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Welcome to Nicole Pavlik Law Firm, I'm Nicole.
I had always wanted to be an attorney, but it wasn’t until I worked as a paralegal while in law school that I found my niche. I knew I didn’t like the adversarial side of law. I wanted to help people, so in 2013, I started the Nicole Pavlik Law Firm.
I’ve seen what happens to families when their loved ones haven’t planned their estates properly: anger, distrust, and hurt feelings among those left behind. My goal is to help you prepare the legal documents you need to plan for your family’s future after you’re no longer around to care for them.
As a small business owner, I also understand how much jargon and paperwork are involved in running a successful business. I help business owners set up a solid legal foundation so they can focus on running their business instead of wasting their valuable time dotting i’s and crossing t’s.
My success as an attorney stems from my focus on client relations and problem-solving. I meet with each client personally and communicate with them directly, and I don’t nickel-and-dime them with phone calls and emails.
I look forward to becoming your trusted advisor and helping you with all your legal affairs!
MOST RECENT BLOG ARTICLES
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How to Enforce a Confidentiality Agreement
A confidentiality agreement protects sensitive information for individuals and businesses while forming the backbone that safeguards trade secrets, client data, proprietary ideas, and personal information. These legal tools are not merely standard formalities, but rather proactive strategies designed to help minimize risk, deter misconduct, and foster trust and professional relationships. They’re your first line of…

Final Disposition Instructions for Digital Assets: Protecting Your Online Presence
Most of our lives are lived online, from social profiles to email accounts and cloud storage. Digital assets are a part of our estate, yet many people overlook them when creating a trust or will. Adding final disposition instructions for digital assets is crucial in the modern world. Including digital assets in your estate plan…

Why a Special Needs Trust for Adults Is Critical for Lifelong Care
Few tools are as powerful and profitable as a special needs trust for adults when protecting the future of a loved one with disabilities. These contracts are a cornerstone of lifelong care planning with a trust, offering peace of mind, financial protection, and long-term stability for individuals who may never be fully independent. What Is…

Can a Living Will Cover Dementia Care Preferences?
We often associate living wills with emergencies like life support and feeding tubes. But what about something more gradual and deeply personal, like dementia? Can a living will cover dementia care preferences? This blog lays it out. Dementia Care in Advance Directives A living will is a type of advance directive, which is a legal…

What to Include in a Final Disposition Instructions Letter
One of the most personal and often overlooked pieces of an estate plan is the Final Disposition Instructions Letter. This simple document tells your loved ones and your estate planning attorney how you want your body and remains handled after death. What Is a Final Disposition Letter? Many people assume their loved ones will know…

Is A Power of Attorney Better Than An Executor?
Is a power of attorney better than an executor, and what’s the difference? Many people assume these terms are interchangeable or that one is more powerful than the other. However, each role has a different purpose in an estate plan. Executor vs Power of Attorney Responsibilities Let’s break down the differences and clarify duties. What…

Legal Pitfalls in Freelancer Agreements
We live in a gig economy, which means freelancers and independent contractors fuel innovation with flexibility and untethered growth potential. However, there are many pitfalls in freelancer agreements that many contractors fail to notice. Let’s discuss what you should know. Common Freelancer Contract Mistakes Verbal agreements can be comforting and are legally binding, but they’re…

How a Special Needs Trust Helps Preserve Government Benefits
Families often worry about how to provide long-term support without disqualifying their child or relative from essential government programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. That’s why a special needs trust is crucial. What Is a Special Needs Trust? A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a legal arrangement to benefit those with physical, mental,…

Why You Need a Mental Health Care Power of Attorney
What happens when you can no longer speak for yourself? In many cases, you need a mental health care power of attorney (MHPOA) to help make health care decisions and leave nothing to chance. What Does a Mental Health Care Power of Attorney (MHPOA) Do? A mental health care power of attorney is a type…
ESTATE PLANNING RESOURCE ARTICLES

Important Considerations in Preparing a Revocable Trust In Phoenix, AZ
A revocable trust, also known as a living trust, is an estate planning tool that allows you to distribute your assets after death or incapacitation. A revocable trust allows you to transfer legal ownership of your assets into a trust during your lifetime. After your death, the assets in the trust may be transferred to…

Estate Planning In Phoenix, Arizona. Things You Should Know
Planning for a future that you will not be a part of can be scary and overwhelming but not putting the proper estate plan in place can have serious consequences when the unthinkable does happen. Estate planning should be viewed as a gift that you are giving your loved ones to reduce the amount…

Finding the Best Estate Planning Attorney in Phoenix, Arizona
Looking to get started on your estate planning? Finding an attorney that you can trust may seem like a daunting task. There are a sea of attorneys out there and it can be difficult to decide which one you can trust to carry out your unique goals. Here are some things that you should look…

A Brief History of Phoenix, Arizona
With shiny new high-rises constantly being built, it can be easy to forget that Phoenix, Arizona was not always the metropolitan city that it is today. If you read below, you will find out that Phoenix has a rich and vibrant history going back thousands of years. Early Native American History The Hohokam tribe are…

Wills, Trusts & Dying Intestate: How They Differ
Most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is, as Martha Stewart would say, a “good thing.” However, many of us don’t take the steps to get that estate plan in place because we don’t understand the nuances between wills and trusts – and dying without either. Here’s what will generally happen…

Escape From a Bad Trust: 5 Strong Reasons to Decant Your Trust
When a bottle of wine is decanted, it’s poured from one container into another. When a trust is decanted, trust assets are poured from an old trust into a new trust with more favorable terms. Why Should a Trust Be Decanted? Trusts are decanted to escape from a bad trust and provide beneficiaries with more…

3 Decidedly Dumb Ways to Leave an Inheritance for Your Children
Estate planning offers many ways to leave your wealth to your children, but it’s just as important to know what not to do. Here are some things that are all-too-common, but textbook examples of what not to do or try…. “Oral Wills” If you feel you have a good rapport with your family or don’t…

Does Your Estate Plan Protect Your Adult Beneficiaries?
If you think you only need to create discretionary lifetime trusts for young beneficiaries, problem beneficiaries, or financially inexperienced beneficiaries, then think again.In this day and age of frivolous lawsuits and high divorce rates, discretionary lifetime trusts should be considered for all of your beneficiaries, minors and adults alike. What is a Discretionary Lifetime Trust?…

The Pros and Cons of Probate
In estate planning circles, the word “probate” often comes with a starkly negative connotation. Indeed, for many people — especially those with larger estates — financial planners recommend trying to keep property out of probate whenever possible. That being said, the probate system was ultimately established to protect the property of the deceased and his/her…
BUSINESS PLANNING RESOURCE ARTICLES

How to Enforce a Confidentiality Agreement
A confidentiality agreement protects sensitive information for individuals and businesses while forming the backbone that safeguards trade secrets, client data, proprietary ideas, and personal information. These legal tools are not merely standard formalities, but rather proactive strategies designed to help minimize risk, deter misconduct, and foster trust and professional relationships. They’re your first line of…

Legal Pitfalls in Freelancer Agreements
We live in a gig economy, which means freelancers and independent contractors fuel innovation with flexibility and untethered growth potential. However, there are many pitfalls in freelancer agreements that many contractors fail to notice. Let’s discuss what you should know. Common Freelancer Contract Mistakes Verbal agreements can be comforting and are legally binding, but they’re…

Avoiding Legal Issues in At-Will Employment Contracts
Misunderstandings, wrongful termination claims, and contractual contradictions can expose businesses to serious legal battles. Here’s how employers and employees can navigate at-will employment contracts while minimizing risks. What You Should Know About At-Will Employment Contracts At-will employment is the default rule in many states. It means employers can terminate employees at any time and for…

Key Clauses in Business Partnership Agreements
Understanding business partnership agreements (BPAs) is essential because it ensures all partners are on the same page regarding responsibilities, profits, disputes, and succession. Without one, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise, leading to costly legal battles or even business failure. Let’s learn more. Business Partnership Agreements 101 Partnership contract terms are more than formalities. They dictate…

Promissory Notes for Loan Security: Protecting Lenders and Borrowers
Clarity and legal protection are essential for lenders and borrowers in financial transactions. Promissory notes for loan security are vital tools to ensure each party is on the same page about repayment terms and obligations. Let’s explore the legal benefits of promissory notes and discover why working with an estate planning attorney is essential to…

Independent Contractor Agreements: What to Include to Protect Your Business
Independent contractor agreements are pivotal in helping companies scale and meet unique needs without hiring full-time employees. However, using independent contractors comes with legal complexities that require careful attention. Understanding independent contractor agreement essentials helps clarify the relationship and minimize potential risks like misclassification or dispute. Using Independent Contractor Agreements to Define the Relationship One…
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