Estate Planning and Trust Administration
Estate planning documents that detail your assets and let your loved ones know what you want is the best gift you can give to yourself and your family.
Without proper estate planning, your family is left to speculate as to what you may have wanted and often times reasonable minds can differ, causing conflict and strife that can last a lifetime.
When you prepare your Estate Plan, you make decisions about who will manage your finances, in the event you are unable, who will make medical decisions for you, in the event you are unable, and you decide who will be appointed as your Trustee or Personal Representative to manage and distribute your estate once you are gone.
These aren’t easy decisions for anyone and they are much harder decisions when nothing has been done and other people try to decide for you, after the fact, while in the emotionally charged states of grief and the unknown.
And, if you don’t do anything, the State of Arizona has already decided for you!
Hiring the right law firm to prepare your estate planning documents is key.
At Owens & Perkins we understand the importance of creating your unique estate plan to accomplish your goals and objectives. Planning now keeps you in control, even after you are gone. Don’t wait and let this be another New Years’ resolution. Act now and consult an attorney about your estate plan.
- Beneficiary Deeds
Beneficiary Deeds are a simple, inexpensive and effective way to transfer real property (a house, land, or building) upon the death of the current owner to a beneficiary, without having to go through probate. And, beneficiary deeds are much less expensive than any type of probate proceeding. Click here to learn more about Beneficiary Deeds. - Domestic Partner Estate Planning
If you are in a long-term relationship, but are unable or not wanting to get married, you are facing special estate planning needs. Whether you are in a same-sex or opposite-sex relationship, you need an Estate Plan to make sure that your wishes are carried out after you are gone. Click here to learn more about Domestic Partner Estate Planning. - Fiduciary Responsibilities
A Fiduciary is a person in a position of control, influence, or responsibility over another person’s finances. Fiduciaries have special duties and responsibilities imposed on them under the law. Click here to learn more about Fiduciary responsibilities. - Financial Power of Attorney
Your Financial Power of Attorney is a key document in your Estate Plan that allows your loved ones to manage your financial affairs, in the event that you are unable to do so, without having to seek court intervention to be appointed as Conservator. Click here to learn more about Owens & Perkins services drafting or reviewing Financial Powers of Attorney. - Health Care and Mental Health Care Power of Attorney with Living Will
The Health Care and Mental Health Care Power of Attorney with Living Will is important planning tool to grant the legal authority to someone else (your Agent) to make any medical decisions that must be made on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Click here to learn more about Health Care and Mental Health Care Power of Attorney with Living Will. - Last Will and Testament
Every Estate Plan has a Last Will and Testament. Proper Estate Planning will help prevent legal battles about how your assets are to be distributed upon your death. Click here to learn more about Wills. - Nominating a Guardian and/or Conservator for a Minor
If you have children under the age of 18, you should make provisions for their physical and financial care should anything happen to you before they reach adulthood. This can be done through the nomination of a Guardian and/or Conservator in your Will. Click here to learn more about naming a Guardian and/or Conservator. - Personal Property Lists
A Personal Property List is an optional piece of your Estate Plan. - Trust Administration
Trust Administration refers to the act of running, managing, and distributing Trust assets in accordance with the Trust terms. The Trustee has certain duties that must be observed, otherwise the Trustee could be personally liable to the beneficiaries. - Trust Funding
After the Trust has been drafted, the final step is funding the Trust. This refers to the process of transferring or retitling assets into the Trust for administration by a Trustee. - Updating Your Estate Plan
Estate Plans are crucial documents for your future and your family. However, no one can perfectly predict the future. Sometimes things change that require changes to your Estate Plan. Every few years, you should review your Estate Plan to make sure that reflects your current wishes and the state of your financial affairs. Click here to learn more about updating your Estate Plan.
