Portland, Oregon Trust Attorney: What is the function of a Successor Trustee?
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland, Oregon Trust Attorney: What is the function of a Successor Trustee?

When creating a trust to protect your family, the most crucial choice you will need to make is who will be named as the successor trustee. This is the person who will fulfill the trustee's duties when that person is incapacitated or passes away. This person has a large job, and you want to be sure you trust this person with your personal and financial health as they will be executing your final wishes.

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Portland Estate Planning Lawyer: When Should You Make an Estate Plan?
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland Estate Planning Lawyer: When Should You Make an Estate Plan?

Determining the right time to make an estate plan is a serious task. When you visit a Portland estate planning lawyer, there are some factors the lawyer will look at, such as your current family, medical, and financial situation, to see what kind of estate plan will fit you the best. Here are some of the ways these factors can impact the estate planning process.

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Keep Your Advance Directive Simple: Name One Child, Not All of Them, as Representative
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Keep Your Advance Directive Simple: Name One Child, Not All of Them, as Representative

As a Portland estate attorney, I believe that an Advance Directive (commonly known outside of Oregon as a Medical Power of Attorney or Healthcare Proxy) should be included in every estate plan. A properly created Advance Directive allows someone to make important medical decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated or unable to speak for yourself.

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Navigating the Do’s and Don’ts of Creating a Special Needs Plan for a Young Child or Adult With Disabilities | Portland Special Needs Lawyer
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Navigating the Do’s and Don’ts of Creating a Special Needs Plan for a Young Child or Adult With Disabilities | Portland Special Needs Lawyer

Planning for the future when you have a child with special needs can be complicated and daunting. The laws are often difficult to understand, and it is equally hard to anticipate the extent of your child’s future care needs. Whether you have an elementary school child whose days are filled with speech therapy appointments, occupational therapy, specialized schooling, and IEP’s or an adult child with disabilities who is completely reliant on you for daily support and care, you must begin planning ahead to ensure that your child will have a safe and secure future—even when you are gone someday.

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Portland Will and Trust Lawyer: Estate Planning Essentials for Young Families in Oregon
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland Will and Trust Lawyer: Estate Planning Essentials for Young Families in Oregon

Young families are busy! They are often raising young children and at the beginning stages of their careers. Estate planning is often at the bottom of their priority list – if it is even on the list at all! But our Portland will and trust lawyer would like to help bump that priority up by explaining several reasons why young families need estate planning.

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Portland, Oregon Trusts Lawyer Asks, “Who will manage your digital footprint after you pass?”
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland, Oregon Trusts Lawyer Asks, “Who will manage your digital footprint after you pass?”

According to research, 69% of adults ages 50-64 are on social media regularly, and 50% of adults older than 65 are on some form of social media as well. However, in my experience as a Portland, Oregon wills and trusts lawyer, I’ve found that most people do not have a plan for what should happen to their growing portfolio of “digital assets” when they are gone.

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Portland, Oregon Estate Lawyer Answers, “Won’t Leaving an Inheritance to My Disabled Child Help More Over the Long-Term Than SSI or Other Benefits?”
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland, Oregon Estate Lawyer Answers, “Won’t Leaving an Inheritance to My Disabled Child Help More Over the Long-Term Than SSI or Other Benefits?”

As a Portland, Oregon estate lawyer, when I meet with parents to start the process of creating a special needs plan for their child with disabilities, I almost always advise against leaving any type of inheritance outright to the child when mom or dad passes away.

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Portland, Oregon Estate Planning Attorney: 4 Large Risks to Your Estate Without a Trust
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland, Oregon Estate Planning Attorney: 4 Large Risks to Your Estate Without a Trust

Too many people falsely believe that a will is the only estate planning document you need. However, having a complete plan, which often includes a trust, can prevent many problems with your estate after your passing. The Portland, Oregon estate planning attorney at Aiston Law, LLC is committed to helping our clients understand why creating a trust can be the best way to ensure that your wishes are honored when you are gone. Here are four risks to your estate if you choose to proceed without one.

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Portland Oregon Estate Planning Attorney: Disinheriting a Family Member from Your Estate
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland Oregon Estate Planning Attorney: Disinheriting a Family Member from Your Estate

Not long ago, our Portland, Oregon estate planning attorney was contacted by a couple who did planning with us a while back. They asked for an appointment to make some changes to their estate plan. However, their demeanor when they came in was different than the last time we met. When we inquired about the changes they wanted to make, they uncomfortably said, “We want to disinherit our son from our estate.”

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Portland, Oregon Trust Lawyer Asks, “Does Your Estate Plan Include Your Animals?”
Estate Planning Candice Aiston Estate Planning Candice Aiston

Portland, Oregon Trust Lawyer Asks, “Does Your Estate Plan Include Your Animals?”

Many people feel like their animals are their best friends and distinct members of the family. They buy birthday cakes and Christmas gifts for their dogs, cats, birds, and reptiles. Many older people prefer having an animal to keep them company. Look on the shelves at your home store, and they all have “Dog Mom” or “Cat Dad” merchandise. If your animals are loved equally as your children, have you accounted for their care after you pass?

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