Matthew Harrison

From over 25 years in practice, I have often observed that individuals and businesses often don’t have an estate plan or have an inadequate estate plan that does not protect either themselves or those that they love and care about.

Oftentimes, when estate plans were created, it may have been several years ago and does not fit their current situation. Sometimes, estate plans consist of all the key documents, but often the basic next steps are left incomplete, which defeats the goal of avoiding the court system after death. Where the fundamental purpose of an estate plan should be to facilitate the smooth transfer of assets and legacy to loved ones, the opposite occurs, and the estate plan become another emotionally charged problem that needs to be addressed.

In light of what I have observed multiple times in the past, we have implemented an estate plan system that does more than your typical law firm. We concentrate on you and your loved ones individual needs at the moment, but also keep your future goals in mind. With our input throughout the process, we design and implement an estate plan to allow for your loved ones to have a smooth financial transition after your death. An estate plan that not only outlines what you want to occur, but also what you want your legacy to be for your loved ones.
If you own a business, we also design and implement an estate plan that assists in a smooth transition of your business that allows for your business to continue after your death or gives your loved ones the ability to successfully pass on the business to someone else.

You may ask “what makes this approach different from your typical estate plan?” A successful estate plan goes beyond the specific issue of what happens if you are incapacitated and when you die. Instead, it provides directive and insight on what you want to pass down to your loved ones. We ask specific questions and request information that is catered to your personal situation. Consideration is given for your current and future personal and financial goals. As a result, it is not a one-sized fits all estate plan. Instead, it is designed for you to provide what is important to those you love and want to benefit their lives after you are gone.

I am the founding member of Harrison Law and has been practicing law for over 25 years. Prior to forming Harrison Law, I was an attorney with a nationally-recognized surety, construction, and fidelity law firm in Phoenix, Arizona, where my practice focused on complex civil litigation. Previously, I was a Deputy County Attorney with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for over seven years where he held leadership positions and mentored less-experienced attorneys. I have combined these experiences into a law firm that has established itself both locally and nationally as a highly-regarded law firm.

I have extensive experience in both civil and criminal law. He also has significant trial court and arbitration experience, which includes being lead counsel in over 35 jury trials. I am rated as an AV© Preeminent™ Attorney by Martindale Hubbell. My firm has represented clients on legal issues involving claims and litigation from a few thousand dollars to claims and litigation in excess of 100 million dollars. I am also the author or co-author for several legal publications and is a frequent presenter at CLE workshops and other programs for business owners.

I am involved in several volunteer and other legal opportunities. These opportunities include appointment as a Judge Pro Tempore for the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, where I have been assigned to both civil and criminal matters. As a Judge Pro Tem, I have successfully conducted Settlement Conferences, which have resulted in a resolution of the litigation.

I graduated in 1997 from Arizona State University College of Law (now Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law) where he was a Pedrick Scholar and received CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Family Law. I am an active member of the Arizona State and Federal Bars, the Utah State and Federal Bars, the American Bar Association, and the Maricopa County Bar Association. I am also involved in several subcommittees within these bar associations.

I live in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area with my family. We enjoy the outdoors and local art and culture, as well as other activities that Arizona has to offer.