Sharon Ravenscroft Estate Planning Blog

We can make things easier for our family when we are ill or upon our death, when we effectively use a Revocable Living Trusts are very useful for assuring access to assets due to illness or death. One way is to be sure that you have the right persons named as your Successor Trustee to take care of your assets when you cannot. If you have named a fi...

Estate planning needs to be more than just a stack of paper. Legal services should be that-- service, including information, advice and a somewhere to call when you have questions how to use your documents. So I provide legal services, and most follow calls are answered without charge, unless new research or documents are needed.

If you have an LLC but do not have a trust a new law, A.R.S. 29-732.01, allows LLC interests to be held as joint tenants with right of survivorship or community property with right of survivorship. The Operating Agreement must provide for the right of survivorship. This new law avoids probate if you own interest in an LLC but do not have a trust. H...

From time to time, there are scams where companies send official looking bills to people who recently recorded deeds to their trust or otherwise. If you receive a bill regarding a deed processing notice, property transfer service or other official looking agency, other than the county assessor's office, these likely are not real. Feel free to conta...

The Arizona legislature has passed a law effective on September 12, 2013, which increases the amount of assets which would require a probate. You can avoid probate only if the assets you hold in your name do not exceed $100,000 of real property or $75,000 in personal property (cash, accounts and tangible personal property). This is increased by $25...

The IRS has ruled that same-sex couples legally married in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes. The ruling applies even if a same-sex couple moves to a jurisdiction that does not recognize same-sex marriages. Therefore, the IRS in a revenue ruling, 2013-17, have adopted a “state of ...

If you are a Member in an LLC, or own stock in a corporation, you need to be sure your ownership interest is titled in the name of your trust. There is no "pay on death" designation effective for Member's interest or ownership in your business so, even if the owner is your spouse, you will still need to have a probate on your death, unless ownershi...

I am sorry for any inconvenience but Cavanagh Law Firm is switching servers and it is taking longer than we thought. So we are hoping to be back up some time this after noon June 17, 2013. Please call at 623-815-7451, or contact me through facebook.

Your accounts, whether in a bank or investment institution, and your real property all have legal title requirements. Financial institutions and title companies will not release assets unless the legal requirements are satisfied. If you die with assets in your name, and if those assets total more than $50,000, then a probate court filing will be ne...

Ever been ill? Who has legal rights to mske sure your doctors or health care providers take good care of you? Hsve a healthcare power of attorney and thete will be certainty that the right person has the tights to help you.