Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC - Estate Planning Attorney

An executor manages and protects the estate assets, pays debts and taxes, and transfers assets to the heirs. Probate disputes can quickly become complicated when a dispute arises. Whether you are the executor of an estate or a beneficiary, an experienced Arizona probate lawyer at Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC can help.

A fiduciary duty is a commitment to act in the best interests of another person or entity. The person entrusted to serve in that role is known as a “fiduciary.” The fiduciary must act in the principal’s interests and ethically manage and safeguard the property or funds that the principal has entrusted to the fiduciary. Their actions must always intend to benefit the principal.

In Arizona, a beneficiary deed is sometimes referred to as a “transfer on death deed,” or TOD deed. It is a legal document that grants a residential property to a designated beneficiary upon the death of an individual.

Revoking a power of attorney is easy and straightforward. You simply need to fill out a form to officially revoke your old document and create a new power of attorney document that supersedes the old one.

There are lots of factors that can affect the value a personal injury case. At Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC, we will go through your specific situation to determine what your case is worth. Contact us for a free personal injury consultation, and we can help give you a better understanding of what your case is worth.

Court forms for applying for a name change are available on each County’s Superior Court Website. You must complete the form, and have it notarized by a notary public. You will have to attend a legal hearing at which your name change will be approved. When contemplating a name change, it is recommended you get assistance from an attorney who knows the law. Our knowledgeable lawyers can explain the consequences of changing your name. We will ensure you have the proper documents, and we will help you complete the required forms. We can also attend your hearing if that becomes necessary.

If an estate’s value is below a certain threshold, Arizona law allows for the probate process to be skipped altogether. If an estate contains less than $100,000 in real estate assets or less than $75,000 in personal property, the law allows beneficiaries and creditors to use a simplified administration process. The estate values are calculated once all funeral expenses, unsecured debts and outstanding taxes have been paid. In some cases, certain assets are eligible to skip probate because they are managed by different beneficiary policies or are not held solely in the name of the deceased.

The general recommendation is to review your estate plan every three to five years and update it as necessary. You may also want to make changes after certain life events, such as the birth of new children or grandchildren, the death of an heir, or the acquisition of new assets.

We are open from 8:30 am - 5:30 pm, from Mondays to Fridays. Our experienced are always ready to help clients like you. Visit us or call us to schedule your free initial consultation.

Testate means a valid will exists for an estate at the time of a person's death. While intestate means that a person died without a will. To learn more about estate planning, call us today!

Truck accident cases have several aspects that make them more complicated than regular motor vehicle crash. Numerous parties can contribute to the accident and be held liable. All these parties may have insurance policies from separate companies. Having multiple insurance providers involved can complicate the case. You can count on them to try to minimize what they have to pay out. The stakes can be quite high in commercial truck accident cases because of the severity of the injuries and the fact that trucks typically carry insurance with higher limits. It is very crucial to have a skilled and experienced commercial truck accident attorney on your side.

If you have been attacked by a dog, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. It is important to get prompt medical care for your injuries. You might not know the dog’s history or where the dog has been. A medical examination can help you rule out the chance of a rabies infection.

Most of the time, the dog’s owner is responsible when the pet bites and injures you. Compensation for your injuries in an animal attack includes the cost of your medical treatment, any missed wages, and your pain and suffering.

Ideally, will and trust will ensure that assets are distributed fairly to heirs without conflict. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The estate administration process often causes confusion and heated disputes among family members. Disputes that result in estate litigation often stem from poor planning or the failure to update estate documents. These common situations can lead to estate litigation when a loved one passes.

No, but a properly created will can help minimize probate expenses. In order to avoid probate, other estate planning strategies (ex: trusts) can be implemented.

Yes, if your will was valid in the state where it was executed, it is still valid in Arizona. Although, it is a good idea to update your will in Arizona.

A will is a legal document that expresses a person’s wishes as to how their property should be distributed after their death and names a personal representative that should manage the distribution of that property.

In Arizona, you must fill out an application requesting that your name be changed and file it with the superior court. You will also be required to attend a court hearing. The main purpose for the hearing is to ensure that you are not changing your name as a way to avoid criminal charges or to avoid the payment of a debt. It also gives any interested parties the opportunity to voice any objections to the name change.

At Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC, we will go through your specific situation to determine what your case is worth. When doing so, we will discuss certain factors of your case with you, including: - The type and severity of your injury - The extent of all treatments that were required - The degree of responsibility that each party bears - The potential economic loss (this can vary according to your work history, salary/salary history, and your ability to return to work) - Possible future medical requirements or medical impairments - Any preexisting medical condition(s) that could mitigate (or lessen) the value of your case

Even if you are a car accident victim with few financial resources, the law firm of Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC can help with quality legal representation. Our car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that our clients do not have to pay any attorneys’ fees upfront. Instead, clients pay their lawyer a percentage of their damages only if their lawyer helps them collect compensation.

Arizona has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. That time deadline includes car accident claims. If you do not file a claim within two years of the date of your accident, you will almost certainly lose an opportunity to collect compensation. Only rare exceptions extend the deadline. Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC can help you understand how much time you have to file your claim. We can also help by ensuring your claim is filed on time.

To collect compensation in a car accident claim, you must establish that the other driver was at fault. Most car accident claims involve some element of negligence. You will need to show that the other driver caused the crash. For example, you may be able to establish negligence by showing the other driver was not following the rules of the road when the accident happened. Once you’ve established that the other driver was negligent, you can claim compensation for these losses related to your accident: - Medical bills from doctor’s visits, hospital stays, surgical procedures, physical therapy and prescription medications - The cost of future medical care, if necessary - Lost wages - The costs of repairing or replacing property damaged in the accident, including your car - The costs of renovating your home to accommodate your injuries - Physical pain and suffering - Mental anguish - Reduced future earnings because of your injuries

From car accidents to slip and fall cases, personal injury accidents can cause several types of injuries. We have helped our clients with these types of injuries: - Head and brain injuries - Burns - Spinal cord injuries - Amputation - Back and neck injuries - Shoulder damage - Knee injuries - Internal organ damage or internal bleeding

Under Arizona law, a person filing a lawsuit for a personal injury claim must generally do so within two years from the date of the accident. The two-year deadline does not apply to all personal injury cases. In some Arizona cases, a victim or the victim’s family must file a lawsuit within just 180 days of an accident. This shortened timeline applies to all claims made against a city, county or the State of Arizona. Those shorter time limits make it crucial to act promptly when filing a lawsuit.

Probate is the process of administering the estate of a deceased person, including identifying assets and property, paying creditors and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries and heirs following the decedent’s will and state law.

The attorneys at Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC have handled many forms of accidents. We have helped our clients with these types of injury claims: - Car accidents - Commercial truck accidents - Motorcycle accidents - Bicycle accidents - Pedestrian accidents - Dog bites - Slip and fall accidents - Wrongful death

For people living in Arizona, the only way a parent can legally name a guardian for their minor children is through a Last Will and Testament. If you fail to do so, and one is later needed, family members may argue about who should be named the guardian. This can be very traumatic for young children and could potentially result in prolonged court battles.

An estate plan typically consist of a last will and testament, general durable power of attorney and healthcare directives such as a health care power of attorney mental health care power of attorney and living will.

The Digital Assets Act provides that a fiduciary, with the appropriate authority, is an authorized user of a decedent’s digital accounts and will not be guilty of any criminal act under Arizona law.

Being a trustee is a tremendous responsibility. A trustee must be capable of understanding and performing numerous legal duties. Choose a trustee with financial experience who is honest, trustworthy, organized and dependable.

You may decide that you should after considering the ways that a trust can help you and your family: - You can help your family avoid costly probate proceedings by setting up a trust for your estate before you die. - A trust can also minimize the tax burden on your remaining assets. - Trusts give you more options for handling your assets after your death.

We have different offices in Arizona: Scottsdale, Phoenix, Chandler, Tucson and across Arizona. If you need the service of one of our expert lawyers, visit us today!

Personal injury and estate planning cases span a wide range of incidents. The attorneys at Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC have handled many forms of accidents and estate planning. We have helped our clients with these types of injury claims. We handle Car accidents, Commercial truck accidents, Motorcycle accidents, Bicycle accidents, Pedestrian accidents, Dog bites, Slip and fall, Wrongful death, Estate Planning, Probate, and Family Law

Hello, Cheryl. Thank you for contacting Brown & Hobkirk, PLLC. Please feel free to contact our office at 480-685-4036 to schedule a time to discuss your case. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.