Top Best Estate Lawyers | 14203 Available

James Phelps is managing partner at Phelps LaClair. Born and raised in Arizona, James has strong ties to the state where his family has resided for several generations. He developed a passion for the practice of law at a young age when he worked alongside his father, who is also an estate planning attorney, for many years before attending law school. James has been practicing law since 1999 and devotes his law practice exclusively to estate planning and trust administration and enjoys helping clients achieve peace of mind by preventing “fires” instead of having to put them out.. James has counseled thousands of clients who have benefited from trusts and estate plans that protect wealth, minimize estate taxes and avoid probate. His clients come from all walks of life and have both modest and wealthy estates. James has the unique experience of having handled hundreds of trusts and estates after people have passed away and knows what works and doesn’t when the time comes. James truly enjoys educating others on the importance of estate planning and presents dozens of estate planning seminars each year to organizations, clients and the public.. James graduated summa cum laude in accounting from Arizona State University in 1996, after which he attended law school at J. Reuben Clark Law School and graduated cum laude in 1999. He is a longstanding member of the State Bar of Arizona Probate and Trust Section, WealthCounsel, the Maricopa County Bar Association and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.. James and his wife, Jolene, have three very active children. He is passionate about living a healthy and balanced life and loves to coach and play competitive tennis. James shares his love of sports with kids as a volunteer coach, and on weekends he enjoys backpacking, camping, paddle boarding and other high adventure activities.

I am a native of Mesa, Arizona, practicing in areas of estate planning and probate litigation.  Our firm can handle countless other fields of law, as well.  Go to our website and take a look for further information.  Thank you.

Stead Business & Estate Planning specializes in Estate Planning guidance and document preparation, as well as various Business-related matters including payroll and bookkeeping services. We closely work in partnership with each of our clients to ensure their specific needs are met. We offer reasonable rates to all, and offer discounted rates for seniors, low-income individuals, and all veterans!. As your Estate Planning professionals, our licensed attorneys are experienced in drafting Wills & Trusts, Advanced Healthcare Directives, Living Wills, and Power of Attorneys. Upon completion of your Estate Planning documents, our team will walk you through the finalization process step-by-step to make sure you understand the content of your Estate Plan and ensure it is validly executed and legally operative.. On the business side, our licensed attorneys have years of experience drafting business formation documents for Corporations, Limited Liability and Professional Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships. We continue to assist our clients with regular maintenance of their corporate/company books by drafting the necessary corporate resolutions and legal memoranda as necessary throughout the year. Running a business can be a daunting task. That is why we also offer support services such as payroll management and bookkeeping, and tax preparation, allowing you to focus on what matters.. Additionally, we have expertise in contract drafting and review (commercial, lease, and joint venture agreements), as well as consulting on general business strategies across a variety of specialties. Should things go awry, our litigation team can step in and resolve disputes so you can keep your business on track and moving forward.. Thank you for considering Stead Business & Estate Planning for all of your Estate Planning and Business needs. We look forward to helping you soon!

Our firm is genuinely dedicated to providing value-oriented legal services to every client with the utmost integrity. Through the years I have provided legal consultation and representation in creditor's rights, personal injury, real estate and landlord-tenant law with a sincere, personal touch. I will take pride in being your lawyer.

Wendy is a native Tucsonan. She understands the value of family and howimportant it is to protect them through estate planning. She is married to her college sweetheart and is the mother of four children. With over 20years of experience in estate planning, Wendy understands the importance ofprotecting the ones you love, making her an excellent estate planningattorney. Wendy received her Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahomain May of 1995, and was accepted shortly thereafter into the American BarAssociation and the District Court of Arizona. Wendy is involved in hercommunity and serves in many capacities, focusing especially upon helpingyouth to establish goals that will guide their future. Wendy’s three sonshave grown in the ranks of the Boy Scouts of America, all achieving therank of Eagle Scout. Wendy is proud of her membership with the SaddlebrookeRotary Club and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

A native Arizonan, Trevor S. Draegeth received his Bachelorof Arts, Master of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University ofArizona.  He teaches history atPima Community College in Tucson and is a member of the State Bar ofArizona.  Mr. Draegeth and his wife have two lovely children.

At AZ Law Doctor, our experienced attorneys strive to protect you and your loved ones. We help individuals, families and businesses by providing them with professional, high-quality and cost-effective legal solutions regarding Estate Planning, Probate, formation of LLCs, creation of Operating Agreements, preparing Wills and Trusts, and handling your Personal Injury claims.

David focuses his practice in family law. He assists clients with divorces, child custody issues, post-decree modifications, and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. David is experienced with high conflict family law matters and has tried numerous cases. He has particular expertise when dealing with issues relative to children both during dissolution and issues that arise after a client’s divorce or establishment matter. David passionately advocates for what matters most to his clients and builds a strategic, custom game plan for each. He takes pride in the details and genuinely cares for his clients and the best interests of their children. While his primarily practice is family law, David continues to have a passion for sports law and teaches both Family Law and Sports Law courses at ASU’s College of Law.

Giancarlo Estrada is an experienced attorney, licensed to practice since 2005. He completed his legal studies at the University of Notre Dame and completed a Master in Laws in Taxation at the University of San Diego. He is a member of the Maricopa Bar Association, various networking groups and is licensed in both Arizona and California.. Giancarlo has lived in Arizona since 2008. In his spare time he volunteers with the Arizona Pug Adoption and Rescue Network, attempts to golf, and enjoys exploring Arizona’s many outdoor offerings.

A former business owner, Lisa is well versed in challenges faced by small businesses and their owners. Her unique prospective benefits her business clients with agreements, employment advice, copyright violations and succession planning. She also assists families with estate planning not only guiding them through the estate planning process but also understanding why this is so vital to their families. Her goal is for her clients to achieve peace of mind from knowing that they have protected and provided for themselves and their family. When needed, she represents estates in probate and assists with trust administration.. Prior to moving to Arizona, she worked in an immigration law firm in California where she represented clients in immigration court. Lisa worked as an Investor Relations and Operations manager of a $2 billion hedge fund prior to attending law school. This experience formed the base for her business practice.

Roger Cohen has over 40 years’ experience as a business attorney, representing clients in both litigation and transactions. He has a deep knowledge and understanding of commercial law and the litigation process and is a forceful and effective advocate for his clients. Roger’s experience as a transactional attorney adds value in the litigation setting, as he can relate the documentation process to issues that arise in business and commercial disputes. Conversely, his knowledge and skill as a litigator affords him an advantage in negotiating and drafting settlement agreements with maximum protections to his clients. This unique blend of expertise is particularly useful in workout representation.. He has long-standing relationships with business clients in a variety of industries, providing business counseling, transactional assistance and litigation services. For over 30 years, he has represented an independent escrow company, successfully defending numerous claims asserting alleged breaches of contract and fiduciary duties. He acted as Arizona lead counsel in an 18-year multiple state legal battle arising out of a jojoba investment scheme, and was litigation counsel for the receiver of a group of lenders taken over as the result of a Ponzi scheme investigation. Roger has obtained favorable results, through trial or settlement, for clients in a variety of matters, including legal and accounting malpractice, shareholder and partner disputes, employment contract and restrictive covenant disputes, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, and complex collections.. Roger has published articles and spoken on a variety of topics, including the Arizona homestead and judgment lien statutes, Uniform Commercial Code Articles 2 (sales) and 9 (secured transactions), attorney conflicts and misconduct, bankruptcy appeals, and civil procedure. His article “Foreign Judgments and Community Property” was published in Arizona Attorney in November, 2009 and he co-authored “The Top 50 Leading Cases that Shaped Life and Law in Arizona’s First 100 Years” published in Arizona Attorney in February 2012. He is co-author of a chapter of the recent Thompson Reuters publication, “Inside the Minds: Strategies for Consumer Bankruptcy Appeals”.. A former law clerk to the Honorable Duke Cameron, former Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, Roger has substantial experience as an appellate practitioner, having supervised and written numerous appellate briefs and argued cases in the Arizona Supreme Court, Arizona Court of Appeals, California Court of Appeals, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His published decisions include: Phares v. Nutter, 125 Ariz. 291, 609 P.2d 561 (Ariz. Supreme Court 1980) (established right to debtor to seek relief from judgment registered under the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act); Corporate Inv. Business Brokers v. Melcher, 824 F.2d 786 (9th Cir. 1987) (reversing District Court and holding that Colorado franchisee was subject to jurisdiction in Arizona in suit brought by franchisor); Mid Kansas Federal Sav. and Loan Ass’n of Wichita v. Dynamic Development Corp., 167 Ariz. 122, 804 P.2d 1310 (Ariz. Supreme Court 1991) (counsel for amicus curiae Southwest Savings & Loan Assoc.); Anderson v. Contes, 212 Ariz. 122, 128 P.3d 230 (Ariz. App. 2006); Austin Shea (Arizona) 7th Street and Van Buren, L.L.C. v. City of Phoenix, 213 Ariz. 385, 142 P.3d 693 (Ariz. App. 2006) and Rackmaster Systems, Inc. v. Maderia, 219 Ariz. 60, 193 P.3d 314 (Ariz. App. 2008).

I help small business owners with their business adventures. We work as a team on everything from formation to liquidity. I truly enjoy working with my clients and find great joy in helping them become successful.. On a personal note, I am an Arizona-native; I love traveling around the state and seeing new places. I also love to visit new restaurants and other businesses in the area. During my free time, I spend a lot of time with my beautiful puppy and wonderful family.

Kelsi is a dedicated attorney practicing estate law. She is focused on ensuring her clients’ legal needs are met with promptness and efficiency. Kelsi is recognized for her expertise by The Best Lawyers in America©, 2024 and 2025 editions, Super Lawyers®, 2022, 2023, and 2024 editions, and featured in Phoenix Magazine’s Top Lawyers in Wills, Trusts, & Estates, 2022, 2023, and 2024 editions. With a commitment to personalized service and a track record of success, she provides reliable legal counsel tailored to each client’s unique situation.. With a focus on effective client communication, Kelsi ensures that her clients fully understand the intricacies of estate planning and administration. Whether guiding them through the process of creating an estate plan or assisting in the administration of a loved one’s estate, her clarity and expertise shine through.. After completing an estate plan with Kelsi, clients not only gain a legally sound document but also a deep understanding of its intricacies. She ensures that her clients feel empowered and confident in their estate plans, knowing that each aspect has been meticulously tailored to meet their individual needs and circumstances. By taking the time to educate her clients and address any questions or concerns they may have, Kelsi fosters a sense of trust and assurance that their wishes will be carried out as intended. With her guidance, clients can rest assured that their estate plans are not just legal documents but reflections of their unique preferences and priorities.. Another cornerstone of Kelsi’s practice is her exceptional communication skills, which enable her to effectively manage estate and trust administration for clients residing outside of Arizona. Despite the geographical distance, she ensures seamless communication with her out-of-state clients, keeping them informed and involved every step of the way. Through clear and timely correspondence, Kelsi navigates the complexities of estate and trust administration, providing personalized guidance and reassurance to her clients regardless of their location. Her commitment to open communication fosters strong client relationships built on trust, reliability, and peace of mind, ensuring that distance is never a barrier to exceptional legal representation.. With a diverse background that spans years of experience in probate, trust administration, litigation, and estate planning, she brings a wealth of knowledge and perspective to her practice. Kelsi’s previous roles at a boutique estate planning law firm and with the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C., have provided her with invaluable insights into the intricacies of estate law and related fields.. Outside of her legal practice, Kelsi is passionate about giving back to the community. She serves in an executive role on the Board of Governors for the Arizona State Bar and is also actively serving on the Board of the Arizona Bar Foundation. When she’s not advocating for the legal profession, Kelsi loves to spend quality time with her husband, elementary-aged son, and their min pin. Early mornings are often spent hiking the beautiful trails of Arizona.

Strategic, Compassionate, and Assertive Representation in the areas of Trust and Probate Litigation, Estate Administration, Elder Law, and Real Estate.