Experienced Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Lawyer in Gilbert, AZ

Protecting your hard-earned wealth, securing your legacy, and keeping your estate out of Maricopa County probate court.

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Citadel Law Firm PLLC

5.0

Based on 209 reviews

Maureen Farinella

7 months ago

I highly recommend Citadel Law Firm to guide you through your trust creation. David and Annie were so thorough and professional throughout the entire updating process. We wanted to ensure our family was protected, it had been 17 years since we created our initial trust and so much of our life had changed. David explained everything clearly, making sure our trust was tailored to our specific needs. He helped us create a new trust and covered scenarios we hadn't even thought of. We now have total piece of mind knowing our trust is properly structured. They took time to answer all our questions and are extremely knowledgeable. It really puts you at ease working with people who have your best interest as their main focus. A true professional in estate planning!

Joe Farinella

7 months ago

David and Annie took the time to explain everything we wanted to know about securing our family's financial futures. They were very patient with us, answering every question we asked. Getting our trust, will and power of attorney's completed put my mind at ease as we move into the next phase of our life. I highly recommend and trust Citadel.

Marie Valfre

8 months ago

First meeting- consultation- Was made to feel very comfortable. All questions were answered quickly and was advised of all that was needed for my personal situation. (David Gerszewski) Second meeting was to review documents, sign and the documents needing to be notarized were done. A binder was provided to me with my documents, tabbed in categories regarding financial, health, etc Another tab is added to provided your loved ones with information regarding who they will need to contact in the event of my death . This is a GREAT! Everything will be accessible and should make the process easier. David, Anne and Linda Thank you all for making this so much easier than I could have ever thought it was going to be. Your professionalism, attention to details and friendliness was wonderful! I feel such relief that I have finished this. Thank You, Marie Happy Client.

Lawrence Keaty

8 months ago

We had a great experience working with David and Anne. They were very thorough in setting up our trust and made sure we had a good grasp of everything we were doing. Highly recommend!

Monique Hessler

8 months ago

We delayed estate planning for years, expecting it to be a daunting and stressful process. David and Anne made it the complete opposite! From start to finish, the entire process was easy and completely stress-free. They treated us like family, and the most special part is knowing that they show every single client the same care and attention. Thank you so much again David and Anne!

Hoa Phan

11 months ago

David and Anne were incredibly professional and thorough in helping us prepare our estate planning documents. David walked us through every single step of the process and clearly explained how to properly use each document should we ever need them. we highly recommend Citadel Law Firm to anyone looking for knowledgeable guidance through the estate planning process. Thank you so much, David and Anne!

Stuart Hadley

11 months ago

My wife and I enjoyed engaging Citadel to work through some estate planning issues. We had put off this exercise for too long and decided we needed jump on it when some medical issues presented themselves. We found David and Anne to be very easy to work with and were generous with their time. Very professional and thorough. And what we appreciated most were David's and Anne's willingness to move rather quickly in getting our Estate Plan set up. We heartily recommend this team.

DOMINGUEZ MTY

12 months ago

I had a great experience working with David and the team at Citadel Law Firm. They helped my family set up our trust, and the whole process was smooth and easy to understand. David explained everything clearly and made sure we felt comfortable with every decision. Everyone at the office was friendly, professional, and quick to respond whenever we had questions. You can tell they really care about helping their clients and making sure things are done right. I definitely recommend Citadel Law Firm to anyone looking to have their estate or trust handled.

Marv

12 months ago

Outstanding Service and Professionalism I recently had the pleasure of working with David and his wife Anne at Citadel Law to set up my living trust. From start to finish the experience was very professional. David explained every detail clearly, answered all my questions with patience and insight, and made sure I fully understood the process. His expertise and attention to detail gave me great peace of mind knowing everything was done correctly and in my best interest. His wife Anne was equally wonderful - warm, organized, and very efficient in coordinating everything. Together, they make an exceptional team that truly cares about their clients. I’m grateful for their excellent service and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for trustworthy, knowledgeable help with estate planning. A top-notch experience all around! Thank you both, Marv Howrey P.S. After meeting Gunner their dog tells me all I need to know about David and Anne, they both have big hearts…

Comprehensive Estate Planning Services in Gilbert, Arizona

Navigating estate planning laws in Arizona requires more than legal templates—it demands local expertise and clear strategic advice tailored to your financial goals. At Citadel Law Firm PLLC, our legal team brings over 30 years of combined legal and financial experience to serve individuals, families, and business owners throughout Gilbert and the Phoenix East Valley.

Whether you need to create a revocable living trust, draft a last will and testament, or establish healthcare powers of attorney, we provide a transparent, flat-fee approach with zero hidden billing surprises.

Why Families in Gilbert Choose Citadel Law Firm

Flat-Fee Pricing: Clear, upfront legal fees for trusts, wills, and estate documents.
Decades of Legal & Financial Experience: We integrate estate planning with long-term wealth protection and tax reduction strategies.
Probate Avoidance Focus: Designed specifically under Arizona law to protect your beneficiaries from court delays and costs.
Personalized Attention: Tailored plans suited to Gilbert homeowners, blended families, and local business owners.

Revocable Living Trusts vs. Last Will & Testament in Arizona

As a leading Gilbert wills and trusts attorney, one of the most frequent questions we receive is whether a last will and testament is sufficient to protect a family’s assets in Arizona.

Last Will & Testament

A Will outlines who will inherit your property and nominates guardians for minor children. However, under Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S. Title 14), a Will does NOT prevent probate. If your estate holds real property valued over $300,000 or personal property over $200,000, your Will must go through Maricopa County Probate Court before assets are distributed. A Last Will and Testament together with other instrument and proper legal advice may avoid probate.

Revocable Living Trust

A Revocable Living Trust holds title to your assets during your lifetime and transfers them privately to your designated beneficiaries upon death—completely bypassing probate. A living trust keeps your estate proceedings private, eliminates court oversight fees, and protects your family in the event of temporary or permanent incapacity.

For most Gilbert homeowners, pairing a Revocable Living Trust with a Pour-Over Will provides complete legal security. Explore our detailed guide on Family Trusts vs. Living Trusts in Arizona to learn more. For Special Needs Trust attorney in Gilbert read out blog about it.

Probate Avoidance Strategies for Gilbert Homeowners

Probate proceedings in Maricopa County can easily consume 2% to 5% of an estate’s total value in court costs, attorney fees, and administrative delays. Our experienced probate attorney in Gilbert, AZ structures your estate plan using proven legal mechanisms to ensure a seamless asset transfer:

Arizona Beneficiary Deeds (A.R.S. § 33-405): Transfer real estate directly to your heirs upon death without probate while allowing you full control of your property while living. Learn more about Beneficiary Deeds vs. Living Trusts.
Transfer-on-Death (TOD) & Payable-on-Death (POD) Designations: Aligning financial accounts and investment funds directly with your estate structure.
Durable & Financial Powers of Attorney: Granting trusted individuals legal authority to handle financial affairs without court intervention if you become incapacitated.
Healthcare Power of Attorney & Living Wills: Ensuring your personal medical directives are legally enforceable in Arizona hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Navigating Arizona Community Property & Rights of Survivorship

Arizona is one of nine community property states. Under Arizona law, assets acquired during a marriage are generally considered community property owned equally by both spouses. For married couples in Gilbert, properly structuring your property title—such as Community Property with Right of Survivorship (CPWROS) or transferring titles into a joint trust—is essential for tax benefits like a double step-up in tax basis after the first death. If you want to learn more about types of revocable and irrevocable trusts in Gilbert read our blog about it.

Read our breakdown on Arizona Community Property Rules to understand how property titling impacts your estate plan.

If you are new to Gilbert, AZ, check our Checklist for new Gilbert Homeowners.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Gilbert Estate Planning Attorney

Taking control of your estate planning today brings immediate peace of mind for tomorrow. Contact Citadel Law Firm PLLC to schedule a complimentary consultation with our legal team serving Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, and Scottsdale.

Citadel Law Firm PLLC

Phone: (480) 565-8020

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Living Trusts, Wills, Probate, Financial Power of Attorney, Elder Law.