Christine Cracchiolo, a fourth-generation Arizona native, is one of the foremost estate planning attorneys in Arizona, representing some of the state’s most notable families. Christine blends more than 23 years of experience in estate planning with a warm, accessible personality—making her a highly sought-after expert resource. Her clientele includes doctors, dentists, athletes, politicians, farmers, and business owners.

In 2006, she founded Forakis Law Firm, PLC, now home to a legal team to create a place where clients could feel ‘at home’ while addressing some of life’s biggest questions regarding their succession and legacy. The office is located in the Los Olivos Historic District in Central Downtown Phoenix and the house is a renovated historical home on East Palm Lane.

 

Her firm specializes in preventive law—a highly proactive approach to estate planning. It offers a full spectrum of complementary, integrated practice areas including estate planning, business law, asset protection, and succession planning. Christine 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 has also served as a co-host for the weekly radio show “Creating Your Family Dynasty” on channel 1310AM. Recorded broadcasts of her performances can be found at ForakisLaw.com.

Christine was also interviewed on KFNX 1100 AM on the importance of establishing a family dynasty and her own journey to becoming a successful business owner in Arizona. In 2021, Christine published a book as an homage to her late father, John F. Goodson, titled Fortune Favors the Bold – a collection of her father’s ideas about creating everlasting wealth. Christine 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. She currently has an AV rating, the highest possible rating, from the Martindale Hubbell Bar Register.

Christine has served as a charter member of Mingus Mountain Estate Residential Center, Inc. (MMERCI) for over 25 years and continues to support their mission. MMERCI is a residential treatment center for emotionally and behaviorally at-risk adolescent girls. She served as the President of the PAAK Foundation and is a founding member of Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce. Previously she has served as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and the Secretary of the Board of Directors for the non-profit People Investing in People for two terms. Additionally, Christine served on the board of LeTIP of Camelback Corridor and was a member for over 10 years. Christine has participated in numerous other boards and organizations in Arizona over the years such as the Rotary 100, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and more.

Christine earned a black belt in Shotokan Karate. She has competed internationally/nationally, earning numerous accolades including Western State’s Champion and National Champion in Kata. She was also a trained ballet dancer and has danced in Ballet West’s Nutcracker and studied under the Dallas Ballet Company. She loves tennis and plays in a league, practices yoga, and loves hiking and playing poker. She resides in Phoenix with her husband, Mike Cracchiolo, who is also an Arizona native, and their five children.

Legal History
Christine attended Arizona State University for Undergraduate work and graduated Cum Laude from the Honors Program. She 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 of Comments Editor of Business Law Journal. She did an internship under the Honorable Judge Ungaro-Benages in Miami, Florida. She was chosen to serve as a committee member of the Small Business Committee at the Arizona State Bar Association.

Family History
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 Chairman of the Board of Arizona Refining Company. Her father, John F. Goodson, was a preeminent estate planning attorney, author, and public speaker and helped lay the foundation for Christine’s ethical family-style practice today.

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Past Group Affiliations:

• Mingus Mountain Academy – Charter Member

• The Cracchiolo Museum – Founding Member

• Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce – Founding Member

• PAAK Foundation – President

• POP Prostate On-Site Project – Board Member

• NAWBO – nawbophx.org – Member

• Rotary 100 – rotary100.org – Member

• Vistage International – vistage.com –Member

• Christian Legal Society – christianlegalaidaz.com

• Rim Trail Board – Treasurer

• People Investing in People – Secretary

• Le Tip – letipaz.com – Vice President/Membership Chair

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Public Speaking Events:

• Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association – Asset Protection for Doctors, Spring 2007 Convention

• National Business Institute – Estate Planning Basics, November 2007

• National Business Institute – Making the Best Use of Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, May 2008

• Phoenix Women’s Chamber of Commerce Seminar – Protecting your Assets, May 2008

• National Business Institute – Cutting-Edge Asset Protection Skills and Techniques, October 2008

• The Medicare Supplement Leadership Conference – Estate and Asset Protection, October 2008

• National Business Institute – LLC Trends and Developments, September 2008

• Society of Financial Service Professionals Seminar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Mom and Pop are Ready to Retire, but is

• Their Money Ready To? August 2008

• Your Insurance Matters Radio Show – Life insurance, Death Taxes and Estate Planning, December 2008

• Women’s Investor Group, April 2009

• Proactive Transitioning – Ask the Experts, November 2009

• Scottsdale Young Estate Planners – Wealth, Transfer, Business and Charitable Estate Planning, May 2010

• Professional Women’s Network – Estate Planning for Professional Women, June 2010

• Parrots of the Hills Bird Club – Pet Estate Planning, September 2010

• Christian Legal Society Convention, Orlando, Florida – Hot Topics of Estate Planning, October 2010

• First Christian Church – Special Needs Estate Planning, February 2011

• Maricopa County SWAT Division – Estate Planning and Asset Protection, August 2012

• National Business Institute – Income Tax Planning for Trusts and Estates, September 2012

• Top Estate Planning Techniques – Simple and Effective Wealth Preservation Methods for Business Entities, June 2013

• Succession Plans for Attorneys, September 2013

• 2013 Annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar, September 2013

• Estate Planning for Business Owners with Doug Schmidt, October 2013

• Estate Planning for Business Owners with Doug Schmidt, October 2013

• Asset Protection and Disinherit the IRS – Famous Mistakes with Raymond James, October 2013

• Women’s Wealth Preservation Seminar at National Bank of Arizona, April 2014

• Price Kong Lunch and Learn – Planning for Trusts and Estates, July 2017

• Bank of Arizona’s Retirement & Estate Planning Seminar, July 2017

• The University Club – 10 Biggest Estate Planning Blunders of Celebrities, June 2018

• Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance, Phoenix Chapter – How to Create and Protect a Family Dynasty, June 2019

• Team Minik Property Management – When Should We Prepare Our Vacation Homes for the Super Bowl, April, 2022