Strategic Ways to Fund a Special Needs Trust: Protecting Benefits While Planning for Quality of Life - Guidance from a Portland, Oregon Estate Lawyer
When you're planning for a child or grandchild with special needs, your goal isn't just leaving money behind—it's ensuring they enjoy a high quality of life while protecting their access to essential government benefits like Medicaid and SSI. A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is designed to provide for those extras that government programs don't cover, but how you fund the trust matters just as much as creating it in the first place.
Q + A: How Can I Protect My Daughter’s Inheritance from Her Spouse?
"My daughter plans to marry soon, and we honestly don't agree with her choice. We worry about her future with this man. We're also starting to think about her inheritance someday, and we worry that he will take it and then leave her. It sounds horrible to say, but this is our reality. Is there anything we can do to prevent that?"
Beyond the Basics: Selecting a Guardian for Your Adopted Child
When you name a guardian in your Will, you are choosing the person who will step into your shoes as a parent. For families formed through adoption, this decision requires a deeper level of vetting. Your chosen guardian must be prepared to handle not just the daily routines of childhood, but the specialized needs—both emotional and legal—that your child may carry.
Trustee Discretion 101: Why "Maybe" Is Better Than "Must" for Oregon Trust Planning
When creating a trust, you face a critical decision: Do you want your beneficiaries to receive guaranteed checks, or do you want your trustee to decide when and if they get paid?
Stealing from the Grieving: How to Spot Bereavement Scams in Oregon
Losing a loved one is emotionally devastating. Unfortunately, for scammers, your grief is an opportunity.
Love, Life, and the Law: Planning for Every Relationship Status with a Portland, Oregon Estate Planning Attorney
We often think of estate planning as something for traditional nuclear families, but in 2026, love and family look different for everyone. Relationships are complex, beautiful, and sometimes messy.
Myth: "I Don't Have Enough Money for a Living Trust" - Guidance from a Portland, Oregon Trust and Estates Lawyer
One of the most persistent myths in estate planning is that living trusts are reserved for the ultra-wealthy. The reality? If you own a home, have a retirement account, or want to keep your family out of court, you likely have enough to justify a trust.
Your Estate Plan Isn't Just Documents: How a Portland, Oregon Estate Planning Attorney Builds a Complete System
When most people think about estate planning, they picture signing a will or maybe setting up a trust. But here's what many don't realize: your estate plan isn't a single document. Instead, it's how all your decisions, accounts, and legal instructions work together as one coordinated system.
Q+A: "I moved to Oregon recently from another state to be closer to my grandkids. Is my Will from my old state still valid, or do I need a new one?"
I moved to Oregon recently from another state to be closer to my grandkids. Is my Will from my old state still valid, or do I need a new one?
Why Your Assets Don't Automatically Go to the People You Assume: Guidance from a Portland, Oregon Estate Attorney
One of the biggest misconceptions in estate planning is believing that your spouse, children, or closest relatives will automatically inherit your assets. In reality, asset distribution is governed by legal structures like title designations, beneficiary forms, and state intestacy laws, not by assumptions or family expectations.
The "Treasure Hunt": Can Your Family Find Your Documents?
If something happened to you tomorrow, would your family know where to look? We have seen too many cases where a comprehensive estate plan was created, but because no one could find the original Will or Trust, the family was still forced into a messy court process.
The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: Why Oregon Families Need Legal Planning Before Crisis Hits
Caring for an aging parent is one of the most meaningful acts of love an adult child can offer. However, it can also be one of the most overwhelming responsibilities you will ever take on.