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Inside the practice of John R. Becker, the Scottsdale attorney who holds two separate Arizona Board Certifications — Estate & Trust Law and Tax Law — a combination few Arizona practitioners carry at once.
John R. Becker — At a Glance
| ATTORNEY | John R. Becker |
| ADMITTED | Arizona, 1987 (38 years) |
| EDUCATION | Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (J.D., 1987) |
| CERTIFICATIONS | State Bar of Arizona Board-Certified Specialist in both Estate & Trust Law and Tax Law |
| FOCUS | Estate planning and administration, ranging from clients of moderate means to sophisticated high-net-worth planning |
| OFFICE | 14822 N. 73rd St., Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 |
Origin: Nearly Four Decades, Two Certifications
John Becker earned his J.D. from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 1987, the same year he was admitted to the Arizona Bar. Over the decades since, he earned Board Certification from the State Bar of Arizona in both Estate & Trust Law and Tax Law — a dual certification that reflects genuine depth in the tax side of estate planning specifically, not just the drafting side.
Practice Areas
Becker’s practice spans the full range of estate planning and administration, from clients of moderate means to sophisticated high-net-worth planning. His published writing focuses specifically on the tax dimension of estate and charitable planning, including the timing risks of negotiating sales of appreciated assets before making charitable gifts, and the federal income tax consequences of foreclosures and repossessions.
Track Record
Estate and tax planning rarely generate a public verdict or settlement record, so there’s no case table to cite here. Becker’s public professional record instead runs through his published scholarship and his dual Board Certification, each independently examination-based.
Note: Past results, where applicable, do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter.
Client Voice
Awesome Attorneys did not locate individually attributable, quotable client reviews for Becker on major platforms as of the research date; his public reputation is documented primarily through professional credentials, peer recognition, and published legal writing rather than a large consumer-review footprint.
Community
Becker served as Director and then President (2006–2007) of the Central Arizona Estate Planning Council. He has published on charitable giving strategy for the Arizona Community Foundation and written for the Journal of Real Estate Taxation and Taxation for Lawyers — contributions to the broader field beyond his own client work.
Recognition
Becker holds two genuine, examination-based Board Certifications from the State Bar of Arizona — Estate & Trust Law and Tax Law — a combination that reflects unusually broad, verified technical depth. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), an invitation-only national body, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Trusts & Estates and in Super Lawyers, where he’s been selected from 2007–2020 and 2022–2024.
The Arizona Legal Backdrop
What follows is general legal information, not legal advice.
Arizona wills are governed by A.R.S. § 14-2501 et seq., and intestate succession by A.R.S. § 14-2102. Most Arizona probate proceeds informally under A.R.S. § 14-3301. Trusts are governed by the Arizona Trust Code, A.R.S. § 14-10101 et seq. For clients with significant assets, federal estate and gift tax exposure — layered on top of this state framework — is often the more consequential planning question, which is precisely where Becker’s dual Tax Law certification is most directly relevant.
The Awesome Attorneys Assessment
Becker’s genuine differentiator is the dual Board Certification itself — Estate & Trust Law and Tax Law together — combined with published, peer-facing scholarship on the tax side of charitable and estate planning specifically. That combination is a real asset for clients whose estate plan has meaningful tax complexity.
The honest caveat: Awesome Attorneys could not independently confirm current firm structure, staffing, or fee model — prospective clients should ask directly about these details, particularly for straightforward, lower-complexity estate plans where Becker’s tax specialization may add cost without adding much value.
Methodology & Sourcing
This profile was researched in August 2026 from Avvo, Super Lawyers, and Lawyer.com attorney directory listings. This profile was not commissioned, reviewed, or paid for by the attorney or any firm.
Publisher Disclosure & Independence Notice
This profile is an independent editorial article published by Awesome Attorneys. Awesome Attorneys does not endorse, recommend, or warrant any lawyer or law firm profiled on this site, and inclusion in this series is not paid placement.