Earlier today, Governor Brown issued executive order 20-12 entitled “Stay Home, Save Lives,” in an effort to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19. The order took effect immediately after signing, and remains in effect until terminated by the governor. The order directs individuals to remain…
At Southwest Portland Law Group, the safety of our clients and employees is always foremost on our minds. We’re closely monitoring the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Governor Kate Brown’s executive orders in…
On December 20, 2019, the Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law. The law became effective on January 1, 2020 and created sweeping changes to the landscape of retirement and estate planning. Pre-SECURE Act Rules for Beneficiaries Before…
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…