Portland Oregon Legal Planning News
April's World Autism Awareness Month brings a critical issue into focus for many families: what happens when a child with autism reaches adulthood? Turning 18 is a major legal transition, and for young adults on the spectrum, this threshold can feel like an 'autism cliff'. Suddenly, the structured support of childhood falls away, and parents find their legal ability to make decisions on behalf of their child significantly altered.
Read MoreIf you've ever questioned the difference between conservatorships, guardianships, and powers of attorney for seniors, you're not alone. As a Portland, Oregon elder lawyer, I often field questions about these distinct yet related legal mechanisms. Here's an explanation to help you understand the nuances of each.
Read MoreThey say celebrities are “just like the rest of us,” and that’s certainly true when it comes to estate planning. While no one likes to think about (or plan for) their incapacity or death, there are real-life consequences for not doing so. It doesn’t matter if you are a billionaire or just an average Joe, everyone needs a plan to protect their assets and their family if something happens to them.
Read MoreMany seniors often have difficulty managing their finances at a certain point, and it comes down to their adult children to assist with these matters. It’s important to know what you’re getting into when you begin assisting an elderly parent with their financial affairs, especially if legal intervention is required.
Read MoreAs a disabled young adult approaches age 18, the parents will need to decide whether to pursue an Adult Guardianship and/or Conservatorship with the Oregon county courts for the right to manage the child’s personal, financial, and medical affairs.
Read MoreFor those caring for elderly relatives in Multnomah County, Oregon, there may be relief knowing that the senior has a medical directive, power of attorney, and/or trust in case he or she becomes incapacitated. However, it’s also possible that there is no guiding documentation to help when the relative is unable to make decisions on his or her own behalf. In Oregon, adult guardianships and conservatorships may be the only way to ensure your relative is cared for in later years.
Read MoreThe most common question that I get and that I see online in different forums where people can ask legal questions is, “How much does a simple will cost?” The answer to that is that there is no such thing as a simple will, at least at my office. We create plans that involve a variety of documents based on the client’s needs, and we plan for incapacity as well as death. Another way I could answer that question is to ask: “How much does a conservatorship cost?” or “How much does a probate costs?” or “What is the cost of doing things the wrong way?” These are all risks that you take by approaching estate planning with the attitude that your situation is simple and that your estate plan should be cheap. So if you ask yourself what the costs are of a conservatorship, probate, or worse, screwing up your plan, you’ll see that a “simple will” actually costs thousands of dollars, and maybe even your family’s well being and your own legacy.
Read MoreEveryone who has any assets (like a home or a retirement account or a business) has probably heard about Revocable Livings Trusts and wondered whether they need to set one up. At my office in Portland, Oregon, the main estate planning tool that I use to help my clients is a Revocable Living Trust. There are many reasons why so many of my clients choose to plan their estates with a Revocable Living Trust, rather than with a Will-based plan. Here are some of those reasons.
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