Striking the Judge: Be Careful What You Wish For We have probably all seen a depiction of Lady Justice, the blindfolded woman holding a sword in one hand and a set of scales in the other. The scales are what she uses to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of a litigation case, and the blindfold […]

Your Auto Insurance Rates May Not Be All Your Fault Our current economy means more people are employed, earning money, and driving more miles. Unfortunately more miles being driven means more auto accidents. (INSURANCE INFORMATION INSTITUTE, “More Accidents, Larger Claims Drive Costs Higher,” October 2016.) Auto accidents in Arizona have jumped 16% the past few […]

After Divorce Who Really Has Legal Decision Making Authority Now? During a divorce or custody dispute, the judge must determine who is going to make the major decisions for the children. Arizona Revised Statute #25-401(3) defines legal decision making as the right and responsibility to make all non-emergency decisions for a child, including those regarding […]

Do You Really Trust Your Successor Trustee? In your estate planning who you pick as the successor trustee of your family trust is an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. A trustee is the manager of the instructions, contained in a family trust. During your lifetime, the grantor (person creating the trust) usually will […]

Can Diabetes Cause a False DUI Charge? Due to a lack of police training in Arizona, diabetics can be the unfortunate victims of unjust charges of driving under the influence (DUI) charges. Diabetics experience a condition known as hypoglycemia when their blood sugar level drops dangerously low. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of hypoglycemia mimic […]

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017: How Does it Affect Your Estate Planning? Late last year, Congress finally passed the much anticipated tax reform bill, the “2017 Tax Act,” which provides many significant changes to income tax laws, but also to estate planning and gift taxes. As with any new tax law, we […]

At Rowley Chapman & Barney, we understand how difficult it can be to lose a loved one and the questions that follow. Among those, you may wonder who has a rightful claim to the loss of a family member, and what happens if a statutory beneficiary cannot be found. What if a family member has […]