Christine Goodson Forakis

Christine Goodson Forakis is a fourth-generation Arizona native who is the founding and managing member of The Forakis Law Firm, PLC. Her family has been practicing estate planning in Arizona for two generations. She has over 18 years of experience in her field. Her firm specializes in estate planning, business law, asset protection, probate, succession planning, non-profit, guardianship, and tax planning. She represent some of the wealthiest families in Arizona including, athletes, politicians, farmers, business owners, and non-profit corporations.

Christine was a co-host for the weekly radio show Creating Your Family Dynasty on channel 1310 AM. She 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 started her career as corporate counsel for Eastern Airlines, Inc. She is a member of the Arizona Bar Association, Section of Trusts and Estates. She is also a member of the Florida Bar. In the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Christine clerked under the Honorable Ungaro-Benages and was a Judicial Clerkship Scholarship recipient, one of two selected to receive a Judicial Stipend in Dade County, Florida in 1991.

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 and Comments Editor of Business Law Journal. She has written numerous articles on estate and business planning.

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 President and Chairman of the Board of Arizona Refining Company. Her father, John F. Goodson is a pre-eminent estate planning attorney and speaker who works with her.

Christine's charitable endeavors include being on the Board of Directors for Mingus Mountain Estate Residential Center, Inc. (MMERCI) for over 16 years. MMERCI is a residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally at-risk adolescent girls, its program combines a positive peer culture, caring staff, careful medical treatment, individualized psychotherapy and education, and numerous activities including a unique equestrian program. Christine has also formed numerous foundations and non-profit corporations for her clients.

She was the 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 the 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. She 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.

Christine received her black belt in Shotokan Karate and has received numerous awards such as Western State's Champion, National Champion in Kata, and numerous others. She competed nationally and travelled internationally with her team.

Christine lives in Mesa and has two children and three step children. Her husband, former vice president of operations for Coca Cola Enterprises, now has his own packaging and screen printing business, USA Packaging, LLC and USA Screen Print, LLC, which employs over 50 people.

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

Group Affiliations

• Le Tip - www.letipaz.com
• NAWBO - www.nawbophx.org
• Rotary 100 - www.rotary100.org
• Vistage International - www.vistage.com
• NFIB - www.nfib.com
• Christian Legal Society - www.christianlegalaidaz.com