DeFriez Law

Brian M. DeFriez, J.D., Ph.D.

Welcome to DeFriez Law, an Idaho law firm dedicated to estate disputes, probate law, guardianship and conservatorship law, civil litigation, research and appeals, and creditor rights in bankruptcy proceedings.

With almost twenty years of experience, DeFriez Law can help you navigate your most challenging legal situations. Don't trust your legal rights to chance. Call today to get a free consultation.

The leading rule for the lawyer, as for the man of every other calling, is diligence. Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today. -- Abraham Lincoln

Estate & Probate
Guardianships
Civil Litigation
Research & Appeals
Creditor Rights
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Phone: 208-965-9734
Email: brian@defriezlaw.com

Estate & Probate

A Full Service Estate Law Firm

Effectively planning for your legacy, and administering when you have passed away, takes experienced legal counsel.

DeFriez Law provides a variety of estate & business planning services, and it all types of estate disputes, including trust disputes, formal and informal probates, personal representative disputes, and more. Call today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your estate disputes and estate litigation needs.

Phone: 208-965-9734
Email: brian@defriezlaw.com

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Estate & Business Planning
Trust Administrations
Trust Litigation
Formal and Informal Probate
Estate Administration Disputes

Estate & Probate

What is Estate Planning?

Estate planning consists of drafting legal documents to manage your affairs once you have passed away. It involves your personal, business, financial, and even health care interests. There are a variety of different planning tools, each with its own unique features, benefits, and drawbacks. There is no single estate plan that works for everyone, and depending on your circumstances, your plan will likely include several planning tools.

Last Will & Testament:

This is the bedrock of most estate plans. It is a testamentary document, which means it does not become effective until after you have passed away. It can be easily modified during your lifetime and can even be revoked or replaced as often as needed.

Living Revocable Trust:

This is another common estate planning tool used to effect creative distribution options and avoid probate administration. Unlike a will, a living trust takes effect immediately and can hold a variety of legal interests, including real and personal property. It can be easily modified during your lifetime, and as with a last will & testament, it can be revoked or replaced.The living revocable trust is a good option if you wish to avoid probate or control the distribution of your property to your heirs.

Irrevocable Trust:

Unlike the living revocable trust, an irrevocable trust is permanent and cannot be modified during your lifetime, at least not without the permission of your beneficiaries.Irrevocable trust planning is highly state-specific, and while Idaho permits their use, it does not have as many options as some states, e.g., Nevada.That being said, it is still a highly effective tool for certain scenarios and can be used effectively as a supplemental tool for many estate plans.

Probate and Estate Administration:

Probate is the process of administering your last will & testament through the court system. It includes validating the will, creating an inventory of your estate, paying estate debts and estate creditors, resolving disputes, and distributing the estate to intended beneficiaries.If a person dies without a last will & testament, or without trust planning, their estate will need to be administered using Idaho's "intestacy" laws, which are a series of statutes and rules designed to help administer estates in these scenarios.Trust administration is the process of administering a trust after the decedent dies. This happens outside of the probate process, usually privately among the interested parties, though it can also be handled with Court supervision, as necessary.

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Phone: 208-965-9734
Email: brian@defriezlaw.com

Guardianships

Guardianships and Conservatorships

When a person can no longer manage their own affairs, it is often necessary to seek appointment through the court system of a qualified guardian and conservator, to help them manage their affairs.

DeFriez Law has years of experience working with guardianship and conservatorship matters, both informally and in formal litigation. Call today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your guardianship and conservatorship needs.

Phone: 208-965-9734
Email: brian@defriezlaw.com

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Guardianships
Conservatorships
Appointments and Replacements
Contested Litigation Cases

Civil Litigation

General Civil Litigation Services

When parties cannot settle their disputes informally, they often need to seek relief through the court system.

DeFriez Law has years of experience working with all types of civil litigation, and in many different practice areas, including contract disputes, property disputes, financial or real estate disputes, and more. Services include co-counsel arrangements with other law firms in existing civil litigation matters. Call today to discuss your next case.

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General Civil Litigation
Co-Counsel Services
Informal Dispute Resolution

Phone: 208-965-9734
Email: brian@defriezlaw.com

Research & Appeals

Research and Writing Services

Every good case starts with a good grasp of the relevant law. Every successful appeal will depend, in large measure, on your ability to navigate the law.

DeFriez Law has more than a decade of experience working with research, writing, and appeals. Services include all practice areas and all types of appeals, including civil, criminal, administrative, and federal. DeFriez Law offers independent contract work for law firms, as well as direct representation services to the public. Call today to discuss your next case.

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Research
Brief Writing
Motions
Appeals (All Types)

Phone: 208-965-9734
Email: brian@defriezlaw.com

Creditor Rights

Creditor Rights in Bankruptcy

When a debtor files for bankruptcy, it often leaves creditors with questions as to the scope of their rights and how to go about preserving them in the bankruptcy process.

DeFriez Law has years of experience in bankruptcy matters, both in terms of debtor's work as well as in helping creditors navigate and protect their rights in bankruptcy process. Call today to discuss your case.

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Claim Submissions
Motions for Relief
Stay Relief
Non-Dischargeability Disputes

Phone: 208-965-9734
Email: brian@defriezlaw.com

About

Brian DeFriez has almost two decades of legal experience. He received his Juris Doctorate in 2008 and a Ph.D. in political science/public law in 2017. During his career, Brian has practiced in a variety of settings, including litigation, appeals, research, estate and business planning, estate litigation, and debtor/creditor rights in bankruptcy. Call today to find out how Brian can help with your next case.

"The professional lawyer first gathers the facts to understand the situation, to understand the laws and precedents, before preparing a case. A good lawyer almost always writes the opposing attorney's case before he writes his own." -- Steven Covey