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Christine Goodson Forakis, a fourth generation Arizona native, is one of the foremost estate planning attorneys in Arizona, representing some of the state's most notable families. Christine blends more than 20 years of experience in estate planning with a warm, accessible personality-making her a highly sought after expert resource. Her clientele includes doctors, dentists, athletes, politicians, farmers, business owners, and non-profit corporations.
She founded Forakis Law Firm, PLC in 2006 with the intent to create a place where clients could feel ‘at home' while addressing some of life's biggest questions regarding their succession and legacy.
Her firm specializes in preventive law-which is a highly proactive approach to estate planning, and offers a full spectrum of complementary, integrated practice areas including business law, asset protection, probate, succession planning, non-profits, guardianship, tax planning, and bankruptcy.
Christine is a frequent public speaker for various groups including the National Business Institute, the Women's Chamber of Commerce, The Arizona Real Estate Investors Association, The Arizona Naturopathic Institute, The society of Financial Service Professionals and many others. She has also served a co-host for the weekly radio show "Creating Your Family Dynasty" on channel 1310AM. Recorded broadcasts of her shows can be found at MyLegalHome.com.
Christine was selected for the 2011 Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, which is exclusive to women lawyers who have achieved the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. She has an AV rating, the highest possible rating, from the Martindale Hubbell Bar Register.
Christine has served on the Board of Directors for Mingus Mountain Estate Residential Center, Inc. (MMERCI) for over 17 years. MMERCI is a residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally at-risk adolescent girls. She has also served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and was the Secretary of the Board of Directors for non-profit, People Investing in People for two terms. She is a member of Le Tip international, the Camelback Corridor, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Rotary 100, and has served on many other boards and organizations in Arizona.
Christine has a black belt in Shotokan Karate. She has competed internationally/nationally, earning numerous accolades including Western State's Champion and National Champion in Kata. She is also a trained ballet dancer and has danced in Ballet West's Nutcracker as a Lady in Waiting. She resides in Phoenix with her four children husband, Mike, who is the owner and founding member of USA Screen Print.
Education
Christine received her Juris Doctor degree in May, 1992 from the University Of Miami School Of Law. During law school, she was elected to offices on two Law Reviews. She was Research and Writing Editor of Entertainment and Sports Law Review and Articles of Comments Editor of Business Law Journal.
Family History
Christine's family has a long history in Arizona. Her great-grandfather, Dr, F.G. Angeny, founded the Deaconess Hospital, which later became Good Samaritan Hospital. Her grandfather, J. Melvin Goodson, served as speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Arizona, ran for governor of the state, and retired as Chairman of the Board of Arizona Refining Company. Her father, John F. Goodson, is a preeminent estate planning attorney, author and public speaker.
Group Affiliations:
Public Speaking Events:
Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association's - Asset Protection for Doctors - Spring 2007 Convention
National Business Institute's - Estate Planning Basics, November 26th 2007
National Business Institute's - Making the Best Use of Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, May 12th 2008
Phoenix Women's Chamber of Commerce seminar - Protecting your Assets, May 2008
National Business Institute's - Cutting-Edge Asset Protection Skills and Techniques, October 27th 2008
The Medicare Supplement Leadership Conference - Estate and Asset Protection, October 8th to 11th, 2008
National Business Institute's - LLC Trends and Developments, September 17th 2008
Society of Financial Service Professionals Seminar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Mom and Pop are Ready to Retire, but is Their Money Ready Too, August 22nd 2008
Your insurance matters radio show - Life insurance, Death Taxes and Estate Planning, December 02, 2008
Women's Investor Group, April 15th 2009
Proactive Transitioning - Ask the Experts, November 12th 2009
Scottsdale Young Estate Planners - Wealth, Transfer, Business and Charitable Estate Planning, May 18, 2010
Professional Women's Network -- Estate Planning for Professional Women, June 16, 2010
Parrots of the Hills Bird Club - Pet Estate Planning, September 3, 2010
Christian Legal Society Convention, Orlando, Florida - Hot Topics of Estate Planning, October 21. 2010
First Christian Church - Special Needs Estate Planning, February 10, 2011
Maricopa County SWAT Division - Estate Planning and Asset Protection, August 20, 2012
National Business Institute's - Income Tax Planning for Trusts and Estates, September 27, 2012
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