Phelps LaClair

Whether you’re single or in a relationship, everyone needs an estate plan. But since unmarried couples don’t have the same legal protections as married couples, they face some unique challenges. If you would want your partner to receive any or all of your assets, it’s essential to create an your estate plan that reflects your wishes.

In our latest post, we explain why estate planning is so crucial for unmarried couples, and include six tips for setting up an estate plan that protects your partner.

6 Estate Planning Tips for Unmarried Couples Unmarried couples don’t have the same legal protections as married ones. Here are six tips for setting up an estate plan that protects your partner.

Wondering what you can do with an inherited 401K? Different rules apply, depending on whether or not you are the spouse of the person who named you as their beneficiary. We explain in more detail at the link below.

Your 401K and Your Estate Plan In this guide, we answer the most frequently asked questions about inherited 401K accounts and how your 401K fits into estate planning.

Get ready to pack up your car and hit the road with family or friends this summer! Make your destination road trip one to remember by exploring someplace new. Here are five Arizona attractions that you don’t want to miss.

Five Amazing Summer Destinations in Arizona Explore breathtaking landscapes, exciting outdoor activities, and family-friendly attractions at these five Arizona summer destinations.

Wondering how to get started on your estate plan? Let us make it easy for you!

We go over a simple estate planning scenario with basic steps for beginners, and include a checklist with questions that will help you determine what types of information you'll need.

After you've completed the checklist, contact us to schedule a free initial consultation.

Estate Planning for Beginners We explain the importance of estate planning, offer guidance through an example scenario, and include a simple worksheet for beginners.

"Why should I write a will if I have no family?"

If you want to have a say in what happens to your belongings, capital, and valuables after you die, you need a will. Some of our clients have even said that making sure the wealth they leave behind doesn’t end up in the wrong hands is reason enough to create an estate plan. If you have no children, there are plenty of alternatives for beneficiaries, such as your favorite non-profit or even the city you love.

Learn more about estate planning for singles with no family at the link below.

https://plestateplanning.com/estate-planning-for-singles-with-no-dependents/

Creating An Estate Plan for a Single Person With No Dependents It’s important to create an estate plan even if you’re single with no family. You deserve the right to decide what happens to your assets.

Starting your estate plan can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re a beginner. However, you should not put this essential task on the back burner. More people than ever are realizing why tools like wills and trusts are important—even for the younger generations. Let us make estate planning easy for you! In our latest post, we go over a simple estate planning scenario with basic steps for beginners.

Estate Planning for Beginners We explain the importance of estate planning, offer guidance through an example scenario, and include a simple worksheet for beginners.

Even if you don’t have close blood relatives, a spouse, or dependents, it’s still important to write a will and create an estate plan. We explain why in our latest post.

Creating An Estate Plan for a Single Person With No Dependents It’s important to create an estate plan even if you’re single with no family. You deserve the right to decide what happens to your assets.

Planning a wedding in June? Don't forget to add updating your estate plan to your to-do list. After you're finished writing all those thank-you cards, you should meet with an estate planning attorney to find out how your marriage will affect your current plan.

https://plestateplanning.com/a-guide-to-estate-planning-for-married-couples/

Estate Planning for Married Couples - A Complete Guide Get expert advice on estate planning for married couples. Protect your loved ones and pass on your legacy with our guide. Start preparing now.

If you enjoy stargazing, Arizona is one of the best places to do it. There are many designated "dark sky" locations all across the state. If you live in the Phoenix area, here are three great stargazing locations within a two-hour drive of the city.

Best Places to Stargaze in Phoenix Uncover Arizona's top stargazing destinations. Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky and learn about the best spots for stargazing in the state.

Estate planning is a very important part of retirement planning. Although technically you can make an estate plan after you retire, it’s not wise to put it off.

We know it can be difficult to tackle some estate planning topics, like writing your will or setting up a medical power of attorney. However, if you want to begin your retirement with peace of mind, setting up your estate plan in advance is a must.

Estate Planning and Retirement: Why You Need an Estate Plan Before You Retire If you want to begin your retirement with peace of mind, you should make setting up your estate plan a priority.

Choosing a beneficiary for your 401K is an important decision. Even though retirement accounts do not have to go through probate, they can still be subject to taxes and fees. And when it comes to inheriting a 401K account, different rules apply for charities, spouses, and non-spouse beneficiaries.

In this guide, we answer the most frequently asked questions about inherited 401K accounts and how your 401K fits into estate planning.

https://plestateplanning.com/your-401k-and-estate-planning/

Your 401K and Your Estate Plan In this guide, we answer the most frequently asked questions about inherited 401K accounts and how your 401K fits into estate planning.

The best places in the world for stargazing are designated “dark sky” locations. Arizona residents are lucky to have more than twenty of these places in the state! We explain what the term “dark sky” means and reveal the three best spots where you can go stargazing in Phoenix.

Best Places to Stargaze in Phoenix Uncover Arizona's top stargazing destinations. Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky and learn about the best spots for stargazing in the state.

It's never too early to create your estate plan. If you're in your thirties or forties and you don't have an estate plan yet, here's how to get started.

Four Essential Estate Planning Steps for Millennials Estate planning isn’t just for baby boomers—it’s important for millennials, too. Every adult needs an estate plan, no matter how old they are. This step-by-step guide explains more.

Do you have your digital assets in order? If you have questions about how to include cryptocurrency in your estate plan, we explain the details at the link below.

Cryptocurrency and Your Estate Plan Unless you include your cryptocurrency in your estate plan, it could disappear forever. We explain how to protect this important digital asset.

Summer in Phoenix is full of fun and unusual things to do, both indoors and outside! You can explore a local archeological site, visit the largest butterfly conservatory in the United States, or unleash your creativity at the Crayola Experience.

Check out our list of fun summer activities at the link below.

Fun Things to Do in Phoenix This Summer Here’s our list of the best indoor and outdoor summer activities to enjoy with your family and friends in the Phoenix Valley.

At Phelps LaClair, there's nothing more important to us than helping you secure your family's future wellbeing.

Estate planning can help you pass down your family heirlooms, family business, or family home. It can also relieve your family of unnecessary burdens like probate and inheritance taxes, or the pain of making difficult medical decisions.

We've been helping Arizona families with every aspect of estate planning for over 40 years. Take the first steps toward protecting your family's future and schedule a consultation today.

About Phelps LaClair - Phelps LaClair Phelps LaClair is a local Mesa & Chandler law firm providing estate planning services to its clients for over 40 years in Arizona.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! We know firsthand about all the joys and responsibilities that motherhood brings. Protecting their children is one of the things that mothers do best, and setting up a trust for your child can help you do just that. Learn more at the link below.

How to Set Up a Trust for Your Child in 5 Steps Setting up a trust fund can help secure your child’s financial future and give you more control over when and how their inheritance will be distributed. We explain how to set up a trust in this step-by-step guide.

Summer has arrived in Arizona! While it may bring scorching temperatures, this season also presents plenty of opportunities for adventure and exploration. Hiking, camping, and visiting farmers markets are all popular activities, but they aren’t the only things to do in Phoenix. Here’s our list of the best indoor and outdoor activities to try this summer.

Fun Things to Do in Phoenix This Summer Here’s our list of the best indoor and outdoor summer activities to enjoy with your family and friends in the Phoenix Valley.

After tying the knot, there seems to be a happy bubble surrounding a newly married couple. It’s easy to get lost in day-to-day life and feel like there’s still plenty of time to take care of the finer details. However, estate planning is a task that you should never postpone.

Read our guide to estate planning for newlyweds at the link below.

Estate Planning for Married Couples - A Complete Guide Get expert advice on estate planning for married couples. Protect your loved ones and pass on your legacy with our guide. Start preparing now.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? How about roller skating? You can polish up your long-lost skills or introduce your kids to a new activity. Check out our list of the five best roller rinks in Phoenix at the link below.

Roll It Out! The Best Roller Rinks Around Phoenix Looking for a place to skate in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area? Here's a list of the best roller rinks around Phoenix from Phelps LaClair.

If you do not specifically list your cryptocurrency in your estate planning documents, it could be lost forever. Since there is no physical documentation of ownership, there’s no other way for your beneficiaries to know that it exists.

If you have invested in crypto, you'll want to read this post.

Cryptocurrency and Your Estate Plan Unless you include your cryptocurrency in your estate plan, it could disappear forever. We explain how to protect this important digital asset.

Trust administration can get quite complicated, especially if managing the trust involves overseeing assets like real estate. But working with an experienced estate planning professional can help you avoid costly mistakes—here's how.

6 Mistakes Successor Trustees Make and How to Prevent Them Being named successor trustee is a big responsibility. Avoid these mistakes to administer the trust smoothly.

If you’re moving to another state or buying a new home, you will need to update your estate plan. We explain why—and how we can help—in our latest blog post.

Updating Your Estate Plan After You Move Moving to another state or buying a new home? These are both times when you need to update your estate plan.

Are you worried that your child might spend their inheritance all at once, instead of building on the legacy you left for them? Do they have a financially irresponsible spouse? The best way to deal with situations like these is to set up a living trust. We explain why at the link below.

How Do I Leave an Inheritance to an Irresponsible Child? A living trust can help you navigate the complexities of leaving an inheritance to an irresponsible child—here’s how.

Happy Earth Day! We live on a pretty amazing planet, and Arizona is one of the most beautiful places on it. If you can, take some time today to get outside and enjoy one of the many walking trails in Phoenix. Here's a list of our favorites.

Walking Trails in Phoenix In the Phoenix metro area, there are many opportunities for outdoor excursions by foot. Here are some of the best walking trails in Phoenix.

Spring is a great time to go camping in Arizona. The desert is blooming, and the weather is much milder than in the heat of summer. Here's a list of our favorite camping spots in the Phoenix area.

The 5 Best Places to Camp Near Phoenix Do you love the outdoors? Here are some of the best places to camp with gorgeous views in the Phoenix area.

If you have included a medical or financial power of attorney in your estate plan you should review it to make sure it's durable. That way, if you are ever incapacitated by a physical or mental illness, your POA will be able to manage your medical care and/or finances for you.

We discuss the different types of power of attorney at the link below.

What Does Durable Power of Attorney Mean? Setting up a durable power of attorney means that if you are ever incapacitated, your medical care and finances will be handled according to your wishes.