News & Events
August 1, 2020
by Nathan Hannah
You may have heard about a recent decision by the Michigan Supreme Court that said the government could not seize a home because the owner underpaid the property taxes by $8.41. The court’s reasoning was that the outcome amounted to the government taking the property without just compensation, in violation of the constitutional guarantee that […]
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July 7, 2020
by Veronica Reese
DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy, P.C. congratulates attorney Jody A. Corrales for her appointment to the United States Department of Justice, U.S. Trustee Program as a Subchapter V Trustee for the District of Arizona. Ms. Corrales will serve on the panel as a trustee for cases filed under subchapter V of chapter 11. She serves as one […]
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June 1, 2020
by Nathan Hannah
You probably already know that if you are going to buy or sell a house, a parcel of land, or a commercial property, it would be a good idea to utilize the services of a real estate professional who has experience in transactions involving the type of property you are going to buy or sell. […]
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May 8, 2020
by Nathan Hannah
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about wills. The rules discussed below are specific to Arizona, but most states probably have similar rules. •Why is it important to preserve an original will? Putting aside for the moment the possibility of an electronic will (discussed in my November 2019, Report) the answer to question of why […]
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March 31, 2020
by Nathan Hannah
I have asked before, and am motivated by recent reports to ask again: do you think the income earned on savings accounts should be exempt from income tax regardless of the purpose for which the savings are ultimately spent? I think so, and I’m not alone. I have been seeing reports that this idea has […]
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February 27, 2020
by Nathan Hannah
I have been getting questions about the SECURE Act. That’s legislation recently adopted by Congress that changes certain rules governing the tax treatment of retirement accounts, including when you can put money into or take money out of such accounts. The change that has been talked about the most in estate planning circles is that […]
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January 27, 2020
by Nathan Hannah
I have addressed in previous reports the tax consequences of gifts and inheritances, but the subject is worth revisiting because I get asked about it frequently. There is a common misconception that inheritances are automatically taxable. Although the reasoning behind that misconception is usually not clearly articulated, or is unexpressed, I think it originates with […]
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January 10, 2020
by Veronica Reese
DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy, P.C. is pleased to announce attorney Zelma Letarte as its newest shareholder effective January 1, 2020.
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December 17, 2019
by Nathan Hannah
Home Title Lock is a service that I have heard advertised recently. The service purports to protect home owners against fraudulent title schemes. To oversimplify it, here’s an outline of the scheme that the purveyors of this service are talking about. First, suppose a thief records a forged deed, transferring title to your home to […]
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November 20, 2019
by Nathan Hannah
You may have heard about a new law that says electronic wills are now valid in Arizona. I’m not against the concept, but I am reluctant to bring it up now because the new law contains specific rules about the steps that have to be taken to make an electronic will valid, and those steps are […]
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October 27, 2019
by Nathan Hannah
A business looking to get referrals for estate-related services recently sent me a copy of its newsletter. It is one of those reverse “10 best reasons” lists. This one just happens to address a subject I know something about. Its title is: “The 10 Best Reasons NOT To Do Your Estate Plan.” Naturally, I agree […]
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October 5, 2019
by Nathan Hannah
All but a few states in the United States have now adopted the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (the RUFADAA). As adopted in Arizona, the RUFADAA defines a “digital asset” as “an electronic record in which an individual has a right or interest.” What does that mean, and how is it going […]
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September 11, 2019
by Veronica Reese
DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy is proud to announce that nine of the firm’s attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2020- Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. They are: Denise M. Bainton – Education Law Nathan B. Hannah – Real Estate Law James A. Jutry – Tax Law and Trusts & Estates John C. […]
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September 11, 2019
by Veronica Reese
Attorney James M. Susa is the invited guest speaker for the Steven W. Philips Tucson Tax Study Group, Inc., a local non-profit organization focused on tax education for professionals. Susa’s topic, “Arizona State and Local Tax Update: Judicial, Legislative and Administrative” will be presented on Friday, September 20, 2019. James M. Susa, a Shareholder in the Tucson office of […]
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August 27, 2019
by Nathan Hannah
A loyal reader recently told me about a situation in which a deceased family member’s remains were relocated, without the consent of the deceased’s children, long after burial. I have heard of, and dealt with, more than a few disputes involving remains, but I had never heard of a situation quite like the one my […]
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July 29, 2019
by Nathan Hannah
This might become a regular series. You may recall that in my May Update, I wrote about California property owners who got into trouble for moving dirt and trees on their property because doing so violated a conservation easement. I received many responses to that newsletter, most of them to the effect of, “how could […]
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