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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

Adding a Trust to Your Estate Plan
Trusts are valuable estate planning tools that many people should consider adding to their Phoenix estate plans. There are many different types of trusts that may offer unique benefits to you and your family. In the Phoenix area, if you are interested in adding a trust to your estate plan, contact Nicole Pavlik, an experienced…

Should I Provide For My Stepchildren As Well As My Biological Children?
Whether or not to include stepchildren in your Phoenix estate plan is a very personal decision. There is no legal obligation to include stepchildren in Arizona, so the choice is entirely your own and should be given a thoughtful consideration. Sometimes couples in second marriages agree that each parent should leave an inheritance to their…

Charitable Giving in My Estate Plan
For many individuals, charitable giving is a large part of their lives. Continuing this tradition after your death by including charitable giving in your estate plan is a wonderful way to help cherished organizations. Done properly, charitable giving can also result in substantial tax benefits. There are many different ways that you can include charitable…

Planning for Incapacity is Part of Estate Planning
Many people do not realize that estate planning includes more than planning for the distribution of your property after your death. A significant part of estate planning deals with planning for incapacity. This means planning for your healthcare as well as financial decisions if you become incapacitated. An individual is considered incapacitated when they cannot…

Second Marriages and Estate Planning
It is critical to update your estate plan every time you experience a significant life event, such as getting married. Individuals getting remarried face unique estate planning challenges. If you do not plan carefully, you could neglect certain family members or cause family discord. An experienced Phoenix estate planning attorney can ensure that you have…

How Do I Select a Beneficiary?
Selecting your beneficiaries is one of the biggest decisions you make when creating an estate plan. Below is some information that will help you decide who to pick as your beneficiaries in Phoenix, Arizona. What is a Beneficiary? A beneficiary is a person or entity you legally designate to inherit assets from you. Beneficiaries are…

What If I Die Without a Will?
What is Intestate Succession? When a person dies without a will in Arizona, it is called dying intestate. Arizona has intestate succession laws that dictate who administers your estate and how it is distributed if you die without a will. Because you did not create a will, the state decides how the property is distributed.…

Who Should I Choose for Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney is an important tool to include in every Phoenix estate plan. It is a document where you appoint someone to act on your behalf regarding legal, financial, or medical matters. There are two main types of powers of attorney that you should include in your Phoenix estate plan: a health care…

Do I Have to Be Wealthy to Have an Estate Plan?
It is a common misconception that estate plans are only for the wealthy. No matter what your net worth is, you should have an estate plan. What is an Estate Plan? An estate plan is a series of documents that allow you to leave important instructions about what should happen to your property, children, and…
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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