Michelle M. Lauer, attorney at business law firm Jaburg & Wilk, P.C., has been awarded Top Pro Bono Attorneys in Arizona from the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education.

Gov. Jan Brewer signed a measure Monday to make it easier for schools to get rid of teachers who are not performing up to expectations.

As the percentage of alcohol-related driving under the influence offenses continue to decrease in Phoenix, the number of drug-related driving offenses have increased in recent years.

Among the reasons you work hard all your life may be so you can leave something to your children, grandchildren or other family members. So, naturally, you’d like to make it as easy as possible for your heirs to take possession of those assets you want them to have. And that’s why you may want to consider establishing a Transfer on Death (TOD) agreement on certain accounts.

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Police Department officially terminated a sergeant who blew the whistle on bad kidnapping statistics.

When people hear the words “estate planning,” they often assume it’s an activity only for retirees or near-retirees. But if you have a family, it’s never too soon to create your estate plan.

During your lifetime, you make a lot of moves to provide financial security to your loved ones. You put away money for college for your young children. You save and invest for your own retirement so that you won’t ever burden your grown children with significant expenses. And you purchase adequate life insurance to enable your family to maintain its lifestyle should anything happen to you. Yet, if you’re going to help preserve your family’s financial well-being after you’re gone, you also need to take one additional step: Create an estate plan.

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. And when you consider the lifetime of benefits you and your family may receive from life insurance, you might agree that a month isn’t too long to spend on this important part of your overall financial picture.

A man convicted of child molestation two years ago and placed on lifetime probation, is accused of trying to hold an 11-year-old boy against his will in the restroom of a Red Robin Restaurant on Monday.

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) announced Friday its support for Kyrsten Sinema’s campaign for Congress. NAPO is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States that serves to advance the interests of America’s law enforcement through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.

You may have heard that under current law a variety of federal taxes are scheduled to increase effective Jan. 1, 2013. Two of those taxes are the federal estate and gift taxes. Under current law, each U.S. citizen or resident enjoys a $5.12 million exemption from estate and gift tax; the value of an estate or a gift in excess of the exemption is subject to tax at a rate of 35 percent. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, the exemption decreases to $1 million, and the rate increases to 55 percent. As stark as those figures may be, for most of us they beg more fundamental questions. This article addresses a few of the most common questions.

The way Adam Chodorow sees it, there's a big gap in federal estate and income tax laws: They don't deal with zombies.

No charge initial consultation for estate planning, probate and long-term care planning. We don’t charge by the hour; fair fees disclosed in full, up front. See www.harowitz.net/memorial-day-special for details.

“I do not mind the ‘snowbirds’ who come to the Valley. They are older and wiser than most of us. They spend their money here and help our local economy. To those of you who complain about the increased traffic, their careful driving, etc., remember that you will be old one day too. I hope people won’t mind you living where you want to and treat you with respect. Have a great summer, ‘snowbirds.’ See you in the fall!”

It may be the subject matter — death, incapacity and taxes — that causes us to avoid estate planning. However, the fact is that, no matter what your age or how much wealth you’ve accumulated, you need an estate plan to protect yourself, your loved ones and your assets — both now while you’re still active as well as after your death.

It may be the subject matter — death, incapacity and taxes — that causes us to avoid estate planning. However, the fact is that, no matter what your age or how much wealth you’ve accumulated, you need an estate plan to protect yourself, your loved ones and your assets — both now while you’re still active as well as after your death.

Franklin J. Jackson, Sr., 63, of Bapchule, Ariz., was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben to five years of probation, ordered to pay $38,893 in restitution, and perform 100 hours of community service. Jackson previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement from a tribal organization.

Davonte Neal's day was billed as an assembly that was going to fill children with hope that they too would fulfill their dreams.

Among the reasons you work hard all your life may be so you can leave something to your children, grandchildren or other family members. So, naturally, you'd like to make it as easy as possible for your heirs to take possession of those assets you want them to have. And that's why you may want to consider establishing a Transfer on Death (TOD) agreement on certain accounts.

Among the reasons you work hard all your life may be so you can leave something to your children, grandchildren or other family members. So, naturally, you'd like to make it as easy as possible for your heirs to take possession of those assets you want them to have. And that's why you may want to consider establishing a Transfer on Death (TOD) agreement on certain accounts.

While watching Izzy Marshall try and leave the Mountain Pointe gym the other night, it made me wonder if he ever left anywhere on time.

"I never realized how little life sticks to your plans."

Many people dole out financial gifts in life but pay little attention to how their assets will be divided after they die. A well-conceived estate plan will help ensure that you and your heirs will enjoy the security of your assets. Yet, many people fail to plan because they believe mistakenly that estate planning is reserved for the wealthy.