Estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney are vital tools for clearly outlining asset distribution and managing financial affairs in Arizona. However, ambiguities or irregularities in these documents can often result in disputes and costly litigation. As an heir or beneficiary in Arizona, understanding how to identify these “red flags” early can empower you to take proactive steps, potentially preventing disputes and legal challenges.
Common Red Flags in Arizona Estate Documents

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Continue Reading How to Spot Red Flags in Arizona Estate Documents: A Guide for Heirs and Beneficiaries

IMMEDIATE – FULL TIME POSITION AVAILABLEJob Title: Probate/Litigation Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260
APPLY HERE.  No direct applicant or agency inquiries, please.
About Us
Berk Law Group, P.C. is a highly reputable, AV-rated law firm located conveniently off Loop 101 and Raintree Dr. in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our firm specializes in probate, trust, estate, and inheritance litigation, including guardianships, conservatorships, estate/trust disputes, elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, powers of attorney, burial/disposition of remains and others. We are known for our integrity, dedication, and excellence, treating our clients the way we would expect to be treated. Our team is close-knit, hardworking,…
Continue Reading Now Hiring: Probate Litigation Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Description

Job Title: Litigation Attorney
Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260
APPLY HERE  Please, no direct inquiries or agency submissions.
About Us
Berk Law Group, P.C. is an AV-rated, highly respected law firm located conveniently off Loop 101 and Raintree Drive in Scottsdale, Arizona. We focus exclusively on probate, trust, estate, and inheritance litigation, including guardianships, conservatorships, estate/trust disputes, elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, powers of attorney, burial/disposition of remains and others.
Known for our integrity, professionalism, and results, we treat our clients the way we would expect to be treated—with respect, honesty, and dedication. Our team is close-knit, collaborative, and mission-driven, and…
Continue Reading Now Hiring: Litigation Attorney

Jimmy Buffet Trust – Background
The estate of the late singer Jimmy Buffett (died 2023) has erupted into a high-profile trust dispute. Buffett’s widow, Jane Buffett, is clashing with co-trustee Richard Mozenter (his longtime financial adviser) over control of a trust reportedly worth $275 million. Each party claims the other is mishandling the trust and has petitioned courts (in different states) to remove the other as co-trustee. Jane Buffett’s lawsuit alleges serious trustee misconduct: she claims Mozenter has been “openly hostile” toward her, refused to share financial information, charged exorbitant fees (about $1.7 million per year), and mismanaged trust assets…
Continue Reading Arizona Trustee Removal: Lessons from Jimmy Buffett’s Case

June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), a solemn reminder of the silent suffering endured by far too many older adults. At Berk Law Group, we pause to recognize this important day because elder abuse isn’t just a statistic or headline. It’s personal. It affects real people—our parents, grandparents, neighbors, and clients.
Elder abuse takes many forms:
It can be physical, emotional, financial, or even neglect. Unfortunately, in our probate, trust, and estate litigation practice, we see the devastating effects of elder abuse all too often. We represent family members trying to protect their loved ones, and sometimes…
Continue Reading Elder Abuse Awareness Day: A Call to Protect Our Vulnerable Loved Ones

HBO’s hit series Succession isn’t just a gripping drama—it’s a masterclass in estate mismanagement. The show chronicles the Roy family’s vicious power struggles over their billion-dollar media empire, exposing many legal and personal pitfalls that commonly arise in estate disputes. While most families won’t be fighting for control of a conglomerate, the underlying themes offer valuable insights for estate planning and probate litigation.
Ambiguity Leads to Conflict
One of the central legal messes in Succession stems from the unclear and disputed nature of Logan Roy’s estate plan. The series illustrates how uncertainty—such as an undated, handwritten note with possible alterations—can…
Continue Reading Estate Lessons from HBO’s Succession: What Not to Do

In this presentation for Arizona CourtHelp, Kent Berk explains the basics of Arizona’s Adult Protective Services Act and ways to protect our vulnerable loved ones from financial exploitation.  Watch now!
 

The post Kent Berk Presents at Arizona Legal Talks: Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Exploitation appeared first on Berk Law Group.
Continue Reading Kent Berk Presents at Arizona Legal Talks: Protecting Vulnerable Adults from Exploitation

County
Service Name
Description
Official Link
Limitations/Eligibility

Apache County
Fraud Notify
Free email alert system that notifies the subscriber if a document is recorded under their registered name in Apache County (an early fraud detection measure).
Fraud Notify sign-up page
Alerts only on documents recorded in Apache County; open to any user (not restricted to property owners or residents).

Cochise County
Recording Notification Service
Free opt-in recording notification; monitors Cochise County recordings and sends an email alert to the subscriber when a new document is recorded with a matching personal or business name.
Recording Notification portal
Only covers documents recorded…
Continue Reading Arizona County Title Alert Services – Protect Against Deed Fraud

Introduction
In April 2025, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Estate of Magdalena Rios De Dominguez v. Renee Kay Dominguez, sending shockwaves through Arizona’s real estate and elder law communities. The Court ruled that a facially valid, yet allegedly forged deed, could still trigger the five-year statute of limitations under A.R.S. § 12-524 to quiet title. While the case is far from over, the decision raises critical questions about protections for vulnerable property owners, especially the elderly.
The Case Background
The dispute centers on a vacant lot in Maricopa County. Magdalena Rios De Dominguez claimed that a…
Continue Reading What the Dominguez Case Means for Vulnerable Property Owners and Why Legislative Reform May Be Needed

“Macho Man” Randy Savage (Randall Mario Poffo), the larger than life WWE wrestler, died on May 20, 2011, in Seminole, Florida, leaving behind a sizable estate and apparently a detailed estate plan. His estate was administered in Pinellas County, Florida. Court filings confirm that a petition for probate was filed shortly after his death, and the court appointed a personal representative to handle the estate.
Reportedly, Savage had executed estate planning documents prior to his death – including creating the “Randy M. Poffo Trust” in August 2010 (13300 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774 | Public Property Record) – which…
Continue Reading Estate of “Macho Man” Randy Savage – A Glimpse Into a Celebrity Estate Plan

Case Summary: Estate of Magdalena Rios De Dominguez v. Renee Kay Dominguez (CV-24-0102-PR)
In a significant April 2025 ruling, the Arizona Supreme Court clarified that a facially valid forged deed can trigger the five-year statute of limitations under A.R.S. § 12-524 to quiet title. This case, Estate of Magdalena Rios De Dominguez v. Renee Kay Dominguez, arose from a family dispute over the ownership of a vacant Maricopa County lot. Magdalena, the mother-in-law of Renee, alleged that a 2003 deed purporting to convey the property to Renee and her late husband was forged.
However, because the deed was facially valid…
Continue Reading Arizona Supreme Court Holds Forged Deed Can Trigger Quiet Title Statute of Limitation

The Maricopa County Superior Court’s Probate and Mental Health Division held its quarterly Bench/Bar Conference on April 15, 2025, continuing its commitment to foster open dialogue and collaboration between the Maricopa County probate, trust and estate bench and bar. These meetings are a key opportunity for legal professionals in the probate field to receive updates, share concerns, and participate in shaping the future of probate proceedings in Maricopa County Superior Court.  The meeting was led by Hon. Commissioner Vanessa Smith.
Key Takeaways from the April 2025 Session
While the discussions ranged widely, the main highlights included:

• • Appointment Procedures: Practitioners should

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Continue Reading Connecting the Probate Legal Community: Highlights from the April 2025 Bench/Bar Conference

“There is always a loose end.”  “Everybody has a secret they don’t want you to find. Find it!”  Rankin Fitch (by Gene Hackman), Runaway Jury.
Oddly enough, in estate litigation, that “loose end” or “secret” is often a person’s true wishes for how to distribute their property on death.  Consider, for instance, the peculiar circumstances reportedly surrounding actor Gene Hackman’s estate plan.  Executed in 2005, Hackman’s will named only his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as sole beneficiary and personal representative, completely omitting his three adult children, Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, from a prior marriage. Complicating matters further, Hackman and Arakawa passed away…
Continue Reading Secrets and Scrutiny: What Estate Litigators Might Investigate About Gene Hackman’s Estate