In Arizona, there are many self-service forms available for certain areas of law. There are also certified legal document preparers who can draft certain legal forms. These services tend to have lower up-front costs than attorneys. Unfortunately, however, a person can end up paying more in the long run by failing to hire an attorney…
An estate plan represents a snapshot of someone’s current life. Though we draft our estate documents to be amenable to life changes, one should still review his estate plan every year or so to see if the documents reflect his or her wishes. At our firm, the wills we draft are general, and more often…
Marriage is a big step in one’s life, full of decision-making and compromises. It is important that couples know the benefits of a prenuptial agreement (commonly referred to as “prenup” or “premarital agreement”). The Carroll Law Firm can provide you with legal advice prior to your marriage to ensure you understand your individual rights, and…
With nursing home costs rising and the average life expectancy also increasing, more and more people need to think about how they will afford to age and pass on at least some assets to their loved ones. One of the most important reasons to consider creating an irrevocable trust is asset protection. In order to…
When a person dies and leaves a Will, a legal proceeding called “Probate” is required to transfer ownership from the person who died (Decedent) to the people named in the Will (Devisees). There are two main proceedings for Probate of a will. Below are a few differences. Informal vs. Formal Probate of a Will FORMAL…
More than 65% of Americans will need long-term care at some point in their lives. Over 40% of this long-term care will be in a nursing home. On average, someone aged 65 today will need some long-term care services for three years and 20% of people aged 65 will need care for more than five…
People often make decisions during the course of life because of circumstance, desire, or impulse. When it comes time, however, for people to make these decisions on behalf of another person (concerning their medical or financial welfare), these decisions are often made with hesitation, doubt, and despair. These issues often arise when a loved one,…
For anyone considering estate planning, we offer several documents to accomplish common goals of the estate. The information below provides explanations of each of our estate planning documents. For a free consultation about these documents and other common estate planning tools, contact us at (623)551-9366. WILL: AKA “Last Will and Testament.” The will or simple…
You’ve heard the media buzz about the “Fiscal Cliff,” but do you know how it may affect you individually? One portion of the Fiscal Cliff Deal affects federal estate taxes for individuals. Specifically, Congress has agreed to visit the issue of the exemption amount and tax rate for estate taxes. In 2012, any estates over…
When a loved one passes away, the surviving friends and family members often have questions regarding what steps to take legally. The first thing you should do is to make funeral arrangements. Some people leave instructions upon their death as far as whether they wish to be buried or cremated, and how they want their…
During this time of heightened concerns over COVID-19, The Carroll Law Firm, PLC is open and can provide telephonic appointments for many types of consultations.