Anyone who wants their assets to be distributed to one or more surviving loved ones after they die should make a formal estate plan. If you're unable to speak for yourself, this important set of legal documents can help your family ensure that your wishes and needs are met. We can assist you if you decide that hiring our estate lawyer Mesa to prepare and execute your legal documents is the best option.

After your passing, your beneficiaries can avoid probate by using a living trust. Probate is a legal process in which the probate court manages your estate. Following the court's approval of your will, an executor is in charge of paying your estate's debts and distributing your assets to your heirs.

Probate can be a lengthy and costly process, depending on the size of your estate and whether the validity of your will is contested. When you transfer assets to a living trust, they are no longer subject to probate. While you may be able to create a living trust, hiring our professional probate lawyer is probably the best option to avoid any type of issues.

Even if the principal is fully competent and capable of managing his or her own affairs, a power of attorney is usually effective immediately after it is signed. The principal's power to manage his or her own affairs is not revoked by signing this document; rather, the agent is given authority to act on behalf of the principal. The power of attorney can be revoked or replaced at any time as long as the principal is competent.

If you don't have a power of attorney, you should meet with one of our experienced attorneys to discuss preparing one for you. Even if you already have a power of attorney, you should have it reviewed by our attorney to ensure that it contains all of the necessary provisions. This is especially true if your power of attorney is several years old or was written in a state other than the one where you currently reside.