We are a full-service Probate law firm in Phoenix, Arizona. While the term “probate” typically refers to the establishment of the validity of a will, in Arizona the Probate Court Department has jurisdiction over Protected Person matters, such as Guardianship and Conservatorship matters, wills, trusts, and estates, elder abuse, special needs and mental health law. Paul Theut is frequently appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem/Statutory Representative to represent incapacitated adults, minors, and those with special needs.
Our firm proudly handles and is experienced in all phases of probate matters, from planning, to emergency matters, to litigation. We bring resolution to complex disputes, and assist families in planning for the future to prevent or minimize the possibility of such disputes.
Larry Scaringelli
Larry Scaringelli began practicing law in 1991 and has spent his legal career practicing in the areas of Guardianship, Conservatorship, special needs, Estate Planning, Probate Litigation, elder abuse and financial exploitation. Larry has significant experience representing professional fiduciaries.
Larry graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School, received his B.A. from the State University of New York at Oswego, and earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law.
Larry was born and raised in New York and moved to Arizona in 1991. He has two daughters, and enjoys sailing and wine tasting.
Paul Theut
Paul J. Theut has been practicing law in Arizona since 1988. During his 33 years in private practice, Paul has focused his practice on Probate, Guardianship, Conservatorship, Protected Person, Personal Injury, and Guardian Ad Litem matters. Paul’s practice serving protected persons and their families frequently branches into related fields of law as diverse as marriage dissolution, dependency, family law, criminal, mental health, elder abuse, and the serious personal injury of minors. Paul proudly holds various contracts with Maricopa County to represent protected and incapacitated persons, the elderly, and minors in conservatorship matters. Paul has resolved hundreds of personal injury matters, been party to thousands of guardianship and/or conservatorship matters, and served as guardian ad litem/statutory representative for hundreds of incapacitated, injured, and/or minor clients.
Paul has given countless seminars and participated on panels concerning the representation of the incapacitated or vulnerable in every type of legal matter, and even prepared mandatory curricula taken by every contract attorney for protected persons in the State of Arizona. In 2018, the Probate and Trust Section of the State Bar of Arizona jointly recognized Paul and his brothers with the Eleanor Ter Horst Distinguished Service Award. He has been a sustaining member of the Arizona Association for Justice for 25 years. Paul has been married to Maria for over 30 years, and they have 5 adult children. In his free time, Paul enjoys hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities.
James Theut
James X. Theut is an associate attorney at Theut & Scaringelli, P.L.C. He attended Arizona State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science. While attending law school in Chicago, James worked for the Honorable Anthony Kyriakopoulos, Cook County Circuit Judge. He spent most of his time in Illinois working on Federal criminal defense matters under Richard Kling, a noted Clinical Professor of Law. James earned his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2019. His practice focuses on Probate, Trust and Estate Planning and Litigation, and Guardianships and Conservatorships. James is a native Arizonan and has held an Arizona real estate salesperson's license since shortly after his 18th birthday. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Wealth Counsel, and the Illinois State Bar Association. James is admitted in Arizona and Illinois.