Douglas B Price, Esq. • June 17, 2026

Law Offices of Douglas B. Price, P.C.

Our office recently had a parent of a client who had a trust written by a non-lawyer “discount” estate planning company. They properly funded the trust by placing their residence into the trust, as shown by the recorded deed. The original documents were apparently given to the parents for safekeeping.

Unfortunately, the parent passed away, and neither our client nor his siblings could locate the trust documents anywhere. After an extensive search, they contacted the non-lawyer estate planning company only to find out that the company did not keep copies of any documents it produced. So there is no trust. No plan as to who is in charge of the estate. No directions as to who gets the house, the car, or other property.

Our client will have to go to probate court to “fix” the problem of the missing trust, and the Arizona laws that apply are for people who do not have wills or trusts. This will be, of course, much more difficult and expensive than trust administration would have been.

The morals of this tale are:

  1. A trust can be a wonderful money-saving device to help you avoid probate if done properly.
  2. If you have a trust (or a will), make sure that your heirs know where to find it.
  3. Use a reputable attorney (not a discount service) who will keep copies of your important legal documents in case they become lost.

Estate planning is not just for rich people.

Three people discussing documents at a table in a bright office-like room

Guardianship and Conservatorship in Arizona

By Douglas B Price, Esq. • June 17, 2026
When an incapacitated person needs care, you can petition the court for a guardianship or a conservatorship for the incapacitated individual. The incapacity may be due to a legal disability, such as being under the age of 18, or a physical or mental disability affecting an elderly person. The difference between a guardianship and a […]
Lawyer at desk with gavel, house model, scales, and clipboard, suggesting property law or legal advice

Stella by Starlight – a Conservatorship Story

By Douglas B Price, Esq. • June 17, 2026
LAW OFFICES OF DOUGLAS B. PRICE, P.C., TEMPE, AZ I was recently contacted by a potential home seller, Stella, a 75-year-old grandmother, who was interested in selling the residence she has lived in for many years. However, Stella had an estate planning problem, one that she caused by doing her own estate planning several years […]
Three people in a meeting around a white table with a laptop, papers, and a pen in a modern office.

What does “Joint Tenancy” mean?

By Douglas B Price, Esq. • June 17, 2026
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Wooden judge’s gavel resting on a black folder over a dark desk surface

What to Do When a Power of Attorney is Abused

By Douglas B Price, Esq. • June 17, 2026
One of the best things you can do is prepare a durable financial or general power of attorney (POA) so that someone you trust can pay your bills and conduct your business in the event of your disability. We often help our clients in Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, and San Tan Valley prepare these important […]