Business Details
Trusted Estate Planning Lawyers in Tucson, AZ
Fletcher Struse Wagner & Derksen has built a reputation as a trusted legal practice dedicated to comprehensive estate planning and fiduciary services. Our team of experienced attorneys specializes in crafting personalized solutions for individuals, families, and fiduciaries navigating complex estate and trust matters. With decades of combined legal expertise, we provide strategic guidance in establishing revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, and advanced estate planning instruments while maintaining a steadfast commitment to client education and long-term relationship-building.Our practice extends to probate administration, trust litigation, and guardianship proceedings, ensuring clients receive both technical precision and compassionate counsel. As active members of prestigious legal organizations like the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, we maintain the highest standards of professional excellence while delivering accessible, client-focused legal services tailored to Southern Arizona's unique needs.
Services
Estate Planning
Trust Administration
Probate Services
Guardianship Cases
Fiduciary Representation
Tax Planning
Special Needs Trusts
Conservatorships
Will Preparation
Estate Tax Returns
Highlights and features
- We offer over 20 years of combined experience in estate planning and probate law
- Our team includes ACTEC members and former bar association leaders
- We provide integrated legal and tax planning solutions through attorney-CPA collaboration
- Our attorneys hold leadership roles in local and national estate planning organizations
- We maintain active involvement in community-based planned giving initiatives
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning practice creates customized strategies to protect assets and ensure client wishes are honored. We draft wills, trusts, and advanced directives while addressing tax implications and family dynamics. Services include retirement planning, charitable giving strategies, and incapacity planning through durable powers of attorney.
Trust Administration
We guide trustees through complex administrative responsibilities including asset distribution, tax compliance, and fiduciary duties. Our team assists with trust funding, modification, and termination while ensuring adherence to Arizona trust laws and protecting beneficiaries' interests.
Probate Services
Our probate practice handles estate administration from initial court filings to final distributions. We represent executors and beneficiaries in contested and uncontested proceedings, prepare estate tax returns, and resolve creditor claims while minimizing delays and administrative costs.
Guardianship Cases
We represent families and professionals in establishing guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults. Our services include court petition preparation, capacity evaluations, and ongoing compliance with reporting requirements while prioritizing the ward's best interests.
Fiduciary Representation
We provide specialized guidance to trustees and executors regarding their legal obligations and risk management. Our representation includes trust modification proceedings, beneficiary disputes, and compliance with Arizona's fiduciary standards while maintaining impartial decision-making.
People
Victoria Blair Struse
Partner
Elder law specialist with ACTEC membership and former chair of Arizona's Elder Law Section. Focuses on special needs planning and long-term care strategies while serving on national elder law committees.
Amy E. Fletcher
Partner
Estate planning attorney with 25+ years experience advising families on wealth transfer strategies. Active in planned giving initiatives and former trustee for Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Steven C. Wagner
Partner
Dual-qualified attorney-CPA specializing in complex tax planning. Recognized leader in estate taxation and charitable giving strategies with multiple community leadership roles.
Shannon M. Derksen
Partner
Probate section leader with expertise in trust litigation and fiduciary disputes. Serves on professional advisory committees for Southern Arizona's major charitable organizations.
James D. Riley
Partner
Estate planning specialist with academic background in tax law. Active in local estate planning councils and charitable advisor program for Jewish Community Foundation.
Questions
What estate planning documents should every adult have?
Every adult should have a will, durable power of attorney, healthcare directive, and beneficiary designations. Our attorneys help create comprehensive plans tailored to individual circumstances.
How does a living trust avoid probate?
A properly funded living trust transfers asset ownership to the trust during your lifetime, allowing successor trustees to distribute property without court involvement after your passing.
What happens if someone dies without a will in Arizona?
Arizona's intestacy laws determine asset distribution to surviving family members through probate court proceedings, which may not align with the deceased's wishes.
Can I modify an existing trust?
Trusts can often be modified through amendment, reformation, or restatement depending on specific circumstances and Arizona trust code requirements.
What's the difference between guardianship and conservatorship?
Guardianship handles personal matters for incapacitated individuals while conservatorship manages financial affairs. Both require court oversight and regular reporting.
How do I start the estate planning process?
Contact our office to schedule a consultation where we'll discuss your family situation, financial goals, and specific concerns to create a customized estate plan.
