Setting Up Future Success Stoddard Legal Solutions offers compassionate estate planning services BY KAMALA KIRK No matter one’s age or financial background, estate planning is important. It organizes assets and how they will be distributed, medical directives, beneficiary designations, as well as trusts to facilitate passing property to heirs. Proper estate planning saves time and money, avoids big taxes, and also protects one’s children and dependents. “From my experience, I find that older clients are experienced and insightful, but many estate planning attorneys approach their practice from a place of preaching rather than listening,” said Rachel Stoddard, Esq., owner of Stoddard Legal Solutions PLLC. “The first question I ask any client, of any age, is, ‘How can I help?’ I listen to their concerns and work with them to structure a plan that meets their goals and concerns.” Nominated for Best Law Firm of Ahwatukee in 2019 and 2020, Stoddard Legal Solutions specializes in estate planning, helping clients manage their estates and
administration to make sure that their estate planning goals are carried out. In addition to helping clients protect their assets, Stoddard helps them create medical and mental health Powers of Attorney and plan for their children and dependents’ futures. Stoddard also creates Special Needs Trusts, which give clients the ability to ensure their loved ones will always be guided toward success and provided for financially through their lifetime, and specialty Firearms Trusts to effectively bequeath one’s firearms to someone due to the numerous state and federal regulations that apply to the ownership and possession of firearms. “I’d like to think that I help clients feel comfortable in discussing complex legal issues,” Stoddard says. “Everyone has valuable input and insight, and I respect their perspectives. I may be a lawyer with specialized legal training, but I am not an expert in their lives, families and personal choices. It takes equal listening and re-
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spect to form a valuable estate plan.” Prior to establishing her practice in 2016, Stoddard had a successful career in government service helping victims of violent crime for more than a decade. “When I had my daughter, I wanted to adjust my practice so it wasn’t so litigation based so I could be more present for her, but I still wanted to help people and provide comfort for them through difficult times,” Stoddard says. “Estate planning was a natural extension of that. Rachel Stoddard. Esq., owner of Stoddard Legal SoluI get to help clients feel empowered tions PLLC specializes in estate planning. (Submitted photo) in making their own choices regarding their estate, and even end of life choic- vices to private clientele since forming es, which ultimately provides them with a Stoddard Legal Solutions, and during COVID-19, she utilized technology to convery needed peace of mind.” Stoddard graduated summa cum laude tinue to provide services to her clients. “My husband is an IT engineer, so I was from ASU, then became cum laude graduate at the university’s Sandra Day O’Con- very fortunate to be able to adjust on a weekend and offer secure video confernor College of Law. While attending law school, Stoddard ence options for clients who weren’t comalso headed the Advocacy Program fortable meeting in person or just preAgainst Domestic Violence, worked for ferred to meet with me from the comfort civil law firms and the Maricopa County of their home,” Stoddard says. “It allowed me to still offer high-qualiAttorney’s Office, and clerked for judges ty, professional services while taking care at the trial and appellate courts. “My undergrad is in psychology, and I of my clients’ needs and concerns, more graduated with my bachelor’s degree at than just legal. I still utilize such technol17,” Stoddard says. “Being so young while ogy and offerings for those clients who in a higher education environment, or not prefer such methods and will continue to the obvious cookie cutter mold, I believe do so into the future to serve the widest has led me to have a very real compassion array of clients.” Stoddard shared that her favorite part and open-mindedness for folks of all cirof working in the industry is helping peocumstances and walks of life.” After graduating, Stoddard became a ple feel empowered and confident about deputy county attorney with the Marico- topics that are often difficult to think pa County Attorney’s Office, where she about. As a mother to two children, Stodquickly moved up and was entrusted with dard is committed to her family as well as highly complex and sensitive cases involv- the families of her clients. “My two children and my husband are ing crimes against children. She was also selected to be an assistant U.S. attorney the most important part of my life and I with the U.S. attorney’s office in the dis- would do anything to protect and provide trict of Arizona, where she handled sev- for them,” Stoddard says. “Which is why it eral federal trials and appeals as a federal is so important to me to assist my clients prosecutor, successfully arguing before in doing the same for those they love, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San whether it be family or their ‘chosen’ famFrancisco. Stoddard was also named the ily and friends.” Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and led prosecutions of violent and technoloStoddard Legal Solutions gy-based crimes that involved children, as 5010 W. Warner Road, well as liaising with local, tribal, state and Suite 109, Phoenix federal authorities. 480-210-6444, stoddardpllc.com Stoddard has extended her legal serwww.LovinLife.com
