Amy B. Dodell, Attorney at Law
Why Is Estate Planning So Important?
I am not your typical lawyer. I am your personal everyday lawyer. In a typical meeting with a typical lawyer, you can easily become confused. Having worked all phases of the law practice, I prefer to break things down, so everyone understands why they are meeting with me, and what I can do for them to simplify their life, and their life planning goals.
Over time, your legal and personal needs change. Your kids grow up, you sell homes, businesses and move bank accounts around. Your assets change, your life changes. A Will or Trust should be evaluated as your life moves along. Not everyone needs a Trust, but everyone should have a Will. And not every Will is alike. That is why you do not want to write your own without understanding the legal ramifications of what is needed. You do not want your loved ones to retrieve your dusty estate planning documents to find out that changes in your assets and in the law made your documents obsolete. Nor do you want the Court to throw out your Will because it was invalid.
Another part of estate planning involves Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney. One of the most common questions I get from people both online and in person is relating to Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney. Usually it is from parents of kids who are becoming adults and off to college or simply moving away, or people with aging or sick parents who they medically manage. Many people are not aware of the need to have Powers of Attorney and Living Wills prepared or they do not know where to obtain the documents. That is where I, your everyday family lawyer can help. I am happy to prepare and explain to you about the documents you need to assist with your loved ones medical and financial needs.
Families grow, changes happen and that is why estate planning is needed throughout your adult life. While people think estate planning is only for those in later stages in life, it is really meant for all adults, in all stages. And when you have minor children, it is for them too. You want to make sure arrangements are in place for your minor children in the event of an emergency. With proper planning, family transition is a much smoother process.
That is why I want to be your personal everyday lawyer. Whether it is answering a simple legal question, or a complicated legal question, whether it is helping you figure out your health care needs, or the end of life distribution of your assets, I want to be there for you, to help you navigate your legal issues and I want to do it in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
When you call my office, you will be communicating directly with me. I won’t be looking at my watch as initial consults are 100% free. And, most everything I do is billed on a flat-fee or contingency basis, agreed to in advance, so there are never any surprises when it comes to my legal fees.
We're here to help!
As an estate planning lawyer at Arizona Law and Mediation, LLC, I would be glad to meet with you to discuss your estate planning goals and to help you create the documents that will give you a sense of peace and security about your future and the future of those close to you. I serve clients in Arizona. Simply call or reach me online today to get started.