An Oregon child custody case can feel difficult, especially when emotions run high and the future feels uncertain. Every family situation differs, but some mistakes tend to cause added stress or create challenges along the way. Knowing what to watch for may help...
Discovering that a loved one left behind more than one will can understandably lead to confusion. Depending on the contents of each draft, when they were executed and whether any were formalized, you and your loved ones may be concerned about which should be...
Most people have a rough idea of what to expect when reading a loved one's will. People often discuss their legacy intentions with their family members. Others can make basic assumptions about their inheritance based on family circumstances. For example, they might...
The beneficiaries of an estate may inherit property directly. Other times, the decedent may have provided instructions for the personal representative to liquidate or sell some of their resources and to allocate the proceeds of those sales in a specific manner....
People in a variety of circumstances use trusts to establish a personal legacy. Parents with multiple children might create trusts in the hopes of preventing their offspring from fighting over their assets after they die, for example. A trustee typically needs to...
As the country’s population ages, many families are newly grappling with the legal complexities of estate planning. Clear communication regarding inheritance and asset distribution is, therefore, paramount. A letter of instruction is an important yet often overlooked...
Losing a loved one is a traumatic experience for anyone, and it’s also sometimes the start of an estate plan nightmare. This may be the case when your loved one’s will indicates signs that there was undue influence or some other significant issue present when this...
The death of a parent can be a real tragedy even if they lived a long, meaningful life. Whether someone dies suddenly due to a coronary event after a protracted illness, their children may experience a broad range of emotional responses. Denial and depression are...
Estate administration is a complex and often lengthy process that involves managing a deceased individual’s assets, debts and final wishes. In most cases, a last will and testament clearly outlines how the deceased’s estate should be distributed. However, what happens...
Like estate executors, trustees have fiduciary responsibilities. A trustee’s chief responsibility is to manage the assets in a trust according to the instructions of the person who established that trust (the settlor or creator). They have a duty to act in the best...