An estate planning, who may also serve as the executor of a recently deceased person's will, has significant fiduciary duties. They have the responsibility of shepherding a deceased person's estate through probate and dividing it according to the will or Arizona inheritance laws among the heirs. If you have recently been appointed as an estate planner by a Maricopa County probate judge or have been named as the executor of a loved one's will, you probably have a lot of questions. Our Mesa, AZ estate planning lawyer has answers. Please contact LifePlan Legal AZ today for a consultation.
Estate Planning Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Are you looking at your loved one's will and unsure where to start? Maybe your loved one passed away without a will (intestate), and you're totally lost about where to begin. Professional legal advice from our Mesa estate planning lawyer can make your tasks much easier. We explain what's required of an estate planner and how to go about completing those duties. Your first steps, which include inventorying and valuing the estate's contents, can become complicated, especially the valuation process. Our firm has access to resources like forensic accountants, real estate agents, and specialty appraisers who can help you properly value the estate.
Once you've established the value of the estate, you then must settle any valid debts. We can help you discern which debts should be paid, pay them, and complete your accounting of the estate. Finally, you distribute the balance of the estate to its beneficiaries and, if there is no will, according to Arizona state inheritance laws. Each of these tasks may require resources you don't have ready access to. We do, and we can oversee the inventory and valuation of the estate, ensuring that you're not taken advantage of. We can also vet creditors presenting debts to the estate, investigating each one to determine its validity and legitimacy.
An estate planner has considerable responsibilities; not everyone is equipped to fulfill them. If you do not have anyone in your life who can fulfill that role, our firm can serve as the estate administrator on your behalf.
Good Estate Planning Requires Solid Legal Experience
Estate planning can be a complicated, sometimes thankless, task. Let our Mesa estate planning lawyer take the burden off your shoulders. We can guide you through the probate process, help you complete all the tasks required of an estate administrator, and ensure that you've properly completed all tax and accounting filings. Our experience prevents you from making a mistake that could cost the estate.
- Glenn McMinn, senior attorney, offers over 30 years of estate planning experience to benefit you, our client
- Our estate planning law firm's mission is to help 10,000 Arizona families and small businesses develop solid protections for their heirs
- We are advocates for preventing conflict through savvy estate planning and planning
At LifePlan Legal AZ, we utilize our Values-Based Estate Planning strategy, developed by firm founder Jake Carlson, to create an estate plan and administration that honors what matters most to you. Call us today to get started.
7 Steps To Expect During Estate Planning Process
Estate planning is about making clear decisions now to help avoid confusion, delay, and unnecessary costs later. A well-structured plan protects your assets, honors your wishes, and supports the people you care about.
At LifePlan Legal AZ, we guide individuals and families through each step of this process so they can move forward with clarity and confidence.Here, we outline the key steps you can expect as you create or update your estate plan:
Start With A Personal Conversation
The first step is a conversation to get to know you and your goals. We’ll ask about your family, your assets, and what matters most to you.
Whether you want to provide for your children, support a charitable cause, or make things easier for your spouse, your plan should reflect your priorities. Our Mesa estate planning lawyer will walk you through the types of decisions involved and answer your initial questions.
Review Your Assets And Debts
A complete estate plan starts with a clear picture of what you own. This includes bank accounts, real estate, retirement savings, personal property, business interests, and any outstanding debts.
We’ll help you organize this information so it’s easy to work with and easy for others to understand in the future.
Choose The Right Legal Tools
Once we know your goals and what’s involved, we help you choose the legal tools that make the most sense for your situation.
These may include a will, trust, power of attorney, healthcare directives, or beneficiary designations. Every plan is different. Our Mesa estate planning lawyer will explain each option and help you select the documents that fit your needs.
Draft And Review The Documents
After you’ve made your decisions, we prepare the necessary legal documents. We’ll review everything together to confirm that the details match your wishes.
We take time to explain what each document does and how they all work together. If anything needs to be adjusted, we make those changes before you sign.
Sign And Finalize Your Plan
Once the documents are complete, we meet to formally sign and finalize your plan.
Arizona law requires specific signing procedures for some documents, and we’ll make sure everything is done correctly. After signing, you’ll receive your originals and copies for safekeeping.
Transfer And Align Assets
If your plan includes a trust, additional steps may be needed to transfer ownership of assets into the trust.
This might involve updating titles, changing account ownership, or naming the trust as a beneficiary. Our Arizona estate planning lawyer can help you complete this part of the process so your plan functions as intended.
Keep Your Plan Updated
Your estate plan should reflect your current situation, not just the one you had years ago. That’s why we recommend reviewing your documents every few years or after major life events—like marriage, divorce, retirement, or the birth of a child. We offer continued support to help you make timely updates when needed.
Enlist Personalized Planning Guidance
At LifePlan Legal AZ, we don’t treat estate planning as a one-size-fits-all task. We take time to listen, plan around your values, and give you the tools to protect what you’ve worked for. If you're ready to take the next step, our Mesa estate lawyer is here to help you build a plan that gives you peace of mind now and protects your loved ones later. Contact us today to get started on designing your future, your way!