Wealth creates opportunities, but it also brings its share of complications. Families who have spent decades building businesses, acquiring property, and investing in multiple states face unique risks when transferring assets. High-net-worth estate planning addresses those risks directly, utilizing trusts, tax strategies, and succession tools to preserve wealth across generations.
At Theut Scaringelli & Kupiszewski P.L.C., our attorneys have dedicated their careers to guiding Arizona families through probate and trust matters. With former judicial experience on the Superior Court Bench and decades of litigation in Maricopa County probate courts, we offer rare insight into how the system works and can help you design a plan that stands up under scrutiny.
Why Does High-Net-Worth Estate Planning Matter in Arizona?
Arizona does not impose its own estate tax. However, the federal estate tax applies to estates above $13.990 million per person in 2025 (adjusted annually by the IRS). For couples, the combined exemption is more than $27 million, provided the estate plan is structured correctly.
Even below federal thresholds, large estates can suffer from:
- Lengthy and expensive probate proceedings in Maricopa County Superior Court;
- Disputes among heirs, especially in blended families; and
- Exposure to financial exploitation or mismanagement of complex assets.
Estate planning for high-net-worth individuals addresses these issues before they escalate into litigation.
Do I Need a Trust As Part of My Estate Plan?
The cornerstone of estate planning for high-net-worth families is the trust. For most affluent Arizona households, a trust-centered plan does the heavy lifting. However, different tools serve different objectives, for example:
- Revocable living trust—avoids probate, centralizes management, and stays amendable while you’re alive;
- Irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT)—removes policy proceeds from the taxable estate and provides liquidity for heirs;
- Spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT)—makes lifetime gifts for transfer-tax efficiency while a spouse retains access to trust resources;
- Grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT)—transfers future appreciation at a reduced gift-tax cost for assets expected to grow;
- Dynasty/generation skipping trust—holds wealth across generations while using generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions;
- Charitable remainder or lead trust—pairs philanthropy with income or upfront deductions, depending on structure; and
- Special needs trust—supports a disabled beneficiary without jeopardizing public benefits.
A well-structured trust reduces friction, sets clear expectations, and keeps loved ones focused on legacy rather than litigation. When handled properly, planning becomes a tool for asset protection and fostering family harmony, allowing wealth to strengthen bonds rather than tearing them apart.
At Theut Scaringelli & Kupiszewski, we draw on our extensive experience in Arizona probate courts and a deep understanding of contested estates to help families determine which trust best matches their goals, protects their heirs, and withstands legal scrutiny.
What About Taxes in Estate Planning for High-Net-Worth Individuals?
Federal estate and gift tax rules shape outcomes for large estates. Strategies include:
- Gifting up to the annual exclusion amount,
- Use of irrevocable life insurance trusts to remove insurance proceeds from taxable estates, and
- Leveraging family limited partnerships to manage and discount ownership of closely held businesses.
We know how to craft plans that withstand tax scrutiny and family challenges. Our attorneys help families design strategies that preserve wealth today while anticipating how federal thresholds and state court realities will affect them tomorrow.
What About Business Succession and Complex Assets?
For entrepreneurs, high-net-worth estate planning is incomplete without succession planning. Complex estates often include assets that add layers of legal and financial difficulty, for example:
- Multiple residences spread across states with different probate rules;
- Investment portfolios spanning real estate partnerships, private equity, and retirement accounts;
- Intellectual property rights, including patents, royalties, or creative works with fluctuating value;
- Collectibles such as art, jewelry, or rare vehicles that carry both sentimental and financial stakes; and
- International assets, from vacation homes to offshore accounts, triggering cross-border tax and reporting obligations.
Without a coordinated plan, these holdings can trigger jurisdictional conflicts, valuation disputes, or even forced sales. Effective planning integrates these pieces into a single framework, reducing litigation risk and ensuring that family wealth is preserved rather than depleted in court battles.
What Is the Role of Estate Planning Lawyers for High-Net-Worth Families?
Estate planning lawyers ensure wealth is structured, protected, and transferred efficiently. They navigate tax law, draft and administer trusts, resolve disputes, and safeguard family businesses or complex assets across generations.
At Theut Scaringelli & Kupiszewski, we carry that role with unmatched Arizona probate experience. Steve Kupiszewski’s years on the Superior Court Bench give him rare judicial insight. Jennifer Kupiszewski blends elder law and special-needs planning with personal family experience. Paul Theut has been recognized by the State Bar of Arizona for his probate service, while Larry Scaringelli and James Theut strengthen the team with deep litigation and guardianship knowledge.
Together, our team designs durable strategies and defenses when challenges arise, bringing clarity to even the most complicated estates.
Contact Theut Scaringelli & Kupiszewski P.L.C. Today
If you want your estate plan to do more than exist on paper, call Theut Scaringelli & Kupiszewski today. With decades in Arizona probate courts, our attorneys understand the law and the human realities behind it. Our knowledge, earned in the courtroom and refined across generations of Arizona families, ensures your legacy is secure, efficient, and built to last. Contact us today.
