Kramer Legacy Documents, LLC

Quarantine Update!

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 19:38:00 GMT

Hello Kramer & Kramer Clients!

At Kramer & Kramer, the safety and well-being of our employees and our customers is always our priority, and we recognize the important role we play in providing our business to our customers. We are actively monitoring the COVID-19/Coronavirus situation and taking steps to help keep our communities safe. Our staff is going into quarantine, this coming week, starting on 3/23. We will be updating all social media accounts frequently, follow us below! Our clientele is in the age group of those who should be strict about quarantine, and we feel the best option is to keep them at home and safe. Although we are not in office for this week, we are still able to run our business from our homes. If you would like to schedule an appointment, or have any questions, call 623-974-1966.
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Be Safe
Sincerely,
Kramer & Kramer Team

We have moved!

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 19:48:00 GMT

We have expanded into new offices. We have moved into the the building right next to our previous location on Bell Road.

We are located at 12133 W. Bell Road Suite 201 Surprise Arizona 85378 on the second floor of the Bernini Building in the Kramer and Kramer Estate Planning Suites. The Bernini Building is right next to the Sunridge Plaza and the Four Sons Gas station on the South East corner of Bell Road and El Mirage Road. We are conveniently located next to the elevator on the second floor. We are located in the building right next to our old location.

We have also added more services to better serve your needs!

The post We have moved! appeared first on Kramer Legacy Documents, LLC .

Unbelievably Low Prices!

Mon, 16 May 2016 05:20:00 GMT

How is it possible our prices are so low?

It’s true. Lawyers and paralegals across the valley charge much more than we do. How is that possible?

Yes. Our prices are unbelievably low. No, you will be not up sold during your initial visit. These really are the prices! Our standard simple trust price really is $699.99. It only costs extra for you to record your new deed with the state, or if you want to disinherit your kids or need a Special Needs Trust. Even then those things are only a few hundred bucks extra to add on. If you need extra deeds those range from $100-200 apiece. But most clients qualify for the simple standard trust price.

Best Price in Town!

How can we charge such great prices?

First, we aren’t lawyers. This allows us to charge less than a lawyer because we aren’t billing hourly fees. In Arizona you only need a lawyer when you go to trial. Legal Documents can be prepared by paralegals or Legal Document Preparers. The Arizona Code of Judicial Administration § 7-208 (A) defines a legal document preparer as “ an individual or business entity certified to prepare or provide legal documents, without the supervision of an attorney, for an entity or a member of the public who is engaging in self representation in any legal matter. ” We can prepare your documents and provide general legal information since we are certified as Signature Documents, LLC, Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparers . While we are certified to prepare a variety of documents, we specialize in complete estate planning and have over 30 years of experience in this field.

Thousands of Customers Served!

Second, we lowered our prices years ago and found out that we bring in much more business this way allowing us to keep our prices low. Several years ago some lawyers from Nevada put a billboard up on Bell Road that said, “TRUSTS – $699”. This took away all our business for several months because at the time we were charging $1599 for married trusts and $1299 for single trust. We lowered our prices to compete with them and two things happened: 1.) they went back to Henderson never to be heard from again, and 2.) we got so much business we never had to raise our prices back up. It was a win-win situation! We found out that they lower price motivated people to get their estate planning in order, and allowed people that couldn’t afford to get a $3,000 Trust to get their Estate completed. This lower price has allowed us to serve thousands and thousands of clients!

What does that Price include?

The benefit to our customer is that this allows our clients to get professional estate planning documents at a fair price. You still receive the same professional documents that we used to sell for $1599-1299. You still receive quality work completed by a professional with 30 years of experience. You actually receive much more than just the trust documents because our Durable Power of Attorney Documents and Death and Dying Preparation Package s are included.

Trust & Estate Planning Documents

The Best Price Possible

There’s no need to worry that you are getting a lesser product because you are paying less. Everything you need to settle your estate and get your estate planning in order is included. You can be assured you will get the best product and best service possible.

Save Money

Call Signature Documents Today!

Regardless of the size of your estate, turn to Signature Documents at (623) 974-2272. We have more than 30 years of experience helping people just like you and are appointed by the State Supreme Court as Certified Legal Document Preparers. Signature Documents, LLC Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparers #81098.

www.signaturedocuments.com

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Prince died without a Trust or Will

Mon, 16 May 2016 04:23:00 GMT

Prince died without a Trust or Will – Don’t let this happen to you!

Prince died April 21st, 2016 and it has been all over the media that he left no will or Trust. His sister, Tyka Nelson, has appeared in probate court to petition the court stating, according to CNN money, "I do not know of the existence of a Will and have no reason to believe that the Decedent executed testamentary documents in any form." She requested that Bremer Trust, a bank Prince had dealt with, be named special administrator of the estate. They will be in charge of finding a will or trust, determining heirs and the details of the estate which is estimated at $150-300 million dollars.

Prince – died with no will. Estate worth millions!

How could such a wealthy celebrity with so many assets not plan for the future? By all accounts Prince was a very private man and administered strict control over his music rights, yet by not having a trust he has allowed his entire estate to become public as his siblings fight over it in court.

More than likely, Bremer Trust will spend months, if not years, determining the value of the estate and the heirs, which appears to include several half-siblings and a few nieces and nephews. Some estimates state that everyone will receive 1/14th of the estate.

Is this what Prince would have wanted? For his estate and life work to be traipsed on public display through probate court for all the world to see while relatives he barely knew, and some he didn’t, all received a portion of his estate to do with as they please?

Prince’s unreleased music is estimated to be worth millions.

Some very simple Estate Planning could have fixed this all. A trust would have ensured that his estate was handled privately and outside of the media instead of in public court. A trustee could have been appointed to carry out his express wishes. He could have ensure his estate went exactly where he wanted.

Don’t let something like this happen to you. Regardless of how big or small you estate is probate court is public record for all the world to see and be determined regardless of what you would have wanted. At Signature Documents we can help you with the necessary documents that will avoid ending up in probate.

Call Signature Documents today at 623-974-2272 or fill out our contact form and someone will call you to discuss estate planning with you. Your first consultation is always free!

www.signaturedocuments.com

For more on Prince’s Estate Click below:

CNN MONEY –

Prince had no will, says his sister

Forbes –

Prince Estate Troubles: Here’s What Will Happen If There’s Really No Will

The post Prince died without a Trust or Will appeared first on Kramer Legacy Documents, LLC .

Update your Documents – Don’t accidentally leave anyone out – or in!

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 04:29:00 GMT

Yesterday azcentral ran an Estate Planning special by Louis A. Silverman of Silverman Patton, PLLC in Tempe , regarding what your options are if you’ve been disinherited – accidentally (or purposely) left out of mom’s will. While he discusses in depth what instances may make a Last Will and Testamen t contestable, the article brings up two other very important points:

Why are children disinherited to begin with?

Honestly, I have to admit I have clients disinherit their children pretty frequently; I’d say at least once a week. It’s never because their children are hateful, horrible individuals that are undeserving. It’s normally for one of two reasons and my clients are usually pretty heartbroken over it. First, they have simply not kept in touch and tried to keep up the relationship for one reason or another. Next, the heir either doesn’t need the money or wouldn’t be able to handle the money. Both reasons always involve very big emotional discussions hoping to do the right thing. Frequently clients come in at a later date and amend their disinherit clauses based on an evolving relationship with their children and grandchildren. Life happens. People make up, people get divorced, life changes.

Update your Documents to reflect any changes in your life!

It’s really important to Review/Update your Will or Trust annually.

The Azcentral article states that the mother and son had made up and she planned to update her documents so her son would inherit an equal share of the estate. Problem is, she didn’t. Unfortunately we see this all the time! Clients mean to change their wills , they were supposed to put the new house in the trust , they were going to update their Durable Power of Attorney Documents , they were planning on changing their bank account s – but then life got in the way and nothing was handled. So the documents that were intended to clarify things and make everything easy when they were needed just end up causing a big mess for everyone.

Documents need to be reviewed and updated annually. Some buy a trust and then purchase a new home, new car, and open a new bank account, never put anything in the trust or have the trust updated, and then everything has to go through probate. We urge our clients to come in once a year for a review to make sure everything is in order. We understand people are going to get married or divorced, buy and sell assets, gain kids and grand kids, move residences, change banks or lose family members. As your life changes, your documents need to as well.

At Signature Documents we offer free reviews. Call today to set up and appointment. If you haven’t updated your documents in over a year, it might be a good time to look at them! We’ve seen client’s accidentally leave money to ex-spouses or ex-son-in-laws or forget to add a favorite grand child! Don’t let this happen to you!

Louis A. Silverman ‘s full article on Azcentral.com can be found here:

What to do (if anything) when mom’s will leaves you short

Disinherit Clauses start at $150.00 at Signature Documents . Contact us today to ensure that your documents are in order! 623-974-2272

The post Update your Documents – Don’t accidentally leave anyone out – or in! appeared first on Kramer Legacy Documents, LLC .

$110,000.00 Treasure found in Local Garage – And why you should fill out your Specific Bequest Forms!

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 03:30:00 GMT

Use Specific Bequests to keep your valuables and heirlooms in the Family!

During trust signings we try to stress the importance of filling out the Specific Bequest pages. These pages should be used to leave important, specific items to your heirs. For example, if you want to leave your classic car to your grandson it’s important to list that on the Specific Bequest page, otherwise known as Schedule D.

This page can also be used to leave money to people. We’ve had clients leave money to whomever serves as Successor Trustee as compensation for time and expenses. We’ve had clients leave $1,000.00 to each of their grandchildren. We’ve had clients leave money to their siblings, best friends, neighbors, Alma Mater, church, or even favorite charities. This can be done by simply writing, “I hereby bequest a cash sum of . . . to my favorite nephew John Smith” and signing and dating the entry.

Another way we stress using the Specific Bequest page though is to detail how you would like valuable items in your estate handled. If you don’t specify how you’d like your estate handled then your Successor Trustee will simply sell everything off, cash it out, and distribute it to the beneficiaries. In some cases this is fine; in other cases you might not want family heirlooms sold off, donated to Goodwill, or cashed out and split up. Many times family heirlooms need to be left to certain heirs to keep them in the family and avoid family disputes.

If you have valuable items you should detail on your Specific Bequest page how you would like your Successor Trustee to handle those items. I’ve had clients with Egyptian artifacts, vases from ancient Israel, sports memorabilia, guns from the Civil War, grandfather clocks from Europe, 5,000 vinyl records or important collectibles that simply cannot be put in the front yard in an Estate Sale or put out to be picked up by Goodwill or a local thrift shop. I’ve also seen heirs fight over who gets mom’s jewelry, dad’s golf clubs, or grand-mom’s china collection.

Don’t let your valuables get dumped!

I ask my clients, “If something happened to you today, what would happen to your valuables? Things you’ve collected your entire life? Heirlooms that have been in your family for generations?” Important decisions need to be made as to how this items will be dispersed after you’ve passed.

Recently, a Sun City resident called a consignment shop for help cleaning out a friend’s house. The friend had dementia and no heirs so the friend had Power of Attorney. Upon inspection, the owner of the consignment shop noticed an authentic Kenneth Noland painting in the garage. It was sold at auction for $110,000.00!

Since the owner has dementia, details of how the painting got to Sun City are unknown. There were also no instructions of how to handle the authentic Kenneth Noland painting. Had the consignment owner not also been an art appraiser, this piece could have been sold at an yard sale or given to a thrift shop.

Read the complete article on azcentral.com here:

How one painting in a garage realized $110,000

Don’t let your collectibles and Heirlooms end up in a yard sale!

Don’t let your treasures end up in your garage with no instructions as to how they should be handled or who they should be left to. It’s important to set this up before something happens to you. At Signature Documents we handle specific bequest requests daily and can help you too! Contact us today at 623-974-2272 to make an appointment before something happens to your valuable heirlooms!

The post $110,000.00 Treasure found in Local Garage – And why you should fill out your Specific Bequest Forms! appeared first on Kramer Legacy Documents, LLC .

Newsletter: Summer 2009 Edition

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:29:00 GMT

The certification and licensing is through the Arizona Supreme Court administration office of the courts, Certification & Licensing Division.

Legal Document Preparers are professionals, qualified through education, training or work experience, who provide the public with a simple and affordable option in handling their legal affairs. Legal Document Preparers are authorized to prepare legal documents for clients, which helps to avoid the high-cost of legal fees. It is an affordable, efficient, and effective solution for your representation needs. Legal Document Preparers provide better access to the legal system for individuals who cannot afford the high costs of legal fees.

USA Today reported that Americans could save $3.3 billion a year by using Legal Document Preparers instead of lawyers to handle legal matters.

The primary purpose of the certification in Arizona is to protect the public. The certification program ensures the highest ethical standards.

Ten years ago, the American Bar Association found that 38 million Americans are closed out of the legal justice system mostly because of the high legal fees.

According to Stanford Professor, Deborah Rhode, it is estimated that 80% of the legal needs of the poor and 60% of the legal needs of the middle income individual go unmet.

Legal Document Preparers fill these needs. Every American should have access to the legal system, regardless of income.

Remember Terri Schiavo?

As a family’s tragedy was propelled onto the national stage, teaching everyone world-wide about the importance of a Living Will. A living Will is one of the most important documents a person can have because it clearly states a patient’s end-of-life wishes.

This simple legal document can eliminate the legal guess work and allow families to focus on the heart and soul of the individual who is terminally ill or incapacitated.

A Living Will explicitly states what kind of medical treatment you would like should you become terminally ill or incapacitated and you are unable to make healthcare decisions for yourself.

Probate

Most people assume their assets will go to their chosen beneficiaries. #1: If you have a WILL you will most certainly go through probate. #2: If you do not have a WILL the state has one for you and you will go through probate.

Probate Fee’s

According to research done by the Estate Research Institute, their study indicates that 10% to 70% of a deceased person’s assets will be siphoned off by probate fees, federal estate taxes, state inheritance taxes, and other cost.

Everyone should know that the process of settling an estate can be incredibly costly, time consuming, and frustrating. I have watched grown men cry over the sheer frustration of probate. I have watched stock values deteriorate while the legal process moved forward with laborious and painful slowness. I have watched valuable businesses, built through years of hard work, falter and die in the probate process. I have watched small estates be almost entirely consumed by legal fees. I have watched savings accounts remain locked in low interest rates when the market rates were higher. I have watched homes given away in distress sales after standing unattended for 2 years.

Upon your death, before title to your assets can pass to your heirs, all claimants to those assets must be eliminated. The process of eliminating all claimants is called probate, a process that can be costly, time consuming, and agonizing.

You may say, “I have no debts.” However, whether an estate has any debts or not, each estate goes through the same probate process to determine whether unknown claims could exist against the estate.

The probate process creates trouble among family members involved in it. The longer the probate continues, the greater is the stress on the survivors. In addition, as probate drags on relentlessly, the greater is the chance of developing sibling rivalry-often resulting in irreparable wounds to the surviving family members.

Loss of Privacy

Most people religiously guard their right to be free from invasion of their privacy-whether it be protection from someone entering their homes uninvited or from someone looking at their financial documents. How much a person earns or the size of a person’s estate is personal information and is considered sacred. However, upon your death and your estate going though probate it will all be made public.

Bing Crosby learns Big Lesson

For example, the death in 1952 of Dixie Lee Crosby, Bing Crosby’s first wife, resulted in the public knowing about the estate, the debts, and the cash available. The public also learned that Bing had to sell his interest in the Del Mar race track, as well as his horses, in order to settle the estate and pay all the resultant costs.

However, Mr. Crosby had learned his leson about probate, within a few days of his death, his legal firm in Beverely Hills announced that Bing had a living trust and there would be no further comment, no details of his estate were ever made public. We will never know who received what. That’s just the way Bing wanted it to be, he had learned how to preserve his privacy through a living trust.

Estates that Went Through Probate

Dwight D. Eisenhower: $2,905,850.00 estate reduced by $671, 420 a 23% loss.

Nat “ King” Cole: $1,876,640.00 estate reduced by $1,577,740.00 a 84% loss.

Franklin D. Roosevelt: $1,940,990 estate reduced by $574,860.00 a 29% loss.

General George S. Patton: $844,360.00 estate reduced by $266,820.00 a 31% loss.

Certified Public Accountant

Invariably, a client will turn to his CPA for confirmation about the advisability of having a living trust.

The CPA may respond saying you do not need a living trust because you do not have a large enough estate. However, the CPA is talking about federal estate taxes, not the probate process.

Estate Planning is not the normal function of a CPA.

If your CPA says you will not have to go through probate or gives you specific probate costs, ask him or her to put that in writing.

The History of Probate

The Probate process came to the U.S. from English Law, which is the basis for all constitutional law on this country. Unfortunately, the founding fathers adopted the most complex of the English probate systems. In Medieval England, estates went through a 3 court system: Common Law Court, Ecclesiastical, and Equity Courts

The proceedings were time consuming, complex, and costly. England eventually modernized its entire probate system.

Instead of adopting England’s 3 court system, American founding fathers heaped the entire process together into more complex, time consuming, and costly common law system and called it the “Probate Court.” Unfortunately, the passage of time has complicated, rather than simplified, the probate process.

As one legal scholar expressed it so well, “the cost of probate expands to consume the money available.”

A retired FBI officer told me that he spent 2 years as a federal referee, investigating estates that were being exhausted of their assets by attorneys. By the time the investigations were completed, the estates were stripped bare – with practically nothing left for their heirs. The FBI agent saw the Living Trust as the legal means to prevent estates from being drained.

Once the probate process has started it cannot be stopped under any circumstances.

The Purpose of Probate

Probate is a system that is suppose to ensure that a dead person’s debts and taxes are paid, that his or her will is valid, and that his or her estate will go to the people named in his or her will.

The Freeze-Up Period

Everything stands still-nothing can be sold-as the probate process drones slowly on towards establishing clear title. All of the mental trauma associated with probate happens during the worst period in a person’s life, the loss of a beloved companion or parent.

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