We, like you, had begun to wonder if 2020 would ever end. But it did! Happy New Year, 2021! We learned a lot in the past year. From client needs to trust administration challenges to office management — there was a lot to absorb. On top of that, we moved into new office space (and we love it!) just weeks before having to lock down. In fact, we foolishly talked and wrote about 2020 New …

If you are trustee of an Arizona trust, you must provide information to “qualified beneficiaries” of the trust. But who are those people? If you join us for this week’s podcast episode, we’ll help you understand the legal phrase, its meaning and effect. We hope that helps you figure out how to discharge your legal responsibilities. Perhaps you are a trust beneficiary. We can help you figure out what information you are titled to…

The pandemic response across the country has led to incalculable problems and challenges. One problem area that has been hit especially hard: special needs education. What is special needs education? In normal times, U.S. law requires states and local school districts to provide opportunities for children with special needs. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA), and other laws have altogether changed the educational landscape. As a…

There are trust reporting requirements for every trustee. Those requirements vary depending on the circumstances, though. Is the trust revocable or irrevocable? Who are the current beneficiaries? What happens to the trust after the death of current beneficiaries (or, perhaps, the passage of time)? As we discuss in this podcast episode, Arizona’s trust reporting requirements are fairly specific. They derive from the Uniform Trust Code, which Arizona adopted in 2008. Does Arizona’s version of…

You have a long pattern of making gifts — to your children, to other family members, and to charities. Do you want to continue to make those gifts after incapacity? You need to make your intentions clear now, while you are still able to express those wishes. Perhaps you are managing someone else’s affairs. Maybe you are acting as trustee, court-appointed conservator, or agent under a power of attorney. Can you make (or continue) gifts…

After someone dies, most believe the will or trust is the final word and must be followed. That’s never really true. Often the document can’t be changed. But, if everyone involved can agree, they usually can deviate from the document and divide assets differently. Under Arizona law, a will cannot be reformed or modified, and a trust can be modified only under certain specific circumstances, which we’ve written about before. But there’s another way. Beneficiaries,…