Blog Posts: Estate Planning

Divorce is an emotional and complex process, but one important aspect that often gets overlooked is your estate plan. If you don’t update it, your estranged spouse could still inherit your assets or make crucial financial and healthcare decisions on your behalf. In Arizona, unless you specify otherwise, your spouse remains a beneficiary until your divorce is fina...

As we enter 2025, it's important to stay informed about the current federal estate and gift tax laws, including annual exclusion limits and significant changes anticipated by the end of this year. Annual Exclusion Amount The annual exclusion amount for gifts in 2025 allows individuals to give up to $19,000 per recipient without incurring gift tax or needing to fi...

Many people create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, maintain privacy, and ensure smooth estate distribution. However, these benefits only apply if you properly "fund" your trust, meaning you must transfer assets into it. Establishing a trust without funding the trust is like installing a safe but never placing your valuables inside. What Is Funding a Tru...

Taking the step to schedule a meeting with an estate planning attorney can be difficult. Many people procrastinate taking this important first step which can create problems for loved ones who may be unexpectedly left behind.  To help lessen some hesitation, the following five actions will help taking the first step less intimidating. 1.  Find Important Document...

PHOENIX, Ariz. (7/5/2022) – Lauren L. Garner was selected by the Arizona State Bar Probate and Trust Section to receive the ELEANOR ter HORST Distinguished Service Award.  The award recognizes an attorney or judicial officer who has demonstrated superior knowledge of probate and trust law and the willingness to share her knowledge with - and otherwise serve- the...

Many people think that estate planning is just about what happens when someone dies. However, an equally-important part of estate planning is ensuring that you are cared for while you are still alive. If you become incapacitated, even for a short period of time, who will pay your bills or decide where you should live? Who will determine what doctors will care for y...

Whether I’m working on a business transaction or assisting business owners with their estate planning, I always look at how the ownership of the LLC is structured. While many business owners have set up a revocable living trust in order to direct how their assets are managed and to avoid probate, it is common to find that their LLC interests have not been put i...

Adding an adult child as a joint owner of a parent’s bank account seems like a simple and straightforward solution that allows the child to help care for mom or dad without the expense or hassle of preparing powers of attorney or other legal documents. Naming a child as a joint owner also allows the account to avoid probate at the death of the parent. However, th...

One of the best things about working with someone or a couple on their estate plan is that a primary goal is usually to take care of their children, grandchildren, and other loved ones. I enjoy getting to know the families, hearing their stories, and helping them make sure future generations will be protected and cared for. Because their focus is on others, many c...

People generally don't go into business because they are good at running businesses. Many people go into business because they are passionate about something and they want to share that passion with the world. Whether it's food, fashion, music, technology, or something else, business owners are good at what they do. The mundane realities of running a business, howe...