As the holidays roll through town, Arizona residents also see the hearty panoply of signs, e-mails, and correspondence from certain schools and charities, encouraging them to take advantage of Arizona's specialized income tax credits. The actual savings from these credits, and the different requirements for each category can be confusing, so this article breaks down the basics you need to know as you consider which charities should be on your holiday gift list.  Read more...

Sometimes, one of the more emotional aspects in dealing with the estate of a loved one involves tangible personal property, or, as it's known more technically, “stuff.” Contemplating how jewelry, collectibles, photos, and similar items are dealt with in advance can make things easier for your beneficiaries. Additionally, Arizona law and our estate planning forms frequently provide the simple avenue of a “list” that avoids having to return to the attorney's office every time you change your mind as to which nephew should receive that prize copper elephant.  Read more...

I am frequently asked for a checklist of items to consider in making an estate plan. So I have put together a brief list of important items to consider. This list, however, is by no means exhaustive. Consider the following...  Read more...

Two recent articles in the Arizona Daily Star illustrate problems in the nursing home and rehabilitative care industry. In an August 20, 2010 article the Star (“Desert Life Rehabilitation & Care Center fined” 08/20/2010) detailed a fine of $4,500 that Desert Life Rehabilitation and Care Center was ordered to pay for failing to provide supervision to a resident who sustained second- and third-degree burns while smoking.  Read more...

When a married individual has separate children from prior relationships, estate planning becomes much more complicated, as the client has to balance his or her wishes to provide for their surviving spouse with the goals to protect the long term interest of their own children. While every family situation is unique, frequently tensions between step-children and step-parents become exacerbated after the client dies, especially where there is confusion or disagreement as to who gets what and when. The client has to determine how best to balance these important, competing interests, while taking into account how complicated they want to make their plan. While every situation is different, there are a few basic ways these interests can be balanced.  Read more...

Over the years many of us have made the remark "they can fight over it when I'm gone". However, what you have left your children with is what you have strove to provide them all along—guidance. Even if you do not have children, you leave your family with no instructions as to what your wishes were.  Read more...

Life changes. The house is too big. The yard work is overwhelming. Health challenges may be looming, and simple living becomes more appealing. If you are contemplating a move to a community that caters to older residents, here are a few things to look for as you begin your search:  Read more...

What can go wrong when you choose the wrong person to serve in a fiduciary capacity? And what if the court charged with overseeing your guardianship or conservatorship falls down on the job?  Read more...

People sometimes speak about “putting someone's name on” their bank accounts for convenience, to avoid probate and to deal with incapacity. While this sometimes can be an effective technique, you need to be aware of the different ways someone can be “on” your account, which can include as a power of attorney, as a joint owner or as a beneficiary at death (P.O.D. or T.O.D.). You also need to be aware of potential problems with some of these arrangements.  Read more...

One of the happiest and most exciting moments of life is planning for a wedding and marriage, while one of the most wrenching and painful moments for many is the process of a divorce. In the midst of the powerful emotions that surround both of these events are some of the legal issues that need to be addressed in the estate planning arena. Forgetting to make updates after either of these events can lead to surprising results, including the expense of litigation that could have been avoided.  Read more...

For the first time in 95 years, there is no federal estate tax, even for the wealthiest individuals. For years know, everyone in the estate planning business “knew” that Congress would take some logical steps to avoid the craziness of this result. Guess what! Congress surprised them all by not getting anything done, and now planners are scrambling to figure out what to do. Learn what you need to know about this abrupt shock, and whether or not YOU need to worry about what it means for your estate plan.  Read more...

For those of you with a special dog, cat, ferret or iguana in your life, an important part of your estate plan is specifying in your Will or Revocable Trust what happens if that pet survives you. Like most aspects of your planning, it's up to each individual client what their wishes are, and there are a great range of options to provide for your fuzzy friends if something happens to you.  Read more...