2021 Estate Tax Exemption: Key Estate Planning Proposals

By Jeffrey G. Moore, Attorney in the Estate Planning & Probate Practice Group   This last week, House Democrats released details of a new tax proposal to support the $3.5 trillion spending plan.  Although we stress that these are indeed proposals at this point, we wanted you to be aware.  The proposals will inevitably undergo further

Estate Planning Considerations When Moving To Oregon

by Estate Planning Practice Group Oregon is a great place to live. Most of our clients live in Oregon, and more and more of our clients have friends and family moving to Oregon. Here are answers to some of the most common estate planning questions we receive from new Oregonians. Are My Out-Of-State Documents Still

Tips for Including a Charity in Your Estate Plan

by Estate Planning Practice Group Thinking about including your favorite charity in your estate plan? Here are four simple, but important, items to consider. Name and Taxpayer Identification Number Start by obtaining your charity’s legal name and unique nine digit taxpayer identification number (also known as an “Employer Identification Number” or “EIN”). Your charity can

Marital Status Matters: Important Ramifications of “I Do” and “I Did”

By Jeff Moore If you are in the throes of tying the knot, there may be a few important estate planning ramifications for which your wedding planner failed to prep you. For example, marriage actually revokes your current Will in its entirety. In addition, marriage effectively designates your new spouse as the new beneficiary on

Litigation Claims Developments: Elder Abuse

By Erich M. Paetsch In 2013, an estimated 15 percent of Oregonians were 65 or older. By 2030, it is estimated that more than 20 percent of Oregonians will be 65 or older. Given the growing population of Oregonians 65 years or older, greater legislative and judicial attention has been placed on the needs of

The Family Meeting: An Integral Part of the Estate Plan

By Estate Planning Practice Group You have signed all your estate plan documents. They are even up to date. Congratulations, you have completed everything. Or have you? Have you explained at least the basics of your estate plan to your family? Do they know what they may need to do if you become incapacitated or

15 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan

Here are some reasons and indicators that you may need to update your estate plan: Name a different successor trustee Name a different guardian Name a different healthcare representative Name a different agent as power of attorney Title new assets in your living trust Update beneficiary designations for IRA’s, 401(k)’s, life insurance policies and annuities Modify distributions

Estate Planning Made Easy

By Estate Planning Practice Group “I want to make things simple for my family.” This is one of the goals I hear most frequently when a person begins the estate planning process. Implementing the correct legal documents is critical in achieving this goal, and the legal documents tend to receive the most attention. But the

Who’s Yo Beneficiary? No, Really.

The Surprising Importance of Proper Beneficiary Designations By Jeff Moore Most of us have some form of a “beneficiary-designation asset,” such as a life insurance policy, an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), a 401(k) or other retirement account, an annuity contract, or any other type of asset that permits the naming of a beneficiary to receive