Settle and manage estate and probate with the right Oregon Estate Attorney

Real talk about probate in Oregon

You may have noticed: Many Oregon estate planning attorneys focus on helping you avoid probate by having a current will and estate plan. But do you know why?

Simply put, in Oregon probate is the legal process through which a person’s property is distributed after their death. This court-supervised process is the default option for individuals who pass away without having an estate plan in place.

How does probate in Oregon handle an estate?

In Oregon, if a person passes away without having a will or estate plan in place, your local probate judge will disburse the estate according to default laws (called “intestate”). This process will take care of taxes, debts, and other obligations, and the remainder will be distributed to certain family members in accordance with the law.

Probate without a will or estate plan may cost more in taxes and may not reflect your wishes

While probate in the absence of a will or estate plan may seem like a convenient option, probate often causes additional distress for loved ones. Probate in Oregon can often come with high taxes in the absence of a will or estate plan. Also, instead of your estate being distributed in accordance to your wishes, it will be disbursed as the judge sees fit in accordance with the law.

People often prefer to have more say over what happens to their property after they die, and for good reason. Oregon’s default probate laws don’t take into account the individual’s wishes for things such as charitable contributions, or provide any benefits for non-traditional relationships, unmarried couples, blended families, and the like.

Probate in Oregon, especially if contested, can also be long, drawn-out process that takes months, even years, to resolve.

Avoid probate by establishing a will and estate plan today

The reasons above are among the many reasons why you may wish to avoid probate.

If you wish to provide for the people you care about or direct your money toward causes you believe in, estate planning is essential.

Oregon Probate and Estate Attorney

You have the power to shield your loved ones from the hassles of probate, by establishing a clear, legally valid estate plan in Oregon.

Hiring a Eugene probate lawyer and estate attorney to create a comprehensive estate plan is the best place to start.

Are you in Linn, Coos, Douglas, Lincoln, Benton, Deschutes, or Lane county?

Want to learn more about probate, how it works, or how to avoid it? Is there an estate you need help preparing and settling?

Eugene probate lawyer and estate attorney Megan Salsbury (formerly Megan Amelung) is ready to help you set up or review your Oregon will and estate plan today.