I'm new to Phoenix — do I need to redo my estate plan?
If you've moved to Phoenix from out of state and you already have an estate plan, the question naturally comes up: does it still work? It's an important one, but the answer is more nuanced than people expect. Many newcomers assume that the move alone means everything has to be redone. That isn't necessarily true.
The Honest Answer
Sit down and review what you have first.
The best approach is to bring your existing documents in for a review rather than assuming you need to start from scratch. A careful reading will tell us whether your will, trust, and powers of attorney still meet Arizona's requirements, whether they still reflect your current wishes, and whether anything needs to change to function smoothly here in Phoenix.
What we often see, however, is that a move combines with another factor: the documents are 10 or 12 years old. When that's the case, the issue isn't really the move — it's that life has changed in significant ways since the plan was last drafted. New children or grandchildren, new property, new marriages or divorces, and shifts in your priorities all add up. In those situations, a full update is usually the most efficient path.
What Might Need Updating
The pieces that most often need attention.
Even when an out-of-state will is technically valid in Arizona, certain practical pieces may benefit from refresh: the executor and back-up executor designations (especially if your originally-named people no longer live near you), the witnessing and notary formalities (Arizona's self-proving affidavit format is specific), and any real estate provisions if your current home or properties are now in Arizona.
If you have a revocable living trust, we'll also want to confirm that any new Arizona property is properly titled into the trust. A trust only protects what's actually inside it — and a home you bought after the move won't be covered by your old trust unless we update the deed.
Ready when you are
Welcome to Phoenix — let's review what you've brought.
Schedule a flat-fee session and bring your existing estate documents. We'll tell you what still works, what should change, and exactly why.