The Architect of Order – John Rutledge’s Legacy
As our America 250 Legacy Series charges toward the 2026 milestone, we turn to the “Dictator of South Carolina” and the man who chaired the Committee of Detail: John Rutledge. Rutledge was a man of action and immense administrative precision. During the darkest days of the Revolution, he was given extraordinary powers to act decisively […]
Take Your Power Back from COVID-19: Estate Planning Steps to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
News about the coronavirus is everywhere, and we have all been affected by it in some way, even if we are currently completely healthy. Although it may seem as though circumstances are spinning beyond our control, we are not powerless. There are steps we can take to protect ourselves and our families, both physically and […]
Preparing for Coronavirus
As the coronavirus continues to disrupt daily life and leave Americans uncertain of the future, you don’t have to feel helpless during this pandemic. In fact, now is a great time to be proactive and plan ahead should you or a loved one fall ill. One of the most important and relatively easy things you […]
Arizona Probate Laws FAQ
On this page, we answer the most common questions we receive about Arizona probate law. What Is Arizona Probate? Arizona probate is a legal proceeding in which the Arizona Superior Court recognizes and establishes the validity of the last will and testament of the decedent. The court also ensures the decedent’s assets and liabilities are […]
3 Ways to Avoid Probate in Arizona
“How do I avoid probate” is the most frequently asked question I get. Most people hope their assets will avoid the probate process at their death. That is because probate can be expensive, time-consuming and emotionally exhausting. In Arizona, the average probate costs $2,000 – $5,000 and lasts 9 – 18 months. Besides estate planning […]
What is Probate, and Why Would My Property Go Through Probate if I Have a Trust?
Becky Cholewka: One of the hardest things to deal with is to deal with the loss of a loved one. When we’re working with clients who have had a recent loss, it’s very emotional time, but it’s a time where I see a lot of people make mistakes. Mistake number one I see is that […]
A Tip for Personal Representatives Going Through the Probate Process
Becky Cholewka: I have a tip for those of you who are acting as personal representative in a probate process. Some states call that executor. Here in Arizona, we call that personal representative. When you are dealing with collecting assets, especially from financial institutions, you want to make sure that those financial institutions are submitting […]
Setting Up POD or TOD On Your Bank Accounts
Becky Cholewka says: I wanted to take a moment and give you a couple tips about your checking savings and brokerage accounts. One way to make sure these accounts avoid the probate process is to make sure you have a beneficiary listed on each of your accounts. That does not mean one beneficiary form per […]
Why San Tan Valley Home Owners Need To Check Their Deeds
Becky Cholewka: Hey, everyone. I just wanted to do another tip for today. We have been seeing a lot of deeds recently from people in the San Tan Valley area specifically, where when they purchased their home, their deed only said, “To husband and wife.” Which is absolutely fine in that they did convey interest […]
The FREE Online Form That Keeps Your AZ Titled Vehicles Out Of Probate
Becky Cholewka: Here is another quick 10‑minute tip for you. Any type of vehicle that you have through the Arizona MVD, titling such as a golf cart, an RV, motorcycle, or even just your regular cars, you can actually go on the MVD website to download a free beneficiary form at www.azdot.gov/mvd You’re going to look […]