Hillary P. Gagnon is certified as a specialist in Estate and Probate Law with the State Bar of Arizona.  She has been licensed to practice law in Arizona since 1998.  Hillary’s practice focuses exclusively on estate planning and probate matters including, guardianships, conservatorships, protection of incapacitated and vulnerable adults, probate administration, trust administration, and litigation in contested probate and trust matters.  Hillary also serves as a Mediator and Expert Witness in probate and trust disputes.

In her estate planning practice, Hillary works closely with clients to develop tailored estate plans that meet their unique personal and family needs. She drafts essential documents such as wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and living wills. Hillary also has experience preparing special needs trusts and irrevocable trusts.

Hillary has extensive experience handling both contested and uncontested guardianship, conservatorship, probate and trust matters, including but not limited to:

• Assisting families and individuals establish a guardianship and conservatorship for a disabled or incapacitated adult and providing ongoing representation, guiding clients through their fiduciary responsibilities;
• Representing disabled and incapacitated adults in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings to ensure their legal rights and interests are safeguarded;
• Advising and representing Trustees in the administration of a trust;
• Representing personal representatives in the probate of a will or intestate estate;
• Representing trust beneficiaries or estate heirs in the protection of their rights as a beneficiary or heir;
• Representing private fiduciaries in guardianships, conservatorships, trust administration and probate estate administration;
• Litigation and trials in contested probate and trust matters; and
• Serving as a Mediator in contested probate matters.

As part of her commitment to serving vulnerable adults, since 2011 Hillary has served as court appointed counsel and guardian ad litem for disabled and incapacitated adults in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings for the Maricopa County Superior Court.  Hillary also serves as a Judge Pro Temp for the Maricopa County Superior Court, Probate Division.