DeDe Jacques
Filing Taxes Just Got Less Taxing
DeDe Jacques
At Account on DeDe, LLC, our goal always remains the same no matter what type of client we are working with. Simply put, we strive to give you an accurate picture of your financial situation to attain your best tax filing document. Doing taxes, whether personal or for business, is stressful.
My name is DeDe Jacques. I own Account on DeDe, LLC. Once I got my kids off to college, I started my career as a tax preparer and bookkeeping service. For many years, I prepared our family’s investments, several businesses, and rental properties taxes. As a person who loves helping people, and being a very detail-oriented person, this seemed like a logical business to get started. It capitalized on my strengths and experience. My personal experiences filing our taxes allows me the empathy I feel is needed to understand each of my client’s unique tax situation.
Business has grown steadily since I began. Offering in-person or virtual appointments gives my clients options that work best with their schedules. I also offer mobile, in-home visits in a limited geographical area. The Sun Lakes communities are in that area. Being a people person, I really care about how my services affect my clients’ finances. Seeking out the best possible outcomes is my passion in my business. I try to educate and inform my clients of the tax code changes that happen every year and how they might affect them.
When not preparing taxes, I love spending time with my family and traveling. I find that visiting other places, cities, and countries helps reduce my stress, recharges my mind, and gives me a healthy perspective on life.
For individuals looking for help with tax filing, we offer a personal touch and precision that is unattainable with do-it-yourself software. For businesses, we provide services that assess overall financial health, and we deliver regular reports that are clear, digestible, and actionable. Contact us today to begin a valuable partnership.
To schedule an appointment or to learn more about us, call 480-789-9743 or visit www.AccountOnDeDe.com.
What Is Probate and How to Avoid It
Dr. Harold Wong
Probate is the legally required (by the state of residence) way to process your estate (total possessions) after you die. The estate includes all financial and real estate assets and personal property, such as cars, antiques, jewelry, boats, and art. The primary purpose of probate is to make sure your assets are distributed among your heirs and to resolve any debts or claims. In Arizona probate is usually required if someone has more than $75,000 of personal property or more than $100,000 of real estate equity. Note: Having a will only will not avoid probate!
The Probate Process Includes These Steps:
1. Prepare all necessary documents for filing.
2. Choose a personal representative.
3. Discover and catalog all assets and liabilities.
4. Publish a legal notice to creditors who may make a claim on your estate.
5. File legally required paperwork.
6. Ensure assets are distributed according to your will (which you hopefully have, or it can get really messy if creditors or family members argue about how much each is owed).
How Much Does Probate Cost and How Long Does It Take?
In Phoenix the attorney fees can be $200 to $500 per hour. In addition, you have court filing fees of at least $300 to $500. You have to add personal representative or executor compensation. You may have appraisal and accountant costs. Total probate fees for a simple estate that is uncontested can be $2,000 to $10,000, and the probate process will take just under one year. If there are substantial assets or conflicts among the heirs, total costs can be 2 to 15 percent of the entire estate, and the entire probate process can take many years.
How to Avoid Probate in Arizona
The best way to avoid probate is to create a revocable living trust (RLT). The RLT is a legal entity you create to hold your assets. While you are alive, you retain control over the assets and can change or revoke provisions in the trust. After your death, the successor trustee distributes the assets according to your wishes and bypasses probate entirely, because the assets are owned by the trust and not you as an individual. However, a major mistake is that many folks don’t retitle many assets in the name of the RLT, and those assets will still have to go through probate.
Attend my free live seminars: Tuesday, May 13, at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, May 14, at 6 p.m.; or Thursday, May 29, at either 3 or 6 p.m. at Hyatt Place, 3535 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85226. The seminars are followed by a free catered meal. The topic is “Estate Planning Wisdom from Warren Buffett!”
To RSVP for the seminars or to schedule a free consultation, please contact Dr. Harold Wong at 480-706-0177 or [email protected]. His website is www.drharoldwong.com.
Dr. Wong earned his PhD in economics at UC Berkeley in 1974 and passed the National CPA exam in 1979. He has appeared on more than 400 TV/radio programs.