Services

A good estate plan puts you in control — of who makes decisions if you can't, and of how and to whom your property passes. Michele works with individuals and families to create clear, personalized documents that fit real life, and explains every choice in plain language.

Planning tools may include:

• Wills
• Revocable living trusts and other trusts
• Health-care (medical) powers of attorney and living wills
• Financial (durable) powers of attorney
• Beneficiary and asset-titling guidance to keep your plan working together

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When someone passes away or becomes incapacitated, the people left in charge often face an unfamiliar legal process at an emotional time. Michele guides personal representatives and trustees step by step — through probate when an estate must be administered through the court, and through trust administration when a trust must be carried out — helping them meet their duties correctly, protect themselves, and keep beneficiaries informed.

This work can include:

• Guiding personal representatives through Arizona probate
• Understanding a personal representative's or trustee's legal duties and timelines
• Notifying beneficiaries and interested parties
• Inventorying, valuing, and managing estate or trust assets
• Coordinating with accountants on tax matters
• Making distributions and closing out the estate or trust

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When disagreements arise over an estate or trust, they can strain families and put a loved one's wishes at risk. Michele represents clients in estate, trust, and fiduciary disputes — working to resolve matters efficiently where possible, and advocating firmly in court where necessary.

This work can include:

• Will and trust contests and interpretation disputes
• Breach-of-fiduciary-duty and trustee or executor accountability matters
• Disputes among heirs, beneficiaries, or co-fiduciaries
• Claims to protect or recover estate and trust assets

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When an adult can no longer safely make decisions for themselves, the court can appoint someone to help. Michele assists families in seeking guardianship (over personal and medical decisions) and conservatorship (over finances) — always with the well-being of your loved one at the center.

Help can include:

• Petitioning for adult guardianship and/or conservatorship
• Understanding a guardian's or conservator's duties and reporting
• Protecting a vulnerable adult's health, safety, and finances
• Considering less-restrictive alternatives where appropriate

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