Estate Planning 101

When people hear the term “estate planning,” they may imagine that this is a luxury reserved for wealthy individuals with lots of assets. However, many couples and individuals may benefit from some estate planning, regardless of the size and complexity of their estate. Another hang-up people commonly have is that they figure that estate planning is too complex and decide that whatever the benefits of planning ahead may be, they are outweighed by the headache inducing process of slogging through an estate plan. But many estates can be planned using relatively simple devices that may save your loved ones invaluable time and money in the long run. This short introduction to the topic of estate law in Arizona should serve to familiarize visitors with some of the most basic concepts in estate law and demystify what can be an intimidating topic. Read More

Tucson Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Lawyers | Foreclosure Attorneys

ALTERNATIVES TO FORECLOSURE IN ARIZONA 

In the wake of the latest real estate tsunami, survivor homeowners desperately cling on to the flotsam of bad mortgages and declining home values, where each month they are battered by yet another wave of payments.  The rescue ship of economic recovery is nowhere to be seen, hope fades, and these survivors give in to a suffocating fate – foreclosure. Read More

What you should know about Estate Planning

 As anyone familiar with the old adage well knows, life throws us curveballs that we can’t anticipate or predict. While thinking about our final days isn’t a subject we don’t often take time to think about, it is something that we have to plan for. Life is uncertain. Having an estate plan isn’t only for the wealthy or elderly — everyone should have one.

What is estate planning?

Estate planning is commonly thought of as a final will, but there’s actually a lot more to it than that. Your estate plan can also include a trust agreement for your assets, as well as financial, tax, business, and medical plans in the event that you become unable to make those decisions yourself or pass away. Read More

The Pitfalls of not Paying your Home Owner Association Assessments

 

With the traumatic rise of homes falling into foreclosure and many homeowners filing for bankruptcy, it may seem like the current financial crisis is a storm with no end in sight. For many Arizona real estate law clients at the Heckele Law Firm, a question that often comes up is the consequence of not paying Homeowners Association (HOA) assessments. As if the burden of mortgage payments and associated late fees weren’t enough, the additional liability of HOA dues adds further financial stress to an already tense situation. While the consequences of not paying your assessments can range from a lawsuit and lien to foreclosure, there are several options available to you to deal with your unpaid HOA assessments in the face of impending foreclosure and/or bankruptcy. Read More