Platt & Westby, P.C.

10/26/2026

Not sure whether it’s time to call a lawyer? Start with a conversation. Contact Platt & Westby to schedule a free consultation and understand your options before deciding what comes next.

10/23/2026

Not simply because you're their child.

Generally, a deceased person's debts are handled through their estate. Creditors may have claims against estate assets before property is distributed to beneficiaries.

But things can become more complicated when there are joint accounts, co-signers, jointly held debts, secured property, or a surviving spouse.

That's why one of the first questions after someone passes shouldn't necessarily be:

“What did I inherit?”

It may need to be:

“What does the estate actually own and owe?”

Before paying bills from your own money or distributing estate assets, understand what you're responsible for and what you're not.

10/21/2026

From a lawyer’s perspective, the friendship isn’t necessarily the problem.

The 50/50 might be.

What happens when you disagree? Who gets the final say? What if one person wants out? Stops contributing? Wants to sell? Gets divorced? Passes away?

10/19/2026

Behind the five stars is a client who trusted us during a moment when they needed experience, answers, and a path forward.

Thank you for allowing us to be that team and for sharing your experience so someone else looking for help knows what they can expect.

EXPERIENCED PHOENIX, ARIZONA ATTORNEYS
Real Estate, Probate, Estate Planning, Litigation, Family Law

10/16/2026

Have a scenario you want us to ask next? Drop it in the comments.

This content is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different. Consult a qualified attorney regarding your specific circumstances.

10/14/2026

Arizona has added some significant new protections, but property owners should still pay attention to what's being recorded in their name.

The new law strengthens safeguards around real estate documents, including photo ID requirements for many in-person recordings, tougher penalties for forged documents, additional notary requirements, and a new opt-in alert system counties must establish by January 1, 2027.

Why does this matter?

Deed fraud can happen without the actual owner selling, signing away, or even knowing something has happened to their property.

And historically, the biggest problem has often been how long it takes the real owner to discover it.

The takeaway isn't to panic. It's to pay attention.

Monitor your property records, take advantage of available alert services, and don't ignore an ownership or recording change you don't recognize.

If something looks wrong, that's a situation where getting legal guidance early can matter significantly.

10/12/2026

Sometimes the answer really is: not yet.

A consultation doesn’t automatically mean a lawsuit, a retainer, or taking legal action. Sometimes it simply means understanding what you're dealing with before you make the next move.

10/09/2026

Arizona property owners: there's a free service you should probably know about.

One of the biggest problems with deed fraud isn't just that it happens.

It's that property owners may not realize it happened until much later.

👉 Read the full blog and consider sharing it with someone who owns vacant land, inherited property, or a home without a mortgage.

https://www.plattwestby.com/deed-fraud-is-your-property-vulnerable/

10/07/2026

The Arizona Supreme Court recently declined a proposal that would have temporarily prohibited judges from using generative AI for core judicial work.

But there’s an important distinction: AI can be a tool. It cannot be the judge.

Judicial decision-making remains a human responsibility, while Arizona continues to test where AI may improve efficiency and access to the courts.

And from a lawyer’s perspective, that creates a much bigger conversation.

10/05/2026

We’re grateful when someone takes the time to share their experience and even more grateful they trusted our team to help in the first place.