At Fleming & Curti, P.L.C., our practice is limited to Elder Law. We concentrate on Guardianship and Conservatorship, Long-Term Care (Medicaid) Planning, Estate Planning and Probate. We are located in Tucson, Arizona.
The firm began in 1984, when Tom Curti and Robert Fleming became partners. The two had, however, been partners before — from their common law school graduation (in 1976) until 1979. They had also shared office space for two years before formalizing the “new” partnership.
You’re planning your estate and will create a trust for a child or other family member. Do you start with a standalone trust for that individual, or simply embed the trust provisions in the rest of your estate plan? Let us try to demystify your choice.
What do we mean by “standalone trust?”
First some…
One of the major reasons clients prepare estate plans is to avoid probate. There are many different ways to avoid probate. You could title assets to a trust, own assets jointly with another, or use beneficiary designations, beneficiary deeds, transfer on death accounts or payable on death accounts to name a few. Each of these…
What happens when someone becomes incapacitated and has no family or friends who can step in? Or when an elderly person needs a guardian or conservator but lacks resources for private help? These situations occur more often than you might realize.
This is where Arizona’s public fiduciaries come in. Operating in every county in the…
This January news outlets are talking about the Slayer Rule in light of the tragic killing of famous couple Rob and Michele Reiner. ABLE Accounts updates have also gone into effect.
Slayer Rule
In December 2025 filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Reiner were tragically killed. Their son Nick Reiner has been charged…
One myth about estate administration is that the biggest headaches come from the “big stuff”: your house, bank accounts, or life insurance policies. The truth is, these assets can be relatively easy to plan for with title changes, deeds, and beneficiary designations before death. It’s your “small stuff” (a/k/a tangible personal property) that can have…
For many pet owners, one of the big questions to tackle in their estate plan is “What happens to my pets when I die?” We understand that pets are important family members. So, it’s important that pet owners have a plan in place for their furry friends. This helps to ensure that they don’t end…
For years, ABLE accounts (known as STABLE accounts at AZ ABLE) have served as a unique estate and special needs planning tool for individuals and families. We’ve written and talked about ABLE Accounts in different contexts. Now we’re here to share some major updates that may present a planning opportunity for you or…
It’s the end of December, and the end of 2025. Looking back on this year, a lot has happened and there is a lot to look forward to.
What Happened In 2025
A lot happened in 2025- below are some of the most notable happenings.
Higher Limits to Small Estate Affidavits
Arizona allows for the…
Holidays are upon us and you have made plans with to spend time with the ones closest to you. You know that they are going to ask you if you have completed your estate planning documents.
You dread answering “no” or that your documents are out of date. Maybe what you have already signed no…
Many of us have preferences as to what happens to our remains after we die. The most common choices for body disposition include burial and cremation. But, with more and more people looking to minimize their environmental impact or the costs associated with their death, some other options have emerged.
Traditional Burial/Cremation
Traditional burials and…
