Estate Planning Arizona
   Living Trust Arizona

Layers of protection for your family

Four Peaks Planning, Inc. helps Arizona residents determine if a revocable living trust is useful in their estate plan. You likely have already started estate planning by naming beneficiaries on life insurance policies, retirement accounts and bank accounts. Legal instruments such as wills, powers of attorney and living trusts tailored for you by our attorneys can complete your other potential estate planning needs.

How do you determine if a living trust is right for you? First, identify your goals. Many of our clients want to avoid having young beneficiaries potentially receive a large sum of money (including life insurance payouts) at age 18 until a more mature age is reached. Other common goals are reducing or eliminating the following: probate, the likelihood of your estate being contested and, for those over $2M in assets, estate taxes.

Estate planning attorney / lawyer for revocable living trusts in Arizona - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Glendale, Sun City to avoid probate and name guardians for children

Naming guardians for children and controlling distributions

A last will and testament appoints your children's guardians. Otherwise, the state of Arizona is forced to name guardians of your children. Adding a trust, via your will or a living trust, allows your estate plan to control distributions to young beneficiaries. Children with special needs can have living trust distributions minimized so not to disturb any federal financial assistance.
Estate planning attorney / lawyer for revocable living trusts in Arizona - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Glendale, Sun City to avoid probate and name guardians for children

Simple estate management and avoiding probate

Estate assets such as bank accounts and property need both protection and accessibility during emergencies. Living trusts have been known to help avoid problems encountered by financial power of attorneys. Assets properly transferred to your revocable living trust can avoid probate saving both time and money.
Estate planning attorney / lawyer for revocable living trusts in Arizona - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Glendale, Sun City to avoid probate and name guardians for children;

Determining if your estate can reduce taxes

If you pass a retirement account such as a 401(k) or IRA to a living beneficiary, there are simple ways to minimize taxation upon inheriting your account using Stretch provisions without use of a living trust. Estate taxes could affect estates over the $2,000,000 exemption this year. In 2011 the exemption is reduced to $1,000,000 unless new laws are enacted. Married couples can double their exemption when needed using a revocable living trust.
Estate planning attorney / lawyer for revocable living trusts in Arizona - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Glendale, Sun City to avoid probate and name guardians for children

Convenient estate planning times and locations in Arizona

We want you comfortable when you plan. That's why our estate planner can visit your home or office. Most estate plans require two appointments of approximately 90 minutes each. Start by printing our Arizona estate planning questions and living trust and will chart.

Basics of a revocable living trust

The process of creating a revocable living trust can be broken down into three steps:
  1. Narrowing down choices for Executors / Trustees, Powers of Attorney, Guardians and Beneficiaries
  2. Creating your estate planning documents
  3. Transferring your assets into your Revocable Living Trust

Transfer your assets to the living trust

The step is essential for your estate to avoid probate. Probate is for your benefit to ensure the rules of your will are followed (if you die without a will, the state has one for you). Probate can take time (average 6 - 18 months) and cost money if attorneys are needed. Probate in Arizona affects estates with real estate valued over $75,000 or other assets totaling more than $50,000.

Estate planning revocable living trusts in Arizona - Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Glendale, Sun City to avoid probate and name guardians for children "At any given time, there are more than 25,000 pending probate cases of all kinds in the county. Although the term "probate" refers only to establishment of the validity of a will, the judges and court commissioners assigned to the Probate Court are responsible for a broad variety of matters in addition to decedents' estates. Most of the new probate cases filed involve decedents' estates. But the vast majority are resolved informally without the involvement of a judge or court commissioner. Only when there is a dispute does the judicial officer have to become involved." www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov

Assets are transferred by changing the title of assets from your name to your trust's name. If you appoint yourself Trustee of your revocable living trust, you control the assets you place in your living trust. Upon an incapacitation your appointed Successor Trustees act in a manner similar to a Financial Power of Attorney.

Your living trust will out-live you

Your revocable living trust is a living entity. When the last Trustor passes (you or your spouse), your revocable living trust will "live" for 100 years after the passing of your last named beneficiary. Since your trust owns your assets and is living when the last Trustor passes, no assets titled under its name encounter probate and your successor trustees may, after paying debts, quickly distribute your estate.

After the last Trustor passes, your Successor Trustees controlling distribution of your trust are legally bound to follow your instructions. Most living trusts include No Contest Clauses revoking inheritances of any beneficiaries contesting the trust.

Benefits of a living trust for young families

Your living trust has the ability to hold assets until beneficiaries meet age requirements set by you. Additional stipulations can be made by simply asking your estate planner.

Estate planning for pets using Revocable Living Trusts Living trusts are known for easily accommodating unique requests, such as estate planning for pets.

It is essential legal verbage is written correctly to reduce the possibility any part of your plan is contested.

Guaranteed great service and value

What sets us apart from many planners is our dedication to see you have properly transferred your assets to your Revocable Living Trust. Our goal for those managing your estate is to find no surprises and handle everything with ease. Several times a year we hold living trust review sessions when clients stop in for as long as they like to review their trust and ensure assets have been titled properly.

Living Trust costs in Arizona

Using our estate planner and attorneys the Revocable Living Trust packages, regardless of your estate's size, are $750. Our attorneys are Thomas H. Leavell and Kenneth J. Hill and may be viewed on the Arizona State Bar website.

Your Revocable Living Trust package will include the following documents:

  • Revocable Living Trust - (A, A-Disclaimer / Bypass Trust, A-B or A-B-C)
  • Durable Power of Attorney
  • HIPAA Releases for Powers of Attorney
  • Last Will and Testament
  • Living Will
  • Community Property Agreement
  • One deed to transfer an Arizona property into your trust

    Are there additional costs or fees?

    There are no additional costs or attorney fees from us for the above planning package. However, if you require additional Arizona deeds, we can prepare and record them for $14-$18 (depending on county). For non-Arizona deeds, we recommend you find someone in that state to prepare your deeds. Department of Motor Vehicle retitling fees are typically less than $15 per vehicle. Amendments for living trusts average $50-$100.

    Contact us today to get your estate plan started by calling (480) 229-6220 or (623) 748-1711.

    Don't forget to print our Arizona estate planning questions and living trust and will chart.

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    Four Peaks Planning, Inc.
    Phone:  (480) 229-6220
    Address:
    2529 S Evergreen St
    Tempe, AZ 85282

    What Information Do We Collect?

    Account numbers, assets and social security numbers are not needed. To prepare you need to gather legal names of people you will be listing as trustees, beneficiaries, guardians, etc.
    Found us on the web?

    Choose Four Peaks Planning as your estate planner with confidence. We provide services for clients of many financial planners and insurance agents in Arizona. Feel free to contact any of the references below.
    Reference - Read more

    I am a State Farm agent. I have many customers that have a long over due need to put their estate in order. Estate Planning, including a living trust, is NOT just for the more affluent. Most of my customers have average incomes and certainly need to complete their estate plan.

    To date I have directed all of my clients to Jamie Kahn of Four Peaks Planning. He is professional and keeps the entire process simple.

    If you are wondering if you need an Estate plan... you do! Contact Jamie to find out how easy your plans can be put into action.

    Roger Morsch
    Insurance agent
    Chandler, AZ
    (480) 855-4632 - Daytime
    www.EastValleyIns.com
    Reference - Read more

    Jamie and I have worked together for a number of years as he has helped my clients with their Estate Planning. I find Jamie to be very professional, patient, and positive. He delivers face-to-face service and cares about his clients and their individual needs.

    I have worked with several Estate Planners and one thing that sets Jamie apart from everyone is his dedication to education and follow-up. When he completes a trust it is truly complete and he has ensured his clients have covered all the details to keep their estates secure. Jamie and Four Peaks Planning adds real value to my business. Thank-you, Jamie, for running an ethical, personal, and professional business.

    Christine Lobdell Raney
    Financial Planner
    Chandler, AZ
    (480) 899-0106 - Daytime
    Reference - Read more

    I met Jamie, owner of Living Trust Arizona, at an estate planning seminar that Edward Jones was hosting and after hearing him talk about the importance of a trust and a will I knew I wanted to meet with him. I had a little trouble convincing my new husband and he was sort of set on just doing a will. I set up an appointment with Jamie and he was very accommodating to our hectic schedule.

    When he showed up at our home he did a fantastic presentation on why we needed both the will and the trust. My husband was convinced and was impressed with how sharp Jamie was. He covered all of the issues with us, and even helped diffuse a possible argument regarding dividing our assets.

    Jamie is very detailed, organized and did exactly what he said he was going to do. I feel so much better now knowing that we took the time and invested the small amount of money Jamie charges to have some security for our kids if the need were to arise. I recommend meeting with Jamie and protecting yourself and your family!

    Julie Varland
    Comm. Telecomm.
    Qwest, Chandler, AZ
    (602) 745-5308 - Daytime
    Phone:  (480) 229-6220
    Address:
    2529 S Evergreen St
    Tempe, AZ 85282


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