Estate Planning

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...

Leaving a gift to charity in your estate plan is an effective way to support causes you care about. In Oregon, you have several options for including charitable giving in your plan. If you want to make charitable giving a part of your legacy, here are some important...

If you have a minor child, you need to plan for the possibility of being unable to raise them to adulthood – you may become incapacitated or die before they turn 18 years old. Therefore, you need to choose someone who will take care of them (a guardian). Since the...