A will is the document that says who gets what, who raises your children, and who is in charge of carrying out your wishes. Without one, those decisions fall to a court and to default rules written for everybody — not for your family. At Kanu & Associates, P.C.we draft practical wills as part of our estate planning practice for clients throughout Arizona and New Mexico.
Why a Will Matters
Most people put off writing a will because it feels like something to deal with later. The trouble is that "later" is not a date you get to choose. If you die without a valid will in Arizona, state law decides how your property is divided and a judge decides who looks after any minor children. That outcome may be nothing like what you would have wanted, and it often leaves family members guessing, arguing, or paying for a probate process that could have been simpler.
A will puts you back in control. It names the people you trust, spells out your intentions in plain terms, and gives your family something clear to follow at a moment when clear instructions matter more than anything.
What Goes Into Your Will
Every will we prepare is built around the client sitting across from us, not pulled off a shelf. Depending on your situation, we help you address:
- Who inherits — specific gifts, shares of your estate, and what happens if a beneficiary passes before you
- Guardianship — who raises your minor children, and a backup if your first choice cannot serve
- Your personal representative — the person who settles debts, handles paperwork, and distributes property
- Real estate — residential and commercial property in Arizona, New Mexico, or elsewhere
- Personal belongings — the items that carry meaning, not just value
- Business interests — how your share of a company passes, and to whom
We also talk about the documents that sit alongside a will. Health care directives, powers of attorney, and in some cases a trust can do work a will cannot — like speaking for you while you are still living, or keeping certain assets out of probate. We will explain where each one fits and let you decide how far you want to go.
How We Work With You
Our approach is the same across everything we handle: take the time to understand your goals, explain your options, and help you move forward with confidence. For a will, that usually means one conversation about your family, your property, and what you want to happen — then a draft you can read, question, and change before anything is signed.
Dr. Solomon Kanu brings more than two decades of legal experience to that conversation. He earned his Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999 and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Arizona in 2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in 2001, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2002. He is also a member of the State Bar of New Mexico. His earlier training includes a Master of Commerce in Banking and Business Finance from M.S. University of Baroda, India, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Honors) from M.D. University, Rohtak Haryana — background that comes in useful when a client's estate involves business holdings or layered finances.
The firm has been recognized as one of the Top 20 Solo Practitioners in Arizona by the State Bar of Arizona in 2012, named an Excellent Lawyer by Avvo in 2011, and received Client's Choice recognition in 2020. Clients have rated the firm 4.3 out of 5 across 152 reviews.
What sets Dr. Kanu apart is his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to his clients' success.
That attention to detail is exactly what a will requires. Small wording problems in a do-it-yourself document can send a family to court years later. We would rather get it right the first time.
Talk to Kanu & Associates
If you have been meaning to get a will in place — or you already have one that no longer matches your life — call us at (602) 324-5320 or email solomon@kanulaw.com. Our office is at 15150 W Pk Pl Ste 215-2064, Goodyear, AZ 85395, open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm.
Alongside estate planning, the firm handles immigration law, criminal defense, family law, and business law, so if your situation touches more than one area, you can address it all in one place.