Top Best Estate Lawyers | 18353 Available

Richard Durfee. Jr. (Rick), is the founding and senior attorney at Durfee Law Group (DLG), practicing law since 1988. Based in Mesa, Arizona, the firm represents clients all over the US for all levels of estate planning, asset protection, business and charitable planning, and probate, from simple wills and trusts to complex dynasty planning. Rick has a unique family-centered approach to planning especially focused on growing and preserving multi-generational tax-efficient wealth, and protecting the family. His motto is “Live Well, Leave a Legacy”. To that end, the law firm has a 500-year plan so that families with such dynasty planning can have the legal help they need to thrive for generations to come.. Law is not Rick’s first career. Back in the early 80’s, he was helping teach classes on World Religions at Arizona State University, but couldn’t support his growing family on what they were willing to pay, so he decided to go to law school. As it turns out, his studies and research in the world’s great variety of religious experiences and expressions, would significantly shape how he has come to practice law and serve his clients.. He found that if he was given the opportunity to help people keep their families and their assets out of the courtroom, it would make their lives better. Preventing fights over money makes families stronger, and the people in the families more in tune with what they know to be right. As he worked through different issues with many families, he found that most traditional estate planning focuses only on what happens with material things when people die; who’s going to get what, and when and how are they going to get it. This focus on the material, without regard for the non-material aspects of life, often triggers the very outcome that people are trying to avoid, and avoids the outcome that people are hoping for.. DLG focuses on all levels of estate planning and associated legal matters. This is a multi-disciplinary practice; DLG not only sets up Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts, business entities, and charitable tools, they carefully think through how each piece relates to the rest of the plan, and works together for common purposes.. Over the years, DLG has gone through various law firm arrangements. Rick has worked with brilliant mentors, strong partners, highly skilled colleagues, and dear friends. Today DLG has a growing number of bright, hard working attorneys, paralegals, and support staff to serve our clients and who share Rick’s vision. These younger up-coming professionals are part of DLG’s own long term succession plan. They are building something at Durfee Law Group with their clients and with their own organization that is intended to outlive them, and which will continue to serve and bless others for generations to come.

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.

Robert is a native Arizonan who has been practicing law since 2017. Robert attended law school at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University where he graduated cum laude. Robert also served as a board member of the Jurimetrics Journal of Law Science and Technology. Prior to starting his own practice, Robert practiced civil litigation at two prominent Phoenix law firms. Robert now enjoys the practice of estate planning because it provides him with the opportunity to help people achieve their goals - including creating a plan for the future. Robert also assists clients with business formation.

Kelli joined the Phelps LaClair team in 2021. Previously, she served as in-house counsel at GoDaddy, a publicly traded internet company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, where she oversaw acquisitions and global compliance. Prior to moving to Arizona, she was the General Counsel at Himalayan Cataract Project, a Vermont-based nonprofit organization, and an attorney at a Burlington law firm, providing legal guidance to a wide range of clients in both business transactions and litigation matters. Kelli graduated summa cum laude from Vermont Law School and obtained her bachelor’s degree in ecology from the University of Arizona.. Kelli returned to private practice to do what she loves most as a lawyer: work directly with members of her community. She decided to dedicate her career to estate planning after personally witnessing, on one hand, the visible relief of loved ones who have a quality estate plan in place, and, on the other hand, the extreme stress and family strife caused by a poorly planned estate. Kelli enjoys giving clients the peace of mind that comes from planning for the future.. Kelli resides in Mesa, Arizona with her partner. She loves exploring Arizona’s gorgeous hiking trails and cheering on the Phoenix Suns. She is (slowly) learning to play the violin.

Kristi Hancock ESQ is a 4th generation Arizonan. She spent 12 years traveling around the country with her husband while he was in the Air Force. They came back to settle down in Arizona where Kristi began her real estate career and eventually become an attorney.. Education:. Kristi graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. She received her law degree from Arizona Summit Law School where she graduated summa cum laude. Kristi was the recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for being the top student in Criminal Procedure, Civil Litigation, and Wills, Trusts and Estates. She has practiced real estate law, family law, estate planning, probate, equine law, and contract law.. Community:. Kristi volunteers with Women In Law, Wills for Heroes, Helping Hands, and other church and community organizations. She loves to help our first responders and military heroes with their legal needs.. Hobbies:. Kristi loves to ride and train quarter horses. She has three grown daughters and five grandchildren. She loves family time and outdoor time.