Many of us have more time on our hands during this novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. One silver lining is this gives us a chance to tackle some of those items on our To-Do lists. Tasks like organizing the garage, learning…
The hesitancy to plan for death as part of life is a common reason for not having a will. I like to reframe the conversation by teaching why a will should be considered a living document. The reason being that…
Q: I am a resident of Oregon and own property in Canada. One piece is a condo at Whistler, BC and the other is one is ownership of half of a home that my sister and I inherited from my…
If you are serving as or thinking of becoming the legal guardian of a loved one, you should understand that your role as guardian will come with certain legal requirements and limitations. In general, a guardian may establish a residence…
The already difficult process of losing a loved one can be made even harder if you’re the person left in charge of their affairs. It can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Relax, we’re here to help. Below…
The world is getting smaller and we are seeing a lot of people that are from other countries but reside here in Oregon. Many may return to their country of origin. The fact is that if you plan on residing…
Fortunately, the world has gotten smaller and deaths abroad are no longer the logistical disaster of some years ago. When you’re planning on traveling out of the country you should make sure you have your estate planning documents in place.…
Three years ago today, on March 14, 2016, the definition of marriage under Oregon law was extended to include same-sex couples. Married or not, it is important for same-sex couples to understand their estate planning options. Have you thought about…
With the New Year behind us, our thoughts inevitably turn to new beginnings and self-improvement. A survey from Statista shows that last year many of us resolved to eat healthier and exercise more (37%), save more money (37%), get a…
Scene: A quiet December evening in Portland Oregon. A light dusting of snow has drivers abandoning their cars in the streets, while relatives in town from Seattle smugly claim to be great at driving in the snow. Aunt Jo, who…
Yes. If you are a guardian, you probably already know that the court requires you to file an Annual Guardian’s Report, which keeps the court updated about where the person is living and how they are doing. What you may…
Yes! Most people would be surprised to hear that their college-aged child needs estate planning documents. At age eighteen, a child is legally considered an adult but may still benefit from the assistance and guidance of their parents in making…
We are often contacted about Emergency Guardianship when a loved one has been hospitalized. Generally, if a person has been hospitalized after an unsafe behavior, courts take the view that the immediate crisis has passed because the person is safe…
The Advance Directive form has not been updated since 1993 and some people find parts of it confusing. Oregon’s House Bill 4135 recently passed establishing a temporary form. If you have a current Advance Directive there is no need to…
