Don’t Let These Estate Planning Horror Stories Become Your Reality
While ghosts and goblins are make-believe, the estate planning horror stories we see in practice are all too real. Here are the most frightening scenarios that proper planning can help you avoid.
Q+A: Can I leave an inheritance to someone who is not family, but has taken care of me during my illness these last few years?
Absolutely, in Oregon, you have the legal right to leave your assets to anyone you choose, including caregivers who have shown you kindness and support during difficult times. As long as you have a legally valid estate plan, you can include non-family members as beneficiaries without restriction.
Estate Planning for Families With Legally Adopted Children: Guidance from Your Portland, Oregon Will Lawyer
Adoption rewrites the meaning of family in a way that essentially puts an adopted child on equal legal footing with biological children, yet many parents are surprised to learn that their legal documents do not automatically keep pace with that change. Below is a plain‑language look at how adoption affects wills, trusts, beneficiary forms, and future guardianship decisions. The goal is simple: make sure every child you call your own is protected exactly as you intend.
Does Inheritance Destroy Ambition, Purpose, and Compassion? Plan Right With a Portland, Oregon Trust Lawyer
Wealth is a blessing that is earned by a few, partially earned by many more, and entirely unearned by some, yet it always involves some form of luck—creating something or investing in something at the exact right time, being born into a particular family, living in a certain city or country. Many parents lie awake at night wondering whether a large inheritance might dull their children’s drive, sense of purpose in life, or compassion for others who are struggling financially. The worry is easy to understand. The same resources that opened doors to good schools and travel could remove the urgency that pushed you to build that wealth in the first place.
National Estate Planning Awareness Week: A Time for Action
October 20-26, 2025, marks National Estate Planning Awareness Week, an annual initiative designed to encourage Americans to take the important step of creating or updating their estate plans. This week serves as a nationwide reminder that estate planning isn't just for the wealthy or elderly; it's essential protection for anyone who wants to ensure their wishes are honored and their loved ones are cared for. Whether you're a young parent naming guardians for minor children, a business owner planning succession, or someone simply wanting to avoid probate complications, this week highlights the importance of having proper legal documentation in place.
Choosing a Guardian When Your Child Has Behavioral Challenges: Insights from a Portland, Oregon Guardianship Lawyer
Most parents never wake up thinking, “Today I will pick the person who raises my kids if I cannot.” Yet that is exactly what happens by default when no guardian is named: a probate judge, guided only by paperwork, decides who steps into your shoes. For any child this is unsettling. For a child living with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or other behavioral challenges, the risks are even higher.
Buying an Investment Property? Here Is How It Shapes Your Portland, Oregon Estate Plan
You found the perfect duplex or short‑term rental, ran the numbers, secured financing, and now you are ready to close. One question remains: does this new property change your estate plan? The short answer is yes. Real estate is a large, illiquid asset that brings tax, liability, and probate considerations that your current will or trust may not address.
Why Put My House in a Living Trust? 6 Benefits Every Portland, Oregon Homeowner Should Know
If you own a home, you’ve probably heard that “putting the house in a living trust” can save time and money for your family later on. Yet many homeowners hesitate because they’re unsure how a trust works or they assume the process is a hassle. Below, we answer the most common questions and show why placing your primary residence into a revocable living trust is often simpler (and more advantageous) than people think.
What Happens to My Work Retirement Account If Something Happens to Me?
Most people picture a will or trust when they think about “estate planning.” Yet for many employees, the largest asset they own is a workplace retirement plan. Knowing exactly what will happen to your 401(k), 403(b), or pension if you pass away can spare your family confusion and unexpected taxes.
Keeping Our Aging Immigrant Loved Ones Safe in a Hostile Climate
Aging brings challenges for every family — but for immigrant families, those challenges can come with extra layers of fear. As our loved ones grow older, they may lose English skills, revert to their first language, or face speech limitations after a stroke or other health issues. In today’s hostile political climate, I worry about what could happen if a Spanish-speaking elder in my family wandered off, couldn’t communicate clearly, and ended up in the custody of ICE.
Leaving an Inheritance to a Friend: What Portland, Oregon Will Lawyers Want You to Know
Most of us instinctively picture spouses, children, or other close relatives when we think about who will inherit our things. Yet many clients come to our office wanting a friend, sometimes their closest companion, to receive part or even all of their estate. That wish is perfectly valid, but it must be documented the right way. If you rely on verbal promises or vague notes, probate law will default to blood relatives, and your friend could end up with nothing.
Feeding Tubes and End‑of‑Life Care: 7 Questions to Ask Your Portland, Oregon Elder Law Attorney
Deciding whether to place a feeding tube is among the most personal and challenging choices a family can face. The decision often arises in the context of serious illnesses such as ALS, advanced dementia, stroke, or head‑and‑neck cancers, where eating becomes difficult or impossible. Below are practical insights and conversation starters to help you navigate this sensitive topic with compassion, clarity, and sound legal guidance.