Commercial Property in Your Estate Plan: Advice From a Portland, Oregon Will and Trust Lawyer on Protecting Your Real Estate Legacy

If you own commercial property, you've likely spent years building and managing your real estate investments. As a Portland, Oregon will and trust lawyer, I've guided many property owners through the complex process of including these valuable assets in their estate plans. The truth is, passing down commercial property requires much more careful consideration than transferring a family home.

Portland, Oregon Asset Protection Lawyer: Safeguarding Your Future as a Physician

If you're a new doctor building your practice or a seasoned physician branching out on your own, it's time to give serious thought to asset protection planning. Did you know that doctors are among the top professionals targeted in lawsuits? It's not a matter of "if" but "when" you might face a claim.

Q & A with Portland, Oregon Estate Lawyer: Co-Signing a Home Loan for Your Responsible Adult Child

"I'm considering co-signing a loan so my daughter can buy a house before prices go any higher. My realtor suggested talking with an estate attorney to make sure I understand any repercussions it could have on my estate and financial plans before I go on jointly with her. What specifically should I know?"

Portland, Oregon Asset Protection Attorney Reveals Strategies to Safeguard Assets for Spouses When Facing Long-Term Care

You worked hard to provide for your spouse throughout your marriage, and you want to continue to do so well into your retirement years. When the need for nursing home care or assisted living is on the horizon, the cost of such care can weigh heavily. The good news is that asset protection planning can help alleviate this anxiety before it fully sets in.

Oregon Elder Law Attorney: Three-Quarters of Middle-Class Seniors Priced Out of Assisted Living by 2033

In general, middle-income seniors have income and assets that make them less likely to qualify for Medicaid. At the same time, they may not have adequate resources to pay for the rising costs of housing and care options they need.

How to protect assets for kids with financial issues.

There are many reasons why parents may want to consider protecting their kids’ inheritance for them in an asset protection trust. Some of these include: They are bad with money; they are disabled and depend on government programs; they have creditor issues or face bankruptcy; they have lawsuits against them; or they are in high-risk professions for being sued. As you can see, the reasons can range from negative behaviors, to things beyond their control, to having achieved some level of success.

What if your spouse remarries after you die?

One of the things that couples should consider when doing their estate planning is: What happens to my assets if my surviving spouse remarries? Many people worry that their assets will eventually go to their surviving spouse’s new partner, rather than the kids, and they are right to worry. That is how things end up most of the time. But there are some ways that you can plan to avoid that happening, if this is a concern that you have.

How to protect your assets from divorces and creditors: Lessons from 'Big Little Lies'

I have been watching an HBO show called Big Little Lies, which is a fantastic show, but also has some lessons on estate planning. [Spoilers!] In a recent situation this season, a character named Renata (on the left in the photo above) learns that her husband is in trouble for insider trading, and that because of the way they own their assets as a married couple in the state they live in (California), everything they have is at risk and they must declare bankruptcy and sell off everything that the bankruptcy trustee tells them to sell—their home, Renata’s wedding ring, everything. To make matters worse, Renata finds out at the bankruptcy hearing that her husband has been procuring sexual favors from the nanny and promising her additional compensation for her services. This is all a huge blow to Renata, who came from a poor background, worked for everything she built, and is now having everything taken away due to her husband’s actions.

What to do if you get a substantial increase in income or net worth.

From time to time, I get a call from an old or prospective client who wants to know what to do now that they have run into a lot of money, either through receiving higher income or through receiving a large lump sum due to inheritance, lawsuit win, or other event. There are several key areas to keep in mind, but the overall rule is to call your estate planning lawyer and accountant right away.

Business Planning: How to Get Started, DIY or attorney?

I got this question on my Facebook page, and I’m not entirely clear about whether the question was meant to be about business planning or estate planning, but it’s a great question either way, so I’m going to make this question a two-for. I’m going to answer this as it relates to business planning in the first video, and in the next video, I’ll answer it as it relates to estate planning.

So, the question is: How do I get started? What can I do myself and what do I need a professional for?

News