know About Reverse Mortgages Before Getting One
- What Disclosure Obligations Do REALTORS® Owe to Buyers?
- Laying down the law
- Are Nonrecourse Loans Feasible?
- Why Mediation Trumps Litigation
- Greed Doesn’t Pay: Excessive Interest Charged by Lender May Result in No Interest
- Election Of Remedies: Can Mortgagees Have Their Cake And Eat It Too?
- How Long Can A Lender Wait Before Foreclosing Or Suing On A Note?
- Arizona School of Real Estate and Business
- Sex Offenders Exempt from Disclosure Requirements
- Arizona Court of Appeals Confirms That Arizona’s Anti-Deficiency Statutes Don’t Apply to Vacant Land
- Mortgage Debt Relief Act Expires
- Foreign Investors Beware: Why FIRPTA Matters Again
- Mortgage Guidelines Give Borrowers Hope
- How REALTORS® Can Add Value and Generate Referrals by Identifying Blind Spots
- Hope Springs for Loan Modifications
- Making Money From Real Estate
- Credit Restoration Seminar Series
- NATC Seminars
- Disclosure Checklist
- Eviction Actions Manual
- How To Quickly Restore Credit Following A Short Sale or Foreclosure
- How To Minimize or Eliminate Tax Liability Regarding Mortgage Debt Forgiveness
- The Return of Specific Performance
- Evictions Manual
- Commercial Evictions Surge!
- Making Money Off of Real Estate
- The Mortgage Debt Relief Act
- Mortgage Debt Relief Act Extended
- “Arizona Court of Appeals Says Joint Owners of Easement Must Share the Costs to Maintain Easement,” February 2011
- “Congress Enacts Unprecedented Tenant Protections,” March 2010
- “New FTC Rule Regulates Loan Negotiators,” February 2011
- “Foundations of Foreclosure/Short Sales,” presenter, State Bar of Arizona, March 2011
- “Eviction Actions,” presenter, Arizona Association of REALTORS®, November 2010
- “Contracts,” presenter, Combs School of Real Estate, Continuing Education for licensed real estate brokers and salespeople, February 2010
- Short Sales and Foreclosures, presenter, Combs School of Real Estate, Continuing
- Education for licensed real estate brokers and salespeople, May 2010
- “Hot Legal Topics,” presenter, Chandler, Arizona, March 2010
- “Hot Legal Topics,” presenter, Re/Max Alliance Group, April 2009
- State Bar of Arizona Certified Real Estate Expert
- AV® Preeminent Rating by the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings system which connotes the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.
- Rated Top Real Estate Lawyer by the AZ Business Magazine
- Awarded Top Ten Civil Verdict for 2017
- Certified Specialist Expert Witness
A Little Bit About Me
The common thread that connects every Fortune 500 CEO is a shared passion for what they do. While in business school at ASU, Mr. Charles asked himself, “What am I passionate about? … Problem solving!” He then recognized that he generally enjoys helping others. Putting these two together, the law was a natural fit.
Surrounded by REALTORS® for most of his life, a law practice focused on real estate was inevitable. Christopher has developed a niche practice helping property owners resolve real estate related disputes. Anywhere from breach of contract, deficiency judgments, evictions, easement disputes, to fraud, Chris has the experience and expertise to get clients results.
Prior to opening Provident Law, PLLC, Christopher represented the Arizona Association of REALTORS® (AAR) as a “Hotline Attorney” where he advised Arizona’s brokers on real estate legal “emergencies.” As a Hotline Attorney, he helped resolve hundreds of real estate disputes.
Real estate is anything but boring. Rarely do real estate cases go to trial, but when they do, Christopher is ready. He has tried more than a dozen trials; recently he fought valiantly for his clients’ property rights in a five-day jury trial – following an appeal and a four-year battle in the Superior Court. Simply put, he never gives up.
Christopher serves as an Arbitrator and Mediator for AAR. Problem-solving doesn’t always mean costly and protracted litigation. That is why he is a big proponent of alternative dispute resolution. Mediation and arbitration are often far more efficient and cost-effective means for resolving property disputes than litigation.
Chris loves sharing his passion for the law with others. He is a licensed real estate instructor and teaches continuing education classes to attorneys and REALTORS® with the State Bar of Arizona and at the Arizona School of Real Estate and Business.
He also loves to write: he is a published author and contributes a monthly column to the Arizona Real Estate Journal and The Record Reporter.
“I love serving clients by finding solutions to their legal problems. My goal is to seek justice and bring peace to my clients through excellent legal representation.”
– Christopher J. Charles
My Contact Information
More About Chris
Christopher loves taking advantage of the Valley’s scenic hiking trails. His favorite hiking spots include Gateway Pass, Camelback Mountain, and Piestewa Peak. He is also an avid skier and snowboarder; he looks forward to teaching his children how to ski and snowboard.
Christopher and his family are passionate about community service and volunteering. In 2014, Mr. Charles served on a mission trip to Santiago, Spain with his church. He also served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board for four years before opening Provident Law.
“Year after year I am affirmed that I can best serve others with my gifts and abilities as they relate to the practice of law. I am blessed to come alongside clients to bring hope, justice, and peace to difficult and stressful situations.”
– Christopher J. Charles