Richard E. Durfee Jr

Richard Durfee. Jr. (Rick), is the founding and senior attorney at Durfee Law Group (DLG), practicing law since 1988. Based in Mesa, Arizona, the firm represents clients all over the US for all levels of estate planning, asset protection, business and charitable planning, and probate, from simple wills and trusts to complex dynasty planning. Rick has a unique family-centered approach to planning especially focused on growing and preserving multi-generational tax-efficient wealth, and protecting the family. His motto is “Live Well, Leave a Legacy”. To that end, the law firm has a 500-year plan so that families with such dynasty planning can have the legal help they need to thrive for generations to come.

Law is not Rick’s first career. Back in the early 80’s, he was helping teach classes on World Religions at Arizona State University, but couldn’t support his growing family on what they were willing to pay, so he decided to go to law school. As it turns out, his studies and research in the world’s great variety of religious experiences and expressions, would significantly shape how he has come to practice law and serve his clients.

He found that if he was given the opportunity to help people keep their families and their assets out of the courtroom, it would make their lives better. Preventing fights over money makes families stronger, and the people in the families more in tune with what they know to be right. As he worked through different issues with many families, he found that most traditional estate planning focuses only on what happens with material things when people die; who’s going to get what, and when and how are they going to get it. This focus on the material, without regard for the non-material aspects of life, often triggers the very outcome that people are trying to avoid, and avoids the outcome that people are hoping for.

DLG focuses on all levels of estate planning and associated legal matters. This is a multi-disciplinary practice; DLG not only sets up Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts, business entities, and charitable tools, they carefully think through how each piece relates to the rest of the plan, and works together for common purposes.

Over the years, DLG has gone through various law firm arrangements. Rick has worked with brilliant mentors, strong partners, highly skilled colleagues, and dear friends. Today DLG has a growing number of bright, hard working attorneys, paralegals, and support staff to serve our clients and who share Rick’s vision. These younger up-coming professionals are part of DLG’s own long term succession plan. They are building something at Durfee Law Group with their clients and with their own organization that is intended to outlive them, and which will continue to serve and bless others for generations to come.