Covid Vaccine: When Deciding for Others, What’s Best?
Across the country, millions of Americans are getting the Covid vaccine. For many, deciding whether to get one is no big deal. (“It’s best for everyone, right?”) For those who are unable to weigh the risks and benefits, someone else has to step in and give consent. That might be a guardian or a health […]
Acting as Fiduciary Can Be Hard, Even Dangerous, Work
When you think about planning your estate, you probably focus on who will receive what share of your property. You might not focus as clearly on choosing your personal representative or trustee. Consider your choices carefully: acting as fiduciary is not so much an honor as it is a chore. What is a fiduciary? Lawyers […]
Why We Do What We Do
JANUARY 9, 2017 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 2 At Fleming & Curti, PLC, we represent seniors, people with disabilities and the family members who work with and support them. We also frequently act as trustee, agent, conservator or guardian for that population. It’s hard to capsulize exactly what we do, but if you ask any of […]
Court Invalidates Will and Trust Naming Lawyer as Beneficiary
JULY 11, 2016 VOLUME 23 NUMBER 26 One principle governing lawyers is obviously and intuitively correct: A lawyer may not prepare a will or trust (or, for that matter, any other document or arrangement) by which a client makes any substantial gift to the lawyer. Similarly, lawyers are precluded from preparing documents giving or leaving […]
Conservator Not Required to Unwind Protected Person’s Estate Plan
JUNE 8, 2015 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 21 When an aging parent begins to fail, and a scheming caretaker appears to take advantage, what should concerned children do to respond? Should they consider a report to Adult Protective Services (in Arizona, 1-877-SOS-ADULT, or 1-877-767-2385), or file a court proceeding, or take some other action? The short […]
Exploitation of Vulnerable Senior Leads to Disinheritance
JANUARY 27, 2014 VOLUME 21 NUMBER 4 Arizona has a relatively strong statute dealing with exploitation of vulnerable adults. An exploiter can be charged criminally, and might receive a longer sentence or larger fine because of the victim’s vulnerability. But the strongest part of the Arizona law is probably the provision that lets the victim […]
Arizona Probate Court Changes Coming in 2012
DECEMBER 19, 2011 VOLUME 18 NUMBER 43 It is not exactly a secret that the Arizona probate court system has been widely criticized over the past two years or so. The Phoenix-area newspapers have been filled with stories about alleged abuses of the probate process. Many of those stories have focused on practices in the […]
Conservator’s Accounting Approved in Contentious Proceeding
APRIL 11, 2011 VOLUME 18 NUMBER 13 The Montana Supreme Court identifies him as “J.R.” to protect him from public identification, but it is possible to get quite a feeling for him, his family and the two different conservators appointed to handle his finances. In 2006, when the legal proceedings started, J.R. was 78 years […]
Some More of Our Readers’ Questions Answered
MARCH 7, 2011 VOLUME 18 NUMBER 8 Two weeks ago we answered some of our readers’ frequent questions, and we solicited more. We heard from several of you with good questions of general interest. Among those (with identifying information and some details stripped out): My wife and I do not have any obvious family member […]
Durable Powers of Attorney Are Important But Dangerous
APRIL 26, 2010 VOLUME 17, NUMBER 14 A power of attorney is one of the most important, powerful and dangerous documents you will ever sign. Why is it important? Because your family has no inherent right or power to handle your finances in the event that you become incapacitated. Why is it dangerous? Because it […]
