A trust is an estate planning tool that is primarily used for individuals who wish to avoid probate and streamline the administration of their estate. Trust administration is informal, meaning that ordinarily there will be no court involvement. If properly funded, a Trust can save…
Southwest Portland Law Group is moving to a new office in order to better accommodate our growing practice! The new office is fully ADA compliant, providing greater accessibility for our clients with a single-story layout and a larger parking area. Our firm started with just…
People are often confused about what assets make up their estate, and how the Oregon estate tax applies to those assets. Below, we delve into these issues to help you better understand whether or not your estate will pay a tax after you die. What…
Background to Portland’s Renter Additional Protections The city of Portland estimates that more than half of renters are paying more than 30% of their monthly income towards rent. Almost half of Portland’s population consists of renters. In October 2015, in response to rapidly rising rent…
As with many legal questions, the answer is: “it depends.” In order for a will to be validly executed, Oregon law requires that a will be (1) in writing, (2) signed by the testator (or person making the will), and (3) signed by two witnesses…
If you’ve recently been injured in an accident, you may be asking yourself “how can I get compensated for my injuries if I can’t afford an attorney?” Typically, for these kinds of cases, there is no statutory right to recover attorney fees, and plaintiffs must…
Southwest Portland Law Group represents personal representatives in probate, successor trustees in trust administrations, affiants in small estate proceedings, and heirs and devisees involved in estate proceedings. Often, we encounter questions about what to do immediately after someone dies. The simplest advice we can give…
Around this time of year, many people search for ways to give back to their communities, donate to local charities, or make gifts to their families and loved ones. Unfortunately, this altruistic intent can often leave people confused and overwhelmed with the tax consequences of…
A living trust is different from a trust that is created by a will (called a “testamentary” trust). A living trust is an agreement made during the lifetime of the “settlor,” the person creating the trust. In creating the trust, the settlor is making an agreement…
Personal guarantees are incredibly common in business. If you own a small business and ever have to borrow money, rent space, or buy expensive equipment, it’s almost certain that you will at some point have to sign a personal guarantee. Small business owners are often…