Estate Planning

If you’ve recently moved to Oregon from another state and you have an estate plan (even just a will) that you created in that state, one of the things you’ll want to do relatively soon after getting settled is review your estate plan with a professional. While the...

Many parents use equal bequests when making an estate plan. A parent with three children and $300,000, for example, leaves $100,000 to each child. If a parent owns a vacation property and wants it to stay in the family, they may leave it to the next generation as a...

For people who have reached a certain stage in life, family heirlooms and antiques may be among their most prized possessions. Individuals who inherited their grandmother's China or furniture hand-carved by an uncle may cherish those items. In some cases, they may...

When making an estate plan, it’s natural to consider your life insurance policy. If you’ve already purchased such a policy, your goal is to provide substantial financial assets to your chosen beneficiaries. When you pass away, the life insurance company will give them...

Creating an estate plan is a major undertaking. Many people think this is because they have to determine what to do with their assets, but that’s not the only decision that has to be made. If you’re creating an estate plan, you have to think about who will make...

If you’re in your 20s or 30s, estate planning probably hasn’t even entered your mind. That’s understandable. If you’re like most people, you believe that it’s something that old, rich people do, and there’s no reason for you to have one. However, you may be surprised...

One of the main reasons why people don’t make estate plans—and most people don’t—is because it feels daunting or overwhelming. They assume they need a lot of complex paperwork, and they don’t know where to start. Because of this perspective, they procrastinate or put...

When you are planning your estate, your biggest goal is often to protect and care for the people you love. But what happens when one of those people struggles with addiction? Whether it is drugs, alcohol or gambling, addiction can turn a well-meaning inheritance into...

Losing a parent is never easy. In blended families, it can be even harder when questions about inheritance come up. Stepchildren and biological children may not always see things the same way, especially if plans are not clear.  In Oregon, the law does not...

Some people neglect estate planning when they’re young. Say that you’re 30 years old and you and your spouse just had your first child. You know that you need an estate plan eventually, but you assume that you will live into your 70s, so you still have 40+ years to...