A Discussion on Special Needs

Today we are joined by friend of the firm, Tara Pleat, to discuss how special needs planning has changed over the years. A well written trust is a good step but may not be enough in the modern age. Special needs planners are navigating changing diagnoses, public benefits and perceptions. Keeping a special needs child on public benefits may not be the optimal choice anymore. We discuss how these changes have affected our practice in special needs planning.

This is the third in a series regarding community foundations. An introduction can be found here.

Since 1978, the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) has worked alongside generous individuals, families, and organizations to address some of the biggest challenges facing our state. Our Tucson office serves six counties in Southeast Arizona, bringing the strength of a statewide foundation together with deep local relationships.

With more than $1.6 billion in assets under management, ACF is the state’s largest independent provider of scholarships. Our statewide network of philanthropists and community partners connects local giving with broader opportunities for collaboration. We help donors develop customized, tax-smart charitable giving strategies that align with their goals and mobilize enduring philanthropy and strengthen Arizona’s nonprofit sector.

Contact information for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona can be found here:

Colleen Iuliucci, Regional Director

ciuliucci@azfoundation.org

Supporting Arizona communities through charitable giving

2201 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 405B; Phoenix, Arizona 85016

In this introduction to a three-part series of Elder Law Issues podcast episodes, Fleming & Curti, PLC attorney Elizabeth Friman tackles the Community Foundation industry (and principal players) in Tucson.

Tangible Personal Property Administration

What is tangible personal property? The basic answer is anything you can touch, but this often causes confusion. Certain items do and do not count, which can lead to frustration among family members of a deceased individual. In this podcast, we do our best to definite tangible personal property and discuss some of our experiences with it in estates.

What we often find is that the least valuable pieces tend to be the ones most fought over. As a result, we will also go over ways one might lessen some of the fighting from an Arizona attorney perspective.

Join us in our discussion of tangible personal property administration.

This is the first in a series regarding community foundations. An introduction can be found here.

The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) inspires generosity and strengthens communities through individualized philanthropy, strategic grantmaking, nonprofit support, and community leadership. Since 1980, CFSA has partnered with donors, nonprofits, businesses, and community leaders to invest in the people and ideas that help Southern Arizona thrive. Together, we are building a vibrant and equitable region where generosity takes root, and everyone can bloom.

Contact information for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona can be found here:

Laura Maher Forszt, Vice President for Philanthropy

lmaher@cfsaz.org

cfsaz.org

5049 E Broadway Blvd, Suite 201, Tucson, Arizona 85711

This is the second in a series regarding community foundations. An introduction can be found here.

At its heart, Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona’s Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) helps people live their values through philanthropy. Rooted in the Jewish tradition of tzedakah (giving as an act of justice), JCF partners with individuals and families to create personalized giving strategies that reflect their passions, support the causes they care about, and build legacies for future generations.

Through Donor Advised Funds, Endowment Funds, legacy gifts, and other charitable giving strategies, JCF helps donors make a difference today and plan for tomorrow. By understanding what matters most to each fundholder and keeping a pulse on community needs, it connects their philanthropic visions with charitable opportunities, turning personal values into meaningful impact.

Across the Jewish and broader communities, JCF partners with nonprofits to build charitable assets, strengthen endowments, and sustain their missions. Through education, collaboration, and strategic guidance, JCF helps organizations grow and thrive.

JCF works closely with professional advisors, helping attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, and their clients incorporate charitable planning into conversations about legacy, purpose, and community impact.

By bringing together donors, nonprofits, and professional advisors, JCF serves as a trusted convener for philanthropy. Together, these connections help turn values into action, strengthen our community, and create lasting impact for generations to come.

Contact information for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona can be found here:

Brenda Landau, Director of Legacy Development

blandau@jparizona.org

Foundation | Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona

3718 E. River Rd | Tucson, AZ | 85718

A Conversation on Prenuptials

Fleming & Curti, PLC has worked with many clients who have either done prenuptial agreements or are interested in doing them. This can affect estate planning and other conversations in a meeting. For example, if a non-married couple is contemplating marriage and a prenuptial agreement, they will likely have to get separate representation for each side of their agreement. As a result of this, many firms that represent spouses or partners jointly will refuse to create one.

We also discuss another concern that spouses or partners have. How does their prenuptial enforce how much they can leave their significant other in their estate plans? We briefly touch upon these topics in today’s podcast. We hope this will inspire you to have a conversation on prenuptials with your spouse or partner.

How much discretion should you give a trustee? Some clients have felt tempted to restrict a trustee in an attempt to protect their beneficiaries’ inheritance. Today we will explain our position that this is generally not advisable. There may be circumstances that arise where your beneficiary may need funds and the trustee should have the ability to support them. Conversely, forcing a trustee into a fixed monthly distribution may harm a beneficiary’s ability to get financial aid or government benefits. Why have their inheritance pay for things that the university or government should? That is why today’s podcast discusses some of our experiences with the positives of giving your trustee discretion.