Dana and Associates is a full-service estate planning, probate and trust administration law firm, serving families throughout Arizona, California, and Nevada. We design custom legal plans to help you preserve your legacy by minimizing taxes and simplifying administration by avoiding probate. We utilize the latest strategies with Revocable Trusts, Last Will and Testaments, Health Care Powers of Attorney and Durable Financial Powers of Attorneys to ensure that your loved ones are protected when you can’t be there.
We also provide assistance with the administration that comes after the passing of a loved one. Whether there was a plan in place, or if there was no planning done, we can help you. While the court probate process can be time consuming and complex, we will make the process easy for you and provide you with straightforward solutions.
Our Mission
Our passion is solving solving problems creatively, delivering legal solutions, and helping families through difficult times. We strive to offer straightforward and efficient solutions to sophisticated problems to protect your family and your legacy.
I define “Family” as the people that you love and care about.
Planning is Personal
Modern families come in all shapes and sizes; couples that are not married, couples with children from prior relationships, same-sex couples, grandparents raising grandchildren and so much more. At Dana and Associates, the planning process starts by getting to know your family and your goals. Then we will help you design a custom estate plan that meets your specific needs and protects your family.
We have designed thousands of estate plans for all types of families
Experience Matters
We have designed thousands of estate plans for all types of families including engineers, corporate executives, business owners, professional athletes, doctors, healthcare workers, and pilots. We create custom plans for married couples, singles, and couples that are not married. Every family has a unique set of needs and with each estate plan we design we learn more about how to better serve our clients. Our estate plans have the tools to protect your family and preserve your legacy.
We are also experienced in helping families after the loss of a loved one. Our firm has administered hundreds of estates, whether it be a trust administration or navigating the probate process. Our experience in administering estates helps us provide efficient and practical solutions when designing an estate plan, and when administering an estate.
— Rilus M. Dana, J.D.Managing Partner
Our Core Values
Passion
We encourage our clients’ enthusiasm for the things and people they love. Helping our clients preserve their legacy ensures they are protecting their family and their community. We offer customized legal plans for our clients to arrange specific to their families and charitable organizations so that their passions live on long after they are gone.
Integrity
Treating our clients with respect and offering them honest and straightforward solutions to their legal problems is of great importance to our attorneys and staff. We provide an ethical and transparent environment so that our clients know they can trust our advice.
Service
“That was so easy” is the best compliment we get from clients. Our goal is to provide a service experience for our clients from the moment they call to schedule until their case is closed and beyond. We build sustaining relationships with our clients and their families by answering their questions quickly and efficiently so that we can help them with every aspect of their estate plan and the probate process.
Simplicity
We believe in removing clutter and unnecessary processes until all that remains is essential and useful. While we often deal with very complex legal and tax situations, we strive to break down the complexities to a level that is easily understood.
Education
We are committed to providing our attorneys and staff with the highest quality training and continuing education. We also believe that we serve our clients best when they understand how the estate planning and probate processes work. By offering as many educational resources as possible we feel that our clients are able to make the best decisions for their family.
Technology
Estate planning is about preparing for the future, so we incorporate the technological tools of the future into our clients’ estate plans. We understand that technology provides protection for our clients and helps their family members to have a full understanding of their estate plan. Our digital vault keeps client documents safe and secure to share their documents with their loved ones.
Meet Our Team
Rilus M. Dana
Managing Partner
I love knowing that the planning techniques we implemented saved clients money and prevented probate.
When I was in college at Arizona State University, I worked part time as a law clerk for my dad, and that’s when I started to understand the importance of legal planning for families.
As a father to three young boys, I understand that clients are busy and want a legal plan that is easy to understand.
I know things change in life and your documents can’t always keep up, and that you don’t want to call your lawyer and pay the high hourly fees to get them updated and changed. I know what you want most: to know that when you work with us, we put everything in place to work for your family. If something happens to you, I am going to be there for your family.
Ultimately, that is what is most important. Sure, the documents are important, but it is more important to know that your family has a trusted advisor if something happens. I built my firm with that in mind. To do this, I got rid of hourly fees. I put systems in place to make sure that the transfer of assets takes place and that the plan updates as your family and needs change.
I know what you want most: to know that when you work with us, we put everything in place to work for your family. When something happens to you, I am going to be there for your family.
Afsanieh Rassti
Associate Attorney
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So why estate planning? My desires are multi-faceted because I have had the fortunate opportunity to travel the world and experience culture and people from all walks of life. I am drawn to estate planning because it is an area of the law that affects everyone. Whether you’re rolling in the big bucks or have a modest estate—it is essential. I grew up with my dad constantly telling me to save for that “rainy day” and prepare for my future. An estate plan provides for a sense of security and protection for your families and loved ones. It is a holistic process and ultimately will serve to benefit you and your legacy in ways you will thank yourself for in the future. Estate planning is an important and everlasting gift you can give your family. Family is incredibly important to me and having most of my family live on the other side of the world, I have always felt a piece of me is missing. Without hesitation, if I had a choice to go anywhere in the world, I would choose my second home, every single time. I love learning about my client’s life stories and help them ensure that their life’s legacy continues for generations to come. The best time to plan your estate is now.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]Lori Bradford
Head Paralegal
As Head Paralegal, Lori manages and supervises all of the Probate and Trust Administration cases for Dana and Associates. Lori is a native of Arizona, is married and has three wonderful children. She enjoys listening to music, spending time outdoors, and hiking. She also treasures every moment she can spend with family and friends.Megan Marlar
Estate Planning Paralegal
As the estate planning paralegal, Megan drafts estate planning documents and helps clients to understand what each document is used for during their signings. Megan recently transitioned into legal work and has come to love it. When not in the office, Megan enjoys exercising and spending time with her daughter and her husband-to-be.Lori De Los Santos
Intake Specialist
As an intake specialist, Lori enjoys talking directly with clients and their families, determining their estate planning needs and requirements. Lori has worked in the legal administrative field for over 30 years. She and her husband moved from Indiana to Arizona in 2002 to be closer to their children and to escape the Midwest winters! In her spare time, Lori enjoys spending time with her family, reading, sewing, and crafting.Charly Molyneaux
Legal Assistant
As the legal assistant for Dana and Associates, LLC, Charly helps clients navigate our estate planning process by reviewing legal documents and answering client questions. Charly grew up and California and now calls Arizona home. She is a mother of two awesome kids and enjoys dancing and spending time with friends and family when not at work.
Rilus M. Dana
Managing Partner
I love knowing that the planning techniques we implemented saved clients money and prevented probate.
When I was in college at Arizona State University, I worked part time as a law clerk for my dad, and that’s when I started to understand the importance of legal planning for families.
As a father to three young boys, I understand that clients are busy and want a legal plan that is easy to understand.
I know things change in life and your documents can’t always keep up, and that you don’t want to call your lawyer and pay the high hourly fees to get them updated and changed. I know what you want most: to know that when you work with us, we put everything in place to work for your family. If something happens to you, I am going to be there for your family.
Ultimately, that is what is most important. Sure, the documents are important, but it is more important to know that your family has a trusted advisor if something happens. I built my firm with that in mind. To do this, I got rid of hourly fees. I put systems in place to make sure that the transfer of assets takes place and that the plan updates as your family and needs change.
I know what you want most: to know that when you work with us, we put everything in place to work for your family. When something happens to you, I am going to be there for your family.
Afsanieh Rassti
Associate Attorney
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]So why estate planning? My desires are multi-faceted because I have had the fortunate opportunity to travel the world and experience culture and people from all walks of life. I am drawn to estate planning because it is an area of the law that affects everyone. Whether you’re rolling in the big bucks or have a modest estate—it is essential. I grew up with my dad constantly telling me to save for that “rainy day” and prepare for my future. An estate plan provides for a sense of security and protection for your families and loved ones. It is a holistic process and ultimately will serve to benefit you and your legacy in ways you will thank yourself for in the future. Estate planning is an important and everlasting gift you can give your family. Family is incredibly important to me and having most of my family live on the other side of the world, I have always felt a piece of me is missing. Without hesitation, if I had a choice to go anywhere in the world, I would choose my second home, every single time. I love learning about my client’s life stories and help them ensure that their life’s legacy continues for generations to come. The best time to plan your estate is now.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]Lori Bradford
Head Paralegal
As Head Paralegal, Lori manages and supervises all of the Probate and Trust Administration cases for Dana and Associates. Lori is a native of Arizona, is married and has three wonderful children. She enjoys listening to music, spending time outdoors, and hiking. She also treasures every moment she can spend with family and friends.Megan Marlar
Estate Planning Paralegal
As the estate planning paralegal, Megan drafts estate planning documents and helps clients to understand what each document is used for during their signings. Megan recently transitioned into legal work and has come to love it. When not in the office, Megan enjoys exercising and spending time with her daughter and her husband-to-be.Lori De Los Santos
Intake Specialist
As an intake specialist, Lori enjoys talking directly with clients and their families, determining their estate planning needs and requirements. Lori has worked in the legal administrative field for over 30 years. She and her husband moved from Indiana to Arizona in 2002 to be closer to their children and to escape the Midwest winters! In her spare time, Lori enjoys spending time with her family, reading, sewing, and crafting.Charly Molyneaux
Legal Assistant
As the legal assistant for Dana and Associates, LLC, Charly helps clients navigate our estate planning process by reviewing legal documents and answering client questions. Charly grew up and California and now calls Arizona home. She is a mother of two awesome kids and enjoys dancing and spending time with friends and family when not at work.Estate Planning for Heroes
At Dana and Associates are thankful for the brave men and women who keep us safe and secure.
To show our appreciation, we provide a 10% off discount off the total cost of our trust and will packages for active military, veterans, teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
Our attorneys also host semi annual events to offer free Wills for Heroes. It is our wish to honor and serve those who have honored and served our country. Visit our Facebook page, or call (480) 924-4424 for more information.
Schedule your free Personal Family Legal Session
Contact us today to schedule your free one-hour meeting with an attorney to assess your estate planning needs.