{"id":1516,"date":"2020-03-12T14:18:18","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T21:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collier-law.com\/?page_id=1516"},"modified":"2026-04-20T21:08:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:08:49","slug":"will-and-trust-attorney-salem-or","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/collier-law.com\/es\/will-and-trust-attorney-salem-or\/","title":{"rendered":"Testamento y Fideicomiso Abogado Salem OR"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

WILLS \u2022 TRUSTS \u2022 PROBATE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Request a Consultation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Si, hablamos Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Search For A Will and Trust Attorney Near Me Is Over<\/span><\/h2>\n

What is a will?<\/strong>
\"WillCollier Law in Salem is experienced in all aspects of wills and testaments. Our practice focuses exclusively on wills, trusts, probate, guardianships, and conservatorships.<\/p>\n

A will or \u201cLast Will and Testament<\/a>\u201d is a set of written instructions to the court that details how your estate will be handled, including who will step into your shoes to manage your affairs on your passing, and who will receive an inheritance from your estate. A will\u2019s instructions are limited to those assets and matters under the jurisdiction of the probate court<\/a>. In Oregon, your will must be in writing and must be signed by you and two witnesses. The will has to be signed in the presence of the two witnesses, and the witnesses\u2019 signatures must be notarized. Failure to strictly adhere to Oregon\u2019s legal formalities will invalidate your will.<\/p>\n

Does will avoid probate?<\/strong>
No. A will is simply a written set of instructions to the probate court that describes your wishes regarding the management and distribution of your estate.<\/p>\n

Living Trust<\/h2>\n

Can a revocable living trust help avoid probate?<\/strong>
Trusts are a very common and efficient estate planning tool. Many people are not interested in having their estate settled by the probate courts under the directions of a will. A well-prepared and maintained trust will bypass the delay and expense of probate. It can also reduce taxes on your estate upon death. The trust will describe who may step in as trustee in case the grantors of the trust become incapacitated. Without a Trust, the courts may need to intervene to appoint an individual to manage your property through a conservatorship. A conservatorship is also a costly and burdensome process that can be avoided with a revocable living trust. Avoiding probate can help a modest estate preserve its value for beneficiaries.<\/p>\n

Living Will and Assets<\/h2>\n

The term \u201cLiving Will\u201d generally is used to refer to Oregon\u2019s health care power of attorney called the Advance Directive. It is an important part of your estate planning toolbox, but a living will do not impact your assets.<\/p>\n

In contrast, a Will or Last Will and Testament controls your assets and provides instructions to the court for the handling of your assets on your passing.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of a will?<\/strong>
A will allows you to decide who will manage your property and finalize your affairs after you pass away. A will allows for your wishes and intentions to be heard regarding a variety of issues, including who your legal representative will be upon your passing, distribution of your assets, and selection of guardians for minor children. Without a will in place, the administration of your estate is governed by Oregon law. In Oregon, if you do not choose a personal representative in your will (called an Executor or Administrator in some states), state law and the court\u2019s choice will decide who your representative will be.<\/p>\n

Does a Will control the distribution of all your assets?<\/strong>
No. A will only govern assets requiring administration through a probate or court process. Assets such as life insurance, retirement plans, and bank and investment accounts with beneficiary designations or transfer on death provisions pass by contract outside of the court process. Also, assets owned as \u201chusband and wife\u201d or as \u201cjoint tenants with right of survivorship\u201d transfer to the surviving owner by operation of law without the probate process. Your will does not override your beneficiary designation. It is important to regularly review all beneficiary designations to make sure they stay up-to-date.<\/p>\n

Can joint accounts substitute for a will?<\/strong>
\"WillJoint accounts do not act as a complete will substitute. Many married couples own real estate, bank accounts, investments, and other types of property as \u201chusband and wife\u201d or as \u201cjoint tenants with right of survivorship.\u201d When the first spouse dies, the property becomes the surviving spouse\u2019s without the need for a probate process. However, a person using joint ownership as a probate-avoiding technique between a parent and child, or a person and their non-spouse beneficiary, can cause unintended consequences. Among those consequences are gift tax liability, loss of tax benefits, unequal distribution among beneficiaries, a lack of control in the distribution of the estate, disputes among beneficiaries, and even accidental disinheritance of loved ones. Furthermore, those assets may become subject to the debts, judgments, and poor decisions of a beneficiary. If minor children are named to receive assets, the court will become involved to manage the money until they turn 18. An attorney should be consulted to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this ownership technique.<\/p>\n

What happens if I die without a will?<\/strong>
If you do not have a will and pass away with property requiring a probate or court process to transfer title, your property will be distributed according to Oregon law. For example, if you are married without children, or if you are married and all children are your spouse\u2019s children, then all of your property will pass to your spouse. However, if you are married and have children from a prior relationship, half of your probate property will pass to your spouse, and the other half will be divided equally between your children. If you have minor children, the court will decide who will serve as the Guardian and Conservator for your children. If you are not married, your property will be distributed equally among your children. If you have no children, your property will instead be distributed equally to your parents. Oregon also has provisions that address where assets go if a child or parent predeceased you, and whether that share will pass to that predeceased child or parent\u2019s children. Lastly, if you pass away without any surviving family, your property will be distributed to the State of Oregon.<\/p>\n

Wills and Estate Lawyer<\/h2>\n

Collier Law can assist you with both planning and preparing your Will and with settling your estate on your passing through the probate court. If your goal is to avoid probate, our attorneys can talk you through the tools to accomplish that, including the use of a Revocable Living Trust.<\/p>\n

The legal team at Collier Law in Salem is here to assist you with Last Will and Testament proceedings. Please call our office to schedule your complimentary consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.<\/p>\n\n\n

Contact Us Today!<\/p>\n\n\n