Protecting your family's future through thoughtful planning and preparation.
Our children are our greatest assets. Planning for their future ensures they're cared for by the people we choose, in the way we want. Estate planning isn't just for the wealthy — it's for anyone who wants to protect their loved ones.
A proper estate plan helps you maintain control over what happens to your assets and, more importantly, ensures your children are cared for according to your wishes if something happens to you.
"Estate planning is one of the most loving things you can do for your family. It gives you peace of mind knowing they'll be protected."
A flexible tool that allows you to maintain control of your assets during your lifetime while avoiding probate and providing for seamless transfer of assets to your beneficiaries.
Protect a loved one with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for government benefits. These trusts ensure they receive supplemental care without jeopardizing essential support.
The foundation of any estate plan. A properly drafted will ensures your wishes are honored and names guardians for minor children.
Designate someone you trust to handle financial or healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
Document your healthcare wishes and ensure your medical decisions are made according to your values if you cannot speak for yourself.
When a loved one passes, we guide families through the probate process with compassion and efficiency, handling all court requirements and asset distribution.
We offer a comprehensive Wealth Planning Session designed to understand your unique situation and goals. During this session, we'll discuss:
Following your session, we'll prepare a customized estate plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Many people think estate planning is only for the wealthy, but this is a common misconception. Estate planning is about controlling what happens to your assets and ensuring your wishes are carried out. In Oregon, there are additional considerations that make estate planning especially important.
Without a plan in place, your estate will go through probate, which is costly, time-consuming, emotionally draining, and public. Probate can take months or even years to resolve, leaving your family in limbo during an already difficult time. A well-structured estate plan can help your family avoid probate entirely and preserve your privacy.
A revocable living trust is one of the most effective ways to keep your family out of probate court. Assets held in a trust pass directly to your beneficiaries without court involvement, saving your family significant time, expense, and stress. You maintain full control of your assets during your lifetime and can modify the trust at any time.
A comprehensive estate plan typically includes several essential documents, each serving a specific purpose:
Each of these documents works together to create a comprehensive estate plan that provides clarity and protection for your family.
Probate is the legal process by which a deceased person's estate is administered and their assets are distributed according to their will or, if there is no will, according to Oregon law. While probate is sometimes necessary, it has several disadvantages:
A revocable living trust is the primary tool used to avoid probate. Assets held in the trust pass directly to beneficiaries upon death without going through probate. Other strategies to avoid probate include joint ownership with right of survivorship, designating beneficiaries on accounts, and using payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations where available.
Oregon also offers a simplified probate process for smaller estates, which can reduce costs and time. We can discuss which approach is best for your situation based on your assets and goals.
Yes. Even if you have a revocable living trust, you should also have a pour-over will. The will catches any assets you may have forgotten to transfer to the trust and names guardians for minor children. If you die without a will, Oregon law determines guardianship, which may not align with your wishes.
A revocable living trust is a legal entity that holds your assets. You create it during your lifetime, fund it with your assets, and name yourself as the initial trustee. You control and manage the assets as if you still owned them directly. Upon your death or incapacity, a successor trustee you've named takes over and manages the assets according to your instructions in the trust document. The trust avoids probate and keeps your estate private.
The most effective way to avoid probate is through a revocable living trust. Other strategies include using joint ownership with right of survivorship for real estate and bank accounts, designating beneficiaries on retirement accounts and life insurance policies, and using transfer-on-death deeds for real property (available in Oregon). For smaller estates under certain thresholds, Oregon's simplified probate procedure can also reduce costs and time.
Oregon has an estate tax that applies to estates valued over $1 million. This is a state-level tax separate from federal estate taxes. If your estate exceeds this threshold, proper planning is essential to minimize the tax impact. Strategies like revocable living trusts, gifting, and charitable giving can help reduce estate tax liability.
Estate planning is important for anyone who cares about what happens to their assets and who cares for their children after death. This includes parents with minor children, people with significant assets, business owners, people in blended families, and anyone who wants to ensure their wishes are carried out. Even with modest assets, a basic estate plan can save your family time, money, and stress.
Disclaimer: The information provided above is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. Reading this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult directly with a qualified Oregon attorney regarding your specific situation.
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