If you have lost a family member, we extend our sincere condolences. We understand the emotional toll and the deep sense of grief felt after losing a loved one.

When someone passes away, his or her family members must figure out how to distribute belongings, pay creditors, and settle the estate. An estate plan makes this process much easier, or even avoidable. Unfortunately, many people fail to create a proper estate plan during their lifetime. Also, many people mistakenly believe that a will is sufficient for avoiding probate. It is not. View our page on the differences between trusts and wills, here.

Without a proper estate plan, family members are forced to go through a court-supervised process called probate. Probate is the legal process of paying creditors and distributing belongings to heirs after someone has passed away. Many learn they must open probate for their family member’s estate after reaching out to an attorney because they’re having trouble collecting their loved one’s assets or because family members are fighting over belongings. Unfortunately, probate and estate administration can be time-consuming and confusing as you value assets, pay off debts, and distribute assets to designated parties. The process can take anywhere from five months to several years, depending on the size, structure, and complexity of the estate, the schedule of the probate court, and whether there are disputes among family members and/or creditors. An experienced probate attorney can help by completing the required steps according to law in an expedited manner, saving you time, money, and stress.
Our team has the experience and knowledge of Arizona probate law to expedite the process and resolve any problems as quickly as possible. We can identify whether probate is necessary and if so, how to properly proceed. We’ll manage the entire process for you, from start to finish, to keep it as stress-free as we can during this difficult time.