Oregon Estate Planning Blog

As we talk with people throughout Oregon, one of the greatest concerns they mention is what to do to handle major health care costs if he or she is struck by Alzheimer's disease, another debilitating ailment, or an illness that could exhaust all the assets in an estate. There is a lot of informa...

Is business succession planning a concern for you? Do you wonder what will happen to all your hard work once you pass away? Will a family member will take over, the business be sold to someone else, or is liquidation inevitable? Who is best qualified to take responsibility for your business opera...

While we always hope for the best, the reality is that most of us will experience a period of incapacity at some point in our lives.  We may be unable to direct our own medical care, and we may not be able to pay our bills, sell our house, or otherwise deal with our assets and finances.  At these...

Last week I wrote about divorce and how that impacts your Will and your overall estate plan, so it is only fitting that I write this week about how marriage affects your Will and your estate plan. Under Oregon statutes, if you have an existing Will, and then get married, and you are then s...

Divorce is a tough situation to go through. This is a time in your life when you need to reconsider what might happen if you were ever incapacitated or passed away, and establish a comprehensive estate plan that will carry out your wishes and will name those you trust to make decisions for you. ...

A special needs trust — sometimes called a supplemental needs trust — is most often set up to provide money over an extended period to a family member with a disability. It may provide income to the person in need on an established schedule, allowing the heir to have a higher quality of life whil...

There are many scenarios that may lead you to want to provide whatever you are able for someone in your family without leaving them your inheritance outright. If someone in your family is receiving government benefits you do not want them to lose — due to an illness or disability that prevents ...

Our strengths as a focused estate planning and elder law firm include dedication to finding solutions without “overselling” our clients or overcomplicating situations. You can contact us with confidence that we will work hard to address your real needs — and act as quickly as possible or necessar...

Almost everyone in their fifties and many people earlier in their lives think about planning for nursing home care or treatment of a serious illness. Whether you have received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or early dementia, believe you are genetically susceptible to any such condition, or simply wa...

In virtually any situation involving your own financial concerns, planning for incapacity, or planning for the care of a family member, you can turn to us at The Hingson Law Firm in Portland and receive sound guidance. Our range of services includes: • Comprehensive estate planning to allow you...

With full sensitivity and understanding of your desires, attorney Phil Hingson offers legal counsel free of legal jargon that is only understood by other lawyers. At the same time, you can have confidence that you are working with an estate planning and trust administration lawyer who stays up to...

Should you ever became incapacitated, you would want what was best for you and your family. Planning in advance for incapacity can save you and your family large amounts of time and money, not to mention minimizing pain and frustration if your loved ones do not know your wishes. An advance direc...

With many years of experience in this area, estate lawyer Phil Hingson is adept at drafting revocable and irrevocable trusts addressing specific challenges, including: Tax planning to maximize assets passed on to loved ones Needs of “blended families” with children from multiple marriages...

A revocable living trust (RLT) is an excellent solution for many people who want to avoid probate and minimize the potential for disputes while still keeping control of assets during their lifetime. Our firm is an excellent resource for creating an RLT or one of many other types of trusts that ma...

Perhaps the most common reason people choose to set up a trust, rather than only a will and durable power of attorney, is to save their survivors and heirs the time and costs of probate. We have drafted trusts to accomplish this goal, carefully tailored to clients' individual needs. Please contac...

Many people we assist with estate planning return to check in with us from time to time, because attorney Phil Hingson is an approachable, helpful resource who can help them answer their questions. In addition, we counsel many existing and new clients when someone becomes incapacitated or passes ...

We will not over-complicate your situation — sometimes all we need to do is provide a detailed, specific letter explaining successor trustee duties and answer any questions you have. However, if you are the trustee or administrator for an estate that is or may be worth more than $1 million (inclu...

Phil Hingson has the knowledge and experience to help you navigate the trust administration process, no matter how complex the issues. He works side by side with accountants and other experts as needed, so you can be sure your unique situation is thoroughly addressed. Our Portland, Oregon, legal...

It would be hard to overstate how much potential legal changes could impact your estate in the next few years. Your overall estate planning needs could change dramatically, and our firm will be here to help you adjust. As it stands today we have strengths in: • Building in flexibility through th...

There are some key questions to consider when thinking about your estate: What do you need now, in view of current law and requirements? How do you make sure what happens after your death or incapacity isn't the source of controversy for people you care about? What is the best way fo...

Attorney Phil Hingson is the lawyer for you if you have any concerns about powers of attorney and related matters. In every situation, Phil emphasizes that: • Your general durable financial power of attorney is a critical document, giving someone you trust not only the power to pay your bills, b...

At both the Oregon state and federal level, estate and inheritance tax laws are ever-evolving. Currently, you need to be concerned with tax planning if your estate approaches or surpasses one million dollars in value, but that could change in the next legislative session. Federal estate tax laws ...

If you have put your heart, soul and sweat into building a family business, our firm is an outstanding resource for you as you determine the next steps. Mr. Hingson will be understanding of your personal considerations and offer you insightful counsel for constructing your will, trust, and other ...

At The Hingson Law Firm PC, we work with many northern Oregon families that have a need to provide for the future of an adult or child with special needs. Attorney Phil Hingson has extensive knowledge of various types of trusts, and he is ready and willing to help you identify, develop, and execu...