Annie M. Nelson

About Annie

Estate Planning

Annie regularly advises clients regarding all aspects of estate planning, most commonly including will- and trust- based plans which incorporate appropriate estate tax planning, but also in relation to more complex planning strategies such as irrevocable gifting trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and generation-skipping trusts. Annie believes that advanced planning can have a very real impact on clients’ lives, including planning for incapacity, protecting children/beneficiaries, reducing family tension, and implementing tax planning and charitable giving strategies. Annie is honored to partner with her clients to work through such important, complex, and personal planning decisions, and she is committed to providing her clients with personalized and experienced representation.

Trust & Estate Administration

Annie counsels clients in their capacities as trustees, personal representatives, and other fiduciary roles through the appropriate administrative process following death or incapacity. This includes working with trustees to properly administer and distribute the assets of a trust, advising personal representatives through the probate process, and preparing and filing Oregon state and federal estate tax returns. Annie understands that dealing with the death of a loved one is often a very emotional and difficult time, and therefore her objective in representing clients through the estate administration process is to ensure a smooth and uncomplicated experience.

Professional Activities

Annie is a member of the Estate Planning and Administration Section and Taxation Section of the Oregon State Bar, the Deschutes County Bar Association, Oregon Women Lawyers, and Cascade Women Lawyers. She is also a frequent speaker to both public and professional forums on estate planning and administrative topics. Annie is the Past President of the Deschutes County Chapter of the J.R. Campbell American Inns of Court, has volunteered her time with Constitution in the Classroom and Junior Achievement, and is a graduate of Leadership Bend.  Outside of her legal practice, Annie has a strong commitment to child advocacy and pediatric healthcare.  Annie serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for KIDS Center, Central Oregon’s nationally accredited child abuse intervention center, which is committed to the prevention, evaluation, and treatment of child abuse.  She also serves as a member of the Doernbecher Philanthropy Board, which supports the mission of OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital through strategic fundraising and advocacy, ultimately aimed at advancing the hospital’s mission to conduct groundbreaking research and provide exceptional pediatric care throughout our region. 

Off the Job

Annie is a native Oregonian who loves Central Oregon’s culture and community, which make Bend such a vibrant place to live and to raise a family.  Annie and her husband, Matt, have three young children, and therefore their lives are happily consumed with kids’ activities. During the summer months, Annie and her family can often be found camping around Central Oregon, enjoying Bend’s festivals and traditions, or hitting the pool on the weekends; during the winter, they certainly enjoy the snow, but are guilty of escaping the chilly temperatures with a few “warm weather” getaways.  As far as personal interests, Annie has been working to return to her passion of playing volleyball by serving as a volunteer coach for the Bend Parks and Recreation District’s youth volleyball program for the past few years.  And, perhaps on a more relatable note as to “hobbies”, when the kids are mostly in bed, she quietly celebrates another day survived by sinking into the couch for a few quiet moments of TV, just maybe without interruption.