Anya Witmer

Anya M. Witmer
Associate

P: (602) 254-6008
F: (602) 257-4276

Kaitlyn R. Barton
Paralegal

Alexa C. Speaks
Administrative Assistant

Anya M. Witmer

Associate

Anya is a Phoenix native and received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Arizona State University. She was a NALA Certified Paralegal prior to law school. She received her Juris Doctor from California Western Law School in San Diego, California, where she graduated cum laude and received an Academic Excellence Award for her research and writing on Cryptocurrency in Estate Planning and Probate. While attending CWSL, Anya also completed a clinical internship with the California Innocence Project, where she assisted in their mission to free wrongfully incarcerated individuals and an externship with the Probate Lawyers Assistance Project, where she assisted in providing community based legal information on the probate and estate planning process.

From Anya’s interview for the Masters series on ReelLawyers.com

The philosophy in my work as a lawyer—how I approach my practice—is to take a holistic view of each client. I want to learn about the client, their family, their needs, and their goals so I can craft a plan that works for their specific situation and circumstances. It’s not a one-size-fits-all practice.

In addition to that, I focus on meeting my clients where they are. A lot of these terms are basic to me because I deal with them all the time, but my clients don’t. I want to make sure they understand, so I explain things in layman’s terms as much as I can. I always check in with my clients to ensure they understand what I’m communicating. If they don’t, I find a different way to explain it until they do.

I believe success in estate planning really relies on doing the work. Give your attorney what they ask for. I’m not here to judge your family situation or anything you tell me; it’s better to share as much information as possible and let me sort through it. The administration of your estate is going to happen one way or another. The question is: can we do it on the front end by planning properly and aligning your assets the way they need to be? Or will it have to be done on the back end, involving the court and going through probate?

Anya is passionate about providing her clients with the peace of mind that their estate planning is in place and their intentions are well documented. She prides herself on taking a collaborative approach with her clients to ensure they receive a comprehensive plan to meet their individual needs. She works with her clients to design a plan that works for them and their beneficiaries to help them navigate emotional and sometimes confusing procedures.

In her free time, Anya enjoys spending time with her husband and their newborn along with the family goldendoodle.

Practice Areas

  • Probate Administration & Litigation
  • Guardianship & Conservatorship Matters
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Formation and Administration

Associations & Memberships

  • WealthCounsel
  • State Bar of Arizona, Probate & Trust Section
  • Maricopa County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section

Education

  • California Western Law School, San Diego, California, J.D., cum laude, 2022
  • Phoenix College, Phoenix, Arizona, Paralegal Certificate, 2019
  • Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, P.A.: English Literature, 2017

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona 2023
  • California 2023