Biography

Finding the Sunshine in Death and Taxes

While most people prefer to avoid the topic of death and taxes altogether, Ashley L. Case’s estate planning practice is dedicated to making the discussion as pleasant and productive as possible. Her commitment to client education is a cornerstone of her approach. The legal procedures associated with estate planning, tax, probate, and trust administration are complex. Ashley aims to empower her clients by helping them thoroughly understand their documents and the laws that impact their plans. On occasion, she can even be funny.

The Client Experience

Ashley excels at removing the shroud of mystery from the experience for new clients unfamiliar with estate planning. She takes pride in making her documents easy to understand and less intimidating to read (although, admittedly, the statutorily required language can be a bit dry). Many of Ashley’s clients come to her with concerns about family dynamics, wealth preservation, and succession planning issues or might need clarification about the estate planning process altogether. These are the situations where Ashley truly shines. Whether the client is of modest net worth or has considerable wealth, she revels in successfully solving problems and providing her clients with peace of mind.

Talks and Texts

Ashley is a self-proclaimed “tax nerd” and a frequent writer and speaker on tax and estate planning. She is the author of Arizona Estate Planning and Will Drafting with Forms (published by Matthew Bender through LexisNexis), she has co-authored articles for the NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning (“Anatomy of an Informed Decision: Dissecting Client Organ Donation under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act” and “CCA 202152018: Lessons for a Multi-Disciplinary, Collaborative Approach to Planning”), and has served as a contributing author for Forbes.com, where she published a variety of tax and estate planning articles. Ashley has presented multiple continuing legal education programs on estate planning and tax topics including for the Maricopa County Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona, the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC), and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). She has also volunteered at the State Bar of Arizona’s “Arizona Attorneys Respond” series, where she discussed estate planning during COVID-19, and as a guest speaker for the Graduate Tax Program at Boston University School of Law, inspiring the next generation of tax professionals.

The Legal Credentials

Ashley is a Board-Certified Specialist in Estate and Trust law, a designation issued by the State Bar of Arizona to attorneys who have demonstrated an understanding and advanced knowledge of complex issues from federal gift and generation-skipping transfer tax to Arizona probate administration. She is also a Fellow with the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), a peer-elected designation representing a commitment to maintaining excellence in the trust and estate legal field and to continually improving the practice of trust and estate law. Ashley earned her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University (and is an obnoxiously enthusiastic Sun Devil fan). She graduated with her Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law and earned her LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law with a concentration on estate planning. She was also a finalist in the LL.M. Division of the American Bar Association Tax Law Challenge competition. Ashley is licensed to practice law in Arizona and before the United States Tax Court and is a State Bar of Arizona Probate and Trust Section member. In addition, she is certified as an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC).

Giving Back

Ashley’s volunteer work is a testament to her dedication to the legal profession and the community. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Maricopa County Bar Association, where she is a current member and past chair of the Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Section, as well as a member of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion committee. She is also the Past President of the Central Arizona Estate Planning Council and Vice-Chair of the Publications Committee of its parent organization, NAEPC. Her role as Production Editor of the NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning further demonstrates her dedication to advancing the field. Additionally, Ashley serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Ballet Arizona, the Southwest’s premier professional ballet company which seeks to “ignite the human spirit through the magic of dance,” reflecting her broader involvement in community initiatives.

The Trophy Case

Ashley’s professional achievements speak volumes about her expertise and dedication. She has received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell for her legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards. Super Lawyers has also recognized Ashley as a Southwest Super Lawyer “Rising Star,” and Phoenix Magazine has voted her as a “Top Lawyer.” Arizona Business Leaders Magazine also named her an “Arizona Business Leader.” These accolades highlight Ashley’s professional excellence and the confidence she instills in her clients and peers.

Personal Life

Ashley works with her husband, Darren Case, who is also a tax and estate planning attorney at Tiffany & Bosco. They have three children and three dogs. In her free time, Ashley is a passionate adventure seeker. Besides taking on wild activities such as bungee jumping, ice climbing, skydiving, and dogsledding, she loves to hike big mountains. She is an aspiring state “highpointer,” meaning she is attempting to hike the tallest mountain in each state in the United States; to date, she has summited the most towering peaks in Arizona (12,633’), Colorado (14,433’), Hawaii (13,803’), Nevada (13,140’), New Mexico (13,161’), and North Carolina (6,684’). She has summited seven of the Colorado “fourteeners” and completed a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon on two occasions. In June 2022, Ashley traveled to Tanzania, Africa, where she summited Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341’). The hiking team, Team Courage Rising, raised funds for the Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Hospital in Phoenix and garnered recognition for the eight burn survivors who led the team. Over the years, her clients have taught her the importance of living life to its fullest. Most weekends, you can catch her (slowly) hiking up Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak with a smile on her face.