David Gerszewski

My name is David Gerszewski and I am an Estate Planning Attorney and Tax Lawyer. I was born and raised in North Dakota and first moved to Arizona in 1992 to pursue graduate studies in applied statistics at Arizona State University. My first career working for Wall Street investment banks and hedge funds took me to New York and then to London for almost 20 years. After leaving institutional finance, I moved to Florianópolis in South America where I developed a restaurant franchise concept that spread throughout southern Brazil.

I again made Arizona my home in 2014 and now operate the Citadel Law Firm ® based in Chandler serving east valley clients in estate planning, wills and trusts, and tax law. Our law practice designs personalized estate, business, retirement, and tax planning strategies for clients, which are designed to coordinate with clients’ existing investments, pensions, life insurance, and annuities. Through a legally distinct financial planning entity that is not a law firm, our clients may also receive guidance on investment management and life insurance retirement planning (“IMLIRP”) strategies.

I draw on extensive commercial and international experience to represent clients developing new businesses, protecting intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, and patents), planning for business succession, and resolving related legal issues as they arise.

We approach our clients like family. My unique background across several industries in investment banking, investment management, small business entrepreneurship, tax, and law allows me to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and optimized solutions tailored to clients, their families, and their businesses. This coordinated approach for most clients results in financial security, peace of mind, and a clear understanding of the resources that will be available when difficult times arise.

Please contact me to arrange an appointment to discuss your matter.

Sincerely,

David Gerszewski

Arizona State University

M.S. | M.S. in Decision and Information Systems

University of Denver

B.S. | B.S. in Decision Sciences

Arizona State University

J.D. | Juris Doctor

2013 - 2015

State Bar Admission - Arizona

Citadel Law Firm

State Bar Admission - Colorado

Citadel Law Firm

State Bar Admission - North Dakota

Citadel Law Firm

State Bar Admission - Minnesota

Citadel Law Firm

Best of Thervo 2019

Thervo

2019

State Bar of Arizona  # 033080

Member

Current

Arizona

Since 2016

Colorado

Since 2016

Minnesota

Since 2016

North Dakota

Since 2016

8th Circuit

Since 2016

9th Circuit

Since 2016

10th Circuit

Since 2016

United States Tax Court

Since 2016

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted
  All major credit cards are accepted.
• Contingent Fees
  We take cases on contingency but only for intellectual property

Q. Parent passed away. Trust states to divide assets amongst children. There are debts.

November 18, 2024

A: Generally speaking creditors and taxes (IRS) have to be paid before any distributions can be made. That is true for a Trust based plan or a will based plan in Arizona.

Q. What's my next move if after being named in the will (and by court) PR, someone has apparently petitioned as PR as well?

May 7, 2024

A: I would advise you to contact a probate attorney that can deal with contested matters. You will have to petition to the court if the stepfather doesn't withdraw. If the stepfather was married to the person that passed away at the time of their passing they may have priority as well. One way or the other you will need an attorney most likely at this point.

Q. My husband changed his trust one month after his brain tumor diagnosis and died less than 2 months later. Legal?

January 23, 2024

A: Assuming your husband was still of sound mind and the attorney followed all the Arizona state law requirements, it should be legal. You can contact an estate litigator and see if there is room to go to court to contest it.