Most people think their estate plan is “finished” the moment they sign their documents. They sit through the signing meeting, feel relieved that everything is finally in writing, take their binder home, and assume the job is done. But the truth is that the documents themselves are only half the work. The step that actually determines whether the plan functions the way it’s supposed to is the one most people ignore: getting the assets aligned with the plan.
Read MoreEvery year, Arizona homeowners settle into the holiday season thinking about lights, inflatables, and a little extra cheer — and every year, someone is surprised by an HOA notice on their door. It almost always catches people off guard. The decorations feel harmless. Nothing about the holiday spirit seems like it should trigger a rule violation. But HOAs regulate exterior appearance more closely than most people realize, and the holidays are when those rules collide most often with everyday life.
Read MoreThe end of the year is when Arizona businesses finally slow down long enough to look closely at their workplace practices, and it’s also when employees start paying attention to how they were treated over the past twelve months. December has a way of exposing everything people ignored during the rest of the year — outdated policies, missing training, pay issues, and disputes that never quite got resolved. Whether you run a business or work for one, year-end changes in employment law matter because they determine what rights and obligations both sides walk into January with.
Read MoreThe holidays have a way of bringing families together and reminding us what truly matters. Between the travel, the meals, and the conversations that stretch late into the evening, it is also a time when many people think about the bigger picture. This is when questions about the future tend to surface. Who will make decisions if I cannot? Are my wishes written down somewhere? Have I made things as easy as possible for my family?
Read MoreWhen someone decides to buy an existing company in Arizona, one of the first legal questions that comes up is how the deal will be structured. There are two main options: an asset purchase or a business purchase. They sound similar, but they work very differently and carry very different risks.
Read MoreChoosing a trustee is one of the most important decisions you will make when creating a trust. A trustee is the person or institution you appoint to manage the assets in your trust and to carry out your instructions when you can no longer do so. The role is a serious one. The trustee has a legal duty to act in the best interest of your beneficiaries, to manage trust property responsibly, and to follow the terms you have written.
Read MoreAs the year winds down, Arizona business owners are busy wrapping up projects, closing out books, and trying to get a few quiet days before the holidays. It’s easy to focus on what’s in front of you, like client work, payroll, and planning for the next quarter. Before the calendar turns, it’s worth taking a moment to make sure your business is actually in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Read MoreAs the year winds down, many Arizona employees are preparing for annual performance reviews. These meetings can shape your pay, promotions, and even job security. While your employer may frame the review as a casual check-in, it’s also a formal record that can affect your future. Here’s how to approach it with both professionalism and legal awareness.
Read MoreProbate can feel like a maze. For families in Arizona, especially in Maricopa County, the process is often confusing, time-sensitive, and full of technical rules that aren’t obvious from the outside. Families stumble into the same traps again and again. These mistakes don’t just delay closing an estate — they can lead to personal liability, extra court hearings, or even lawsuits.
Read MoreBeneficiary designations seem simple: you add a child or loved one to your bank account, retirement plan, or life insurance policy, and you assume your planning is done. While these forms do play an important role in estate planning, relying on them alone can create unintended consequences, disputes, and even court involvement.
Read MoreIf you live in an Arizona homeowners association (HOA), voting season can feel overwhelming. Whether it is electing board members, approving budgets, or amending community rules, HOA votes affect everything from how much you pay in assessments to what you can do with your property. Understanding the process and your rights as a homeowner helps ensure your voice is heard.
Read MoreWhen you’re a parent, the hardest “what if” question is: Who would take care of my children if something happened to me? Naming a guardian is one of the most important parts of estate planning for Arizona families. Without clear instructions, a court decides — and that may not be the person you would have chosen. Here’s what you need to know about naming a guardian for your children in Arizona.
Read MoreIn Arizona, many families try to keep estate planning simple. Instead of working with an attorney, they use shortcuts: adding children to the deed of the family home, putting kids on bank accounts, or gifting property during life. On the surface, these moves may look like an easy way to avoid probate or legal fees. In reality, they often create costly problems — from tax bills to lawsuits between siblings. Here’s why “do-it-yourself” fixes often backfire in Arizona and end up costing more in the long run.
Read MoreWhen you buy a home in a planned community or a condominium in Arizona, you are not just purchasing real estate. You are also entering into a binding relationship with the homeowners’ association, governed by a legal document known as the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). Arizona courts treat CC&Rs as contracts between the HOA and the homeowner, and that means the words on the page have real consequences when disputes arise.
Read MoreIt’s that time of year again—Targets packed with dorm supplies, IKEA lines stretching around the block, and moving vans pulling into Tempe for ASU’s move-in weekend. For parents, this season is all about making sure your student is ready for independence—new bedding, laptops, and maybe a little advice about laundry.
But college move-in season is also the perfect reminder that your estate plan needs to keep pace with your family. Once your children turn 18, guardianship provisions in your will or trust are no longer necessary. Instead, planning shifts to protecting young adults financially while preparing them to handle the responsibility of inheritance.
Read MoreWhen you're facing threats, intimidation, or ongoing unwanted contact, knowing your legal options is critical. In Arizona, two of the most common protective orders are the Injunction Against Harassment (IAH) and the Order of Protection (OOP). While they both serve to prevent contact and protect individuals from harm, they are designed for different situations—and understanding the distinction can help you get the right legal protection quickly.
Read MoreWhen someone passes away, not everything they owned necessarily goes through probate. In Arizona, probate is only required for certain types of property—specifically, assets that were titled in the decedent’s name alone and lacked a legally valid plan for transfer. Understanding which assets require probate and which do not is critical for both families settling an estate and individuals planning ahead.
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