Phoenix and Arizona Will Lawyers
Most people would rather not think about what will happen when they die. However, the ones that do think about it are able to plan so that their assets end up where they want them and their desires as to family and friends are accomplished.
Your Will is a legal tool that will let you decide what happens to your money, property, and possessions (know as your Estate) after your death.
When Writing a Will
When you write your will it is very important that you clearly set out:
- Beneficiaries: the people who you want to benefit from your will.
- Guardianship: who should look after any children under 18, pets or dependents.
- Will Execution: who are you going to assign to sort out your estate and carry out your wishes after your death (your executor).
- Unforeseen events: what happens if the people you want to benefit die before you.
- Witnesses: you will need 2 witnesses who cannot be beneficiaries in your Will.
It is very important in order to make your Will valid that you DON’T leave your witnesses (or their married partners) anything.
Collins & Collins L.L.P. can help you navigate the complex and multi-faceted labyrinth of Will and Probate Law, including estate planning and administration. Many people spend thousands of dollars on creating trusts because some financial person told them that they needed a trust. In truth, few people actually need a trust. Talk to us about Wills, Trusts and other estate planning tools and possibly save yourself a lot of money and headaches.
Our integrity, experience, and commitment to our clients have made us a top rated Wills Lawyers in Phoenix & Arizona for over 30 years.
When Should You Get Legal Advice?
The following circumstances are some of the most common scenarios where the help of an attorney is highly recommended:
- You share ownership of a property with someone who isn’t your husband, wife or civil partner.
- You wish to leave money or assets to a dependent who is unable to care for themselves.
- You have relatives or family members who may make a claim on your will, such as a second spouse or children from a previous marriage.
- Your permanent residence is outside the US.
- You own assets overseas.
- You are a business owner.
Will Writing Support
Our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers will be happy to provide legal support and advice during your will writing process so that you can achieve the best possible outcomes. Our legal guidance on proper planning will help you:
- Assure that right Inheritance Tax is paid.
- While you can write your will yourself, you should get legal advice if your will isn’t straightforward or if you foresee problems or complications arising after your death especially if your estate needs to be distributed.
- In order to make your Will legally valid, you will need to get it formally witnessed and signed.
- If you want to update or make changes to your will, you will need to make an official alteration or make a new will. Otherwise, any changes made to the will not be valid.
Making Sure That Your Will is Legal
Just like any other legally binding document, in order for your Will to be valid, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be an adult.
- Your Will needs to have been written voluntarily.
- You should have the “capacity” to make your Will. This means that you should be in a sound state of mind. If you have a mental health problem we urge you to get legal advice.
- The Will must be made in writing.
- Your Will will need to be signed by you in the presence of 2 witnesses (who are adults and NOT beneficiaries in your Will), and then the witnesses should also sign it in your presence.
Caring and Discrete Will Writing Advice
Will Law involves more than just legalities and tax matters; it concerns people’s most personal issues, often when they are emotionally overwhelmed. At Collins & Collins L.L.P. we realize how sensitive these matters are and provide caring and confidential counsel for clients and their families. Collins & Collins L.L.P. provides legal guidance in:
- Will Writing and Review
- Inheritance Law
- Estate Distribution
- Estate Planning
- Probate Law
- Other Will Related Questions
When Should You Update your Will?
It is recommended that you review your Will every 5 years and after any significant life change, such as:
- You are getting married or entering a Civil Partnership. This event will cancel ANY Will you have made before.
- You are getting divorced or separated.
- You had a child.
- You moved.
- If the executor named in the Will dies
Getting married or entering a Civil Partnership will cancel ANY Will you have made before.
A Phoenix & Arizona Family Legal Practice Focused On Your Needs
Open attorney-client communication is an ingredient for successful representation. To properly represent your interests, we spend the time to learn about your needs and goals. We also work to translate “legalese” into understandable terms so you are clear about your legal standing and options and can fully participate in the legal process. In Collins & Collins L.L.P. you have a legal team dedicated to you first and foremost. While we provide you with legal information you can understand, we let you make decisions after you understand your options.
Call today for a free initial will law consultation with one of our knowledgeable and experienced Phoenix & Arizona Probate Lawyers. There is never a charge or obligation for us to review your situation and determine how we can help.
*C. Robert Collins founded the firm in 1980 with himself as the sole lawyer. His son Joseph E. Collins joined him in 1994, and his son Jonathan S. Collins joined them in 2003.
What You can Expect from Our Top Rated Phoenix & Arizona Will Lawyers
At Collins & Collins, L.L.P we are selective when it comes to the cases that we take on. The reason? Simple, we want to make sure that we are able to provide or clients the best possible legal representation that we can provide in order to meet their demands and individual circumstances.
Our practice is not focused on volume, and since we are a family law practice, we are proud to keep it this way and we are able to promise to deliver the best possible representation to clients that we decide to take on with professionalism and the utmost respect towards them.
Sometimes an estate legal situation does not end with an agreement or court order; as situations change, adjustments may need to be made to accommodate those changes. In those cases, our representation does not end at the negotiating table or in court. We stand beside you throughout the estate legal process and afterward as you implement court orders and decisions.
That is why we invite you to make use of our Free Phoenix & Arizona Will Law Consultation with one of our lawyers so that you can come and talk to one of our attorneys and get the answers.
Phoenix Office: (602) 788-7227
Payson Office: (928) 363-8004
Nuestros Abogados Hablan Español
If you use email, Collins & Collins L.L.P. will respond within 24 hours during the week, or by Monday if on the weekend, so as to avoid playing telephone tag. We ensure you speak with a lawyer and not just a staff member.
Servicing Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Camelback, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria and surrounding areas in Arizona.
