Marjorie Desmond left a commercial litigation career spanning two decades before founding this Scottsdale estate planning firm in May 2015. That pivot followed years of watching families arrive in court unprepared, their assets and relationships subject to disputes that proper planning could have prevented. Desmond Law, PLLC operates from 10575 North 114th Street in Scottsdale, Arizona, and can be reached at (480) 848-9550.
A Foundation in Commercial Litigation
Before establishing her estate planning practice, Marjorie Desmond built her legal career across a range of fields. She earned a B.A. in History and German Studies from Stanford University and her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1992, the same year she was admitted to the California Bar. Her early work at a maritime boutique firm in Los Angeles covered commercial litigation in product liability, personal injury, creditor’s rights, transportation, maritime, and contract law.
In 1998, she joined the U.S. Department of Treasury and U.S. Customs Service in Long Beach, California. She relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1999 and was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 2010. Before founding Desmond Law, PLLC, she directed the commercial litigation department of a Minnesota firm’s Scottsdale office from 2010 through 2013. In 2019, she was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
The firm works with individuals and families to build estate plans that reflect specific goals, family structures, and asset types. Core documents include wills and trusts, but the firm also addresses what happens between now and death: who makes financial and medical decisions if a client becomes incapacitated, and how plans change as families grow and circumstances shift.
The practice includes a three-year review process and an ongoing membership program that allows clients to update their documents without starting from scratch each time life changes.
Planning for Children and Families with Special Needs
Families with minor children or dependents with disabilities require plans that go beyond standard wills. Desmond Law addresses guardianship designations, trust structures for children, and special needs trusts that preserve government benefit eligibility for dependents with disabilities.
Pet Planning
Arizona law allows for legal arrangements providing for the care of pets after an owner’s death or incapacity. The firm drafts provisions ensuring animals are placed with designated caregivers and that funds are available for their care.
Estate Tax Protection
For clients with taxable estates, the firm develops strategies to reduce estate tax exposure through the use of trusts, gifting programs, and other planning vehicles appropriate to each situation.
Guardianships and Conservatorships
When an adult becomes incapacitated without prior planning, or when a minor requires legal protection, the firm handles court proceedings to designate guardians and conservators. This includes both the initial petition process and ongoing compliance requirements.
Trust Administration and Probate
After a client’s death, the firm guides successor trustees and personal representatives through the administration process. For estates subject to court supervision, the firm handles full probate proceedings. For trust-based plans, it assists with asset transfers, creditor notifications, and distributions to beneficiaries.
Medical Power of Attorney
The firm drafts healthcare documents designating an agent to make medical decisions when a client cannot, and advance directives expressing healthcare preferences for end-of-life situations.
Attorney Profile
Marjorie Desmond is the sole principal of Desmond Law, PLLC. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School, and is licensed to practice in both Arizona and California. Her bar admissions extend to five federal district courts, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
She is a member of WealthCounsel, a national organization for estate planning attorneys, and the Maricopa County Bar Association. Expertise.com has recognized her as a top estate planning attorney in Scottsdale. Outside of her practice, she has been involved with PTO and school organizations, church groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Stanford Alumni Association.
Location and Service Area
Desmond Law, PLLC serves clients in Arizona and California, with primary focus on Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Tempe, and the broader Phoenix metropolitan area. The office at 10575 North 114th Street in Scottsdale is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM by appointment.
Working with the Firm
The firm offers a free 15-minute phone consultation for prospective clients. For those seeking more depth before committing to the planning process, a Life and Legacy Planning Session is available as an in-depth personalized meeting. Scheduling is available online through the firm’s website at azlegacylawyer.com.
Clients who complete an estate plan can join the firm’s membership program, which provides periodic reviews and document updates as family circumstances and law change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Desmond Law’s membership program different from a one-time estate plan?
Many estate planning firms draft documents and consider the work complete. Desmond Law’s membership program builds in a three-year review cycle and provides a mechanism for clients to update their plans as life changes, without returning to the firm and starting over from scratch each time.
Does the firm handle matters for clients living outside Arizona?
Yes. Marjorie Desmond is licensed in both Arizona and California and can assist clients with planning needs in both states. California residents with Arizona assets, or Arizona residents with California assets or property, can work with the firm across both jurisdictions.
At what stage of life should someone consider estate planning?
The firm’s website address, azlegacylawyer.com, reflects a focus on legacy at any age. Estate planning is relevant when a person has dependents, significant assets, or healthcare preferences they want legally documented. Families with minor children, business owners, and individuals approaching retirement are common clients, but the firm works with adults at all stages.
What happens if I have a special needs dependent?
Special needs planning requires structures that allow an inheritance to benefit a disabled dependent without disqualifying them from government programs such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income. The firm drafts special needs trusts tailored to the specific needs and benefit programs involved for each client’s situation.
Is the firm open to reviewing an existing estate plan?
Yes. Clients who already have estate planning documents can bring them to the firm for review. The firm can assess whether existing plans reflect current law, family circumstances, and the client’s actual wishes, and can recommend or draft updates where needed.
Marjorie Desmond built this Scottsdale practice in 2015 specifically because litigation showed her what inadequate estate planning costs families in court. Clients in Arizona and California can reach the firm at (480) 848-9550 or schedule through azlegacylawyer.com, where the 15-minute introductory call and the Life and Legacy Planning Session options are both listed.