Google
"Found Nicole online... thanks to her stellar reviews. Easy to work with, thorough, and pretty straightforward process. Would recommend."
VK
Vikas Khanna
Verified Google Review
Special considerations for business owners.
If you own a business, your estate plan and your business documents have to work together. We make sure they do.
Watch
Nicole on planning for business owners
A short walkthrough of what business owners should review when building an estate plan.
The Conversation
Your business and your estate plan need to talk to each other.
For small business owners, we need to have a conversation that addresses the business side and how it's incorporated into your estate plan. First, if you own a business with someone else, we make sure you have the correct business documents in place that say what happens when an owner passes away. If those don't exist — or are out of date — we update them. Business documents are handled separately from estate plan documents, but they have to work together.
The second piece is making sure your estate plan addresses how you want things to go once you pass away — what that transition looks like, and whether there's someone who might take over or run the business until it can be sold. Some of this is handled in the estate plan (in a will or trust), and some of it is handled in the actual business documents. We make sure both halves line up.
What We Review
The documents that protect your company and your family.
A complete review for an owner usually touches both your business agreements and your personal estate plan.
Buy-Sell Agreements
Define what happens to an owner's share at death, disability, or departure — so co-owners and heirs aren't caught off guard.
Operating Agreements
Make sure your LLC or partnership agreement clearly addresses succession, voting rights, and transfer restrictions.
Succession Planning
Identify who can take over or run the business through a sale — and document that plan now, while you can choose.
Will or Revocable Trust
Coordinate your personal documents with the business documents so your ownership interest passes the way you intend.
Power of Attorney
Authorize someone you trust to handle business banking, contracts, and decisions if you're temporarily unable to.
Title & Funding Review
Confirm that ownership interests are titled correctly so probate doesn't disrupt operations.
Common Gaps
What we most often find missing.
No buy-sell agreement.
Co-owners assume they'll figure it out — until they're negotiating with a grieving spouse or a probate court.
Outdated operating agreement.
The company has grown, partners have changed, but the document still reflects day-one assumptions.
Estate plan doesn't mention the business.
A will or trust that ignores the company can create conflict, ambiguity, and unnecessary tax exposure.
No interim leader named.
Without someone empowered to step in, even a short absence can stall payroll, vendors, and customers.
Your Phoenix Estate Planning Attorney
We coordinate both sides — so nothing falls through the cracks.
Nicole Pavlik is an experienced Phoenix estate planning attorney who helps business owners create a comprehensive plan that works alongside their company documents.
If you have questions about estate planning for business owners, call Nicole Pavlik Law Firm today at (602) 635-6176 for a free consultation.
Client Reviews
What Our Clients Say
Google
"Nicole and her team have been extremely helpful, knowledgeable, professional, and kind. We have such peace of mind going with Nicole."
SS
Shauna S.
Verified Google Review
Google
"From initial communication through final signatures and continued support — just fantastic. Recommend her 100% for your Phoenix, AZ estate planning attorney."
AP
Anthony Polletta
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole and her team are wonderful to work with because of their timeliness, expansive knowledge, and attention to detail."
DJ
Dylan Jones
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole and her staff did an excellent job of making a seemingly complex process simple. I would highly recommend her."
MA
Marc A. Morales De Castillo
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole's expertise and attention to detail in preparing our estate documents were commendable. They made the complex task of estate planning easy to navigate."
JC
Jim Cantwell
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole and her team supported very well in writing a will, it was pretty smooth and they were very transparent in explaining all the details."
DS
Durga Sirigirisetti
Verified Google Review
Google
"Every step of the process was a well-oiled machine. The process was easy to follow and seamless. Happy to recommend them to anyone."
MP
Melissa Panks
Verified Google Review
Google
"Found Nicole online... thanks to her stellar reviews. Easy to work with, thorough, and pretty straightforward process. Would recommend."
VK
Vikas Khanna
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole and her team have been extremely helpful, knowledgeable, professional, and kind. We have such peace of mind going with Nicole."
SS
Shauna S.
Verified Google Review
Google
"From initial communication through final signatures and continued support — just fantastic. Recommend her 100% for your Phoenix, AZ estate planning attorney."
AP
Anthony Polletta
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole and her team are wonderful to work with because of their timeliness, expansive knowledge, and attention to detail."
DJ
Dylan Jones
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole and her staff did an excellent job of making a seemingly complex process simple. I would highly recommend her."
MA
Marc A. Morales De Castillo
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole's expertise and attention to detail in preparing our estate documents were commendable. They made the complex task of estate planning easy to navigate."
JC
Jim Cantwell
Verified Google Review
Google
"Nicole and her team supported very well in writing a will, it was pretty smooth and they were very transparent in explaining all the details."
DS
Durga Sirigirisetti
Verified Google Review
Google
"Every step of the process was a well-oiled machine. The process was easy to follow and seamless. Happy to recommend them to anyone."
MP
Melissa Panks
Verified Google Review
Schedule a Consultation
Peace of mind starts with a conversation.
Tell us a little about what's on your mind. Nicole will personally review your message and reach out to schedule your virtual consultation.