Business Details
Your Trusted Estate Planning Partner in Portland
For over two decades, our firm has specialized in tailored estate planning and administration services for clients across Oregon. We prioritize individualized attention, recognizing that each client's financial, familial, and health circumstances require unique solutions. Our practice focuses on creating comprehensive legal frameworks that protect assets and provide clarity for future generations. By maintaining close collaboration with clients throughout the process, we ensure our strategies align with their specific goals, whether preparing estate documents or guiding families through probate proceedings.Our commitment to personalized representation extends to all aspects of estate law, including trust administration, guardianships, and tax planning. With extensive experience handling estates of varying complexities, we combine technical expertise with compassionate counsel to deliver practical solutions. Our team remains dedicated to ethical practice standards while adapting to evolving legal landscapes that impact estate planning. Through consistent communication and transparent guidance, we strive to make complex legal processes accessible and understandable for every client.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate Services
Trust Administration
Wills
Trusts
Guardianships
Conservatorships
Prenuptial Agreements
Estate Tax Planning
Health Care Directives
Highlights and features
- We offer customized estate planning solutions tailored to individual family needs
- Our firm specializes in Oregon-specific estate and probate law requirements
- We provide clear guidance through complex legal processes with compassion
- Our attorneys maintain advanced knowledge of evolving estate tax regulations
- We offer home visits for clients requiring special accommodations
Services
Estate Planning
We craft comprehensive estate plans considering each client's unique family dynamics and financial situation. Our attorneys help create wills, trusts, and advance directives that protect assets and ensure wishes are honored. Through personalized consultations, we address tax implications and provide guidance on minimizing future legal complications for beneficiaries.
Probate Services
Our firm guides families through the Oregon probate process with sensitivity and efficiency. We handle estate administration, asset distribution, and debt settlement according to legal requirements. Our team works to minimize court delays while ensuring compliance with state-specific probate laws and protecting heir interests throughout the proceedings.
Trust Administration
We provide complete trust administration services including asset transfer, tax documentation, and distribution oversight. Our attorneys assist trustees in fulfilling their legal obligations while maintaining beneficiary communication. We specialize in both revocable and irrevocable trust structures tailored to individual estate planning objectives.
Estate Tax Planning
Our expertise includes minimizing tax liabilities through advanced estate planning techniques. We prepare both Oregon and federal estate tax returns while implementing strategies to reduce tax burdens for future generations. Our approach considers current regulations and potential legislative changes affecting estate taxation.
Guardianships
We establish legal guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults with careful attention to vulnerable individuals' needs. Our process includes court documentation preparation, representation during hearings, and ongoing guidance to ensure compliance with state guardianship requirements while protecting the ward's best interests.
People
Sara Butcher
Attorney
Sara Butcher specializes in estate and probate law with over 15 years of experience guiding Oregon families through complex estate matters. She focuses on creating practical legal solutions that balance asset protection with client wishes while maintaining compassionate counsel during difficult times.
Robin Smith
Attorney
Robin Smith brings extensive expertise in trust administration and tax planning to the firm. With a background in both legal and financial aspects of estate planning, they help clients navigate complex regulatory requirements while developing strategies to preserve family wealth across generations.
Questions
What estate planning documents should every adult have?
Every adult should have a will, power of attorney, and health care directives to ensure their wishes are honored.
How can I avoid probate in Oregon?
Our attorneys create living trusts and utilize joint ownership arrangements to help clients minimize or avoid probate proceedings entirely.
Do I need an attorney for estate tax planning?
Our legal team provides expert guidance on federal and Oregon-specific estate tax requirements to help preserve family wealth.
What happens if someone dies without a will?
We guide families through Oregon's intestacy laws to ensure proper asset distribution according to state regulations.
Can I update my estate plan after marriage?
Yes, we help clients modify existing plans to accommodate new family circumstances through prenuptial agreements or revised documentation.
Do you offer home visits for estate planning?
We provide home visits for clients requiring special accommodations during the estate planning process.
