Resumes of Arizona estate planning attorney Richard Keyt and his estate planning attorney son, former CPA Richard C. Keyt.

Our Estate Plan Services

  • Before your free estate plan meeting, complete and submit our online estate plan information questionnaire.

Wills, Trusts & Estate Plan Articles

  • Asset Protected Irrevocable Trusts.  Arizona law does not permit individuals to create a revocable or an irrevocable trust that shields assets in the trust from the trust maker's creditors.  A trust that protects trust assets from the beneficiary's creditors and ex-spouses is an irrevocable trust created and funded by somebody other than the beneficiary.
  • Wear Clean Underwear: Download and read this book written by my mentor Ali Katz. As parents, we spend so much time and effort on how to prepare our children for the future, yet we often overlook the reality of how to protect and secure our children's future if we're no longer around. Using compelling stories, Ali Katz reveals the critical steps parents must address to plan effectively for their children's future. An eye-opening and much-needed guide!
    • Get the crucial legal lowdown you need to know to protect your kids
    • Discover how to pass on what matters most – no matter how much money you have
    • Know for sure that you've done right by the people you love
    • All in an easy-to-read “choose your own adventure” style book
  • Benefits of an Arizona Beneficiary Deed that transfers Arizona real estate automatically on the death of the owner(s) without the need for an expensive Superior Court probate to the person, people, or entity named in the deed.

More Estate Planning Articles

Click on a + symbol or blue text to open a topic to see the articles in that topic.

  • What is a Will? You probably know that a Will is a document in which you name who will receive your property after your death.  Do you know the other important functions a Will serves?  How about what happens if you don't have a Will?
  • Non-lawyers Preparing Wills – This woman hired a non-lawyer to draft her Will.  After her death, her family wound up in court fighting about the estate – something that everyone should try to avoid.

  • Healthcare Power of Attorney – If you are sick or injured and unable to make your own healthcare decisions, who will make them for you?  With a Healthcare Power of Attorney, you decide.  Without a Healthcare Power of Attorney, a court will decide—and it won't be cheap.
  • Living Wills – Remember Terri Schaivo?  After a heart attack, Terri was left in a persistent vegetative state.  Terri's story made national headlines because her husband and parents couldn't agree on what Terri herself would have wanted.  Did Terri want to be kept alive artificially in her condition?  Or did Terri want to refuse the aggressive medical treatment and die naturally?  Since Terri didn't have a Living Will, Terri didn't get to make that decision.
  • HIPAA Authorization – Federal healthcare privacy laws (HIPAA) prohibit medical providers from disclosing your medical information without your permission.  But what if you're unable to give permission because you're sick or injured?  You probably want a loved one to be informed of your medical condition so they can make healthcare decisions for you.  If you become incapacitated, a HIPAA authorization allows your medical providers to give medical information to a person that you choose.
  • Financial Power of Attorney – We all have financial obligations.  Unfortunately, they don't go away if you become incapacitated.  If you are unable to handle your own finances, who will do it for you?   With a Financial Power of Attorney, you can pick an agent to manage your finances – and pay the bills – when you can't do so yourself.

  • Arizona Trust Companies – A list of Arizona trust companies KEYTLaw recommends if you plan to name an institutional trustee.

  • NFA Gun Trusts – A resource for Arizona residents to understand the NFA, Title II firearms, and how and when to use a gun trust to own and use Title II firearms.
  • IRA Inheritance Trust® – A new type of trust called the IRA Inheritance Trust® can ensure your beneficiaries stretch-out distributions over their lives for tax-free growth to maximize wealth accumulation and to provide asset protection if necessary.
  • Pet Trusts – Since pets are our furry “kids,” it makes sense to protect them just like our human children.  Often, pets are left scared and forgotten after a tragedy.  Some might even end up in shelters, or worse.  Don't leave Fido and Fluffy out of your estate plan – protect them with a Pet Trust!
  • Special Needs Trusts – This Wall Street Journal article sheds light on this important type of trust for individuals with special needs.

  • Beneficiary Designations – Do you remember filling out a form naming your beneficiary when you set up your retirement account or purchased your life insurance policy?  Do you remember who you wrote down?  Since life insurance and retirement accounts are often some of the largest assets people own, designating the right beneficiaries is a critical part of estate planning.

  • Transfer Your Vehicle Probate-Free – Arizona law allows you to transfer the title to your vehicle upon death to one or more beneficiaries of your choice.  This estate planning tool is easy and inexpensive, and we'll tell you how to take advantage of it.
  • Intestate Succession – What happens if you die without a Will?  Your property will be distributed in accordance with Arizona's laws of intestate succession.  This article explains how it might work in your situation.
  • How to Hold Property – A description of the various ways to hold property, including joint tenants with right of survivorship, community property with right of survivorship, tenants in common, and tenancy by the entirety.

  • Roth IRA Distribution Flowchart – Like the Traditional IRA Distribution Flowchart, this chart shows you the distribution choices the beneficiaries of your Roth IRA will have to make.

Wills, Trusts & Estate Plan Videos

Our Simple Quick & Efficient Estate Plan System

Protect Your Loved Ones with an Estate Plan with a Trust

Estate Planning: Leaving a Legacy for Future Generations

36 Documents & Services In Our Estate Plan with a Revocable Living Trust

Protect Your Minor Children's Inheritance: How To Secure Their Future

Keeping Your Trust Updated: When Life Changes, So Should Your Estate Plan

Why Estate Planning Matters: Protect Your Legacy & Loved Ones

Adopt a Revocable Living Trust to Avoid Probate & Protect Your Loved Ones

Trust Planning: Secure Your Family’s Financial Future

Pet Emergency Card: Don’t Forget About Your Pets!