Speedy probate? Don’t hold your breath
While probate often seems like a dirty word in the estate-planning world, it is an important and necessary process for many estates. It is a…
Estate Planning and Advance Directives: Why You Need More Than Just a Will
While many Scottsdale residents assume that estate planning is only for older adults or those facing health problems, adults of all ages should have an estate…
What are the Grounds for Contesting a Trust in Arizona?
A trust is a fiduciary arrangement whereby property or assets are held by a trustee on behalf of a beneficiary. If you believe that your…
Now is the Time to Prepare Your Estate Plan
When you talk about commodities, most people think of tangible items like raw materials. Examples would be gold, silver, timber, food stuffs, and for bacon…
Whose Business Is It Anyway? Considerations For Dividing Assets In A Divorce
Community Property Sadly, according to recent statistics, roughly half of marriages end in divorce. When “irreconcilable differences” occur, one of many important considerations is how…
Estate Law: To Port or Not to Port
Recent changes in estate and gift tax rules make traditional A/B Trust planning more complex, and perhaps unnecessary. The personal exemption amount has been substantially increased and made “portable.” Portability allows a surviving spouse to use a deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exclusion, thereby changing consideration concerning the need for the traditional A/B Trust for tax reasons. However, other factors should also be considered.