Estate (Estate Planning)

Living Will Attorney Serving Chandler & Phoenix

Establishing a living will is something that everyone should do. There are many people that consider establishing a living will, but then do not take the steps to get the process started. If you are considering starting the process of establishing a living will, then you should at least take the step of contacting an attorney for a free consultation. By doing this, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of what the process entails and can get the best advice possible.

If you need help with your living will, then our legal team is ready to help. When working with our law firm, you will have an experienced legal team who have over 80+ years of combined probate and estate planning experience. Our team takes pride in taking the stress off of your shoulders and putting it on ours. We offer free consultations to help you determine what your next steps need to be.

Main Reasons To Get Started On A Living Will

Establishing a living will is something that many people think about doing, but do not take the necessary steps to get started. A Living Will is not only documents that dictate how your assets will be distributed, but also outlines who will be assigned power of attorney when it comes to your healthcare. It’s easy to think you may not need a Will until later on in life, but the unexpected tends to happen at any age. Because of this, it is important to properly prepare your estate as soon as you can. Some of the main reasons everyone should have a living will is:

Unexpected Serious Illness or Event: If you have a living will, your doctors and family members will be informed on your wishes if you were unable to speak for yourself.
Quality of Life: If you have a living will, you will be able to communicate how you do and don’t want to live in regards to quality of life.
Having Peace of Mind: If you have a living will, you will have the peace of mind knowing that if an unexpected event occurs, then your loved ones will be taken care of and they will have instructions on how to proceed with any healthcare directives.

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The Estate Administration Process

1. Initial Meeting

We offer a free 20-minute initial phone consultation to obtain pertinent facts about your case and determine if it is a matter we can assist with. When preparing for an initial phone consultation regarding estate administration, it's helpful to have all the necessary information ready. This includes your relationship to the deceased, the names of any living and deceased relatives, and a copy of the will, if one exists.

2. Opening Probate

Based on the information you give us, we will determine how best to proceed with your case. If the facts of your case necessitate the filing of a petition or an application with the probate court, and you engage our firm, we will prepare and file that document on your behalf. If the Estate can be administered without the filing of a petition, we will prepare and file the necessary documentation with the court.

3. Appointment of Personal Representative

After we file the petition, or an application, the Court will determine whether it is appropriate to appoint you (or the person you nominate) as the Personal Representative. If the requested appointment is made, we will move forward to guide the Personal Representative through the steps necessary to administer the Estate.

4. Legal Notice

With your assistance, we will compile a list of all interested parties, including the Decedent’s heirs and creditors, and provide notice as required by law.

5. Inventorying Assets

We will provide guidance to help the Personal Representative identify and inventory all assets of the estate. This includes real estate, bank accounts, investments, personal property, and any other assets owned by the Decedent.

6. Paying Debts and Taxes

After legal notice has been perfected and the Estate assets have been inventoried, we will help you allocate estate funds toward any outstanding debts of the Decedent, including expenses of administration, statutory allowances, funeral expenses, medical bills, creditors, and any taxes owed.

7. Distributing Assets to Beneficiaries

After expenses of administration, debts and taxes are paid, the remaining assets of the estate can be distributed to the beneficiaries according to the Decedent's will or Arizona’s intestacy laws if there is no will. If there are disagreements among beneficiaries and heirs, we will work with the Personal Representative to resolve those agreements, if possible.

8. Closing Probate

After all steps of the administration have been completed, we will file documentation to close the case. This typically involves filing documents confirming all necessary steps of administration have been completed, and providing notice to appropriate parties that the estate has been closed.

Legal Disclaimer:

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, it should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice. Each legal matter is unique, and the specific facts of any particular case will impact the overall legal procedure and the advice required. Therefore, we recommend that you consult with a qualified legal professional to obtain advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

Do It Yourself vs Hiring A Legal Team To Draft A Living Will

There are many options online that allow you to use templated living will documents. Although this may seem like a cost effective solution, the ultimate cost of doing your living will on your own will be significant. A template living will can result in your wishes being contested after being incapacitated or after passing away. These contested estate cases tend to get ugly and cause a lot of pain to everyone involved.

Ultimately, you don’t know what you don’t know. Having a conversation with an experienced estate planning attorney will help you determine exactly what your estate plan needs to look like and will take the stress off of your shoulders when it comes to developing your living will. Our legal team offers free consultations to help you start the living will development process.

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Nothing but calming, compassionate, informative, and helpful through the probate process. We are now updating our estate plan and continue to receive their attentiveness and professionalism.

Terry Dobbs

Golden Rule gave us excellent service for an excellent price. Mr. Decker and Justin were knowledgeable and friendly and I'm very glad we went to them.

James Harpole

These lawyers live by the motto of their firm. Their kindness and generosity of spirit gives lawyers the good name that all should strive for.

Tanner Tanner

Attorneys Woods & Decker were professional and compassionate. We were grateful for their quick response and ability to meet with us on short notice. They listened carefully and provided us with sound counsel. We highly recommend their services!

Don Priem

Why Clients Choose Us

Experienced

Knowledgeable

Patient

Sympathetic

Affordable

Professional

Contact An Experienced Estate Planning Attorney

At the Golden Rule Law Group®, our team is dedicated to helping and representing you. You will have an experienced legal team who have over 80+ years of combined probate and estate planning experience. Our team takes pride in taking the stress off of your shoulders and putting it on ours.

Our firm primarily serves the areas of Chandler, Gilbert, Phoenix and other areas around Maricopa County. If you are in need of an experienced probate attorney in Arizona, please contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation.

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Address:
‍601 N Alma School Rd, Chandler, AZ 85224

Phone:
‍(480) 908-9051

Hours:
9am - 5pm

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