- Premarital Agreement
- GuardianshipWhen a friend or family member is unable to care for their physical or financial well being, it may be necessary to petition the court to appoint a guardian or conservator to act on that person’s behalf. A number of procedures and court deadlines are involved in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. I work closely with my clients throughout the process to make sure that all procedures are followed and all duties are met on behalf of the protected person.
- Estate PlanningYour estate plan should fit your unique family and financial needs. With that in mind, I assist my clients in determining the best estate planning options for them. Depending on each client’s choice, I routinely prepare estate plans that include one or more of the following documents...
- WillsMs. Butcher’s knowledge of federal and Oregon estate tax allows her to anticipate and incorporate tax saving provisions in all estate plans. She designs estate plans for high net worth individuals as well as more modest estates and believes every person deserves to have an estate plan that is shaped by their own set of unique circumstances, whatever those may be. Ms. Butcher regularly handles multi- generational planning, planning for second marriages, and planning for times of incapacity or disability. She also assists clients with will and trust disputes, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and pre- marital and domestic partnership agreements. Whether planning or administering an estate, Ms. Butcher is committed to providing exceptional legal service that is personalized and affordable for every client.
- TrustsTrust Administration is similar to probate, in that it involves the management and distribution of a decedent’s trust property. The difference is it does not usually require court involvement. Instead, the trustee is responsible for gathering the trust property, determining its value and distributing it to the beneficiaries of the trust. In administering a trust, the trustee follows specific rules contained in the trust agreement and in the Oregon Uniform Trust Code. For example, the trustee is often required to provide notice and reports of trust activity to the beneficiaries of the trust.
- Power of AttorneyEstate plans can help you to prosper while you are alive and pass your assets at death with minimal inconvenience and expense. They can also protect you and your assets and minimize estate and inheritance taxes owed upon your death. For example: (1) Advance Directives for Health Care and Durable Powers of Attorney allow you to appoint someone to act on your behalf if you are unable to do so; (2) Wills for married couples may include provisions that make use of both marital and individual estate tax exemptions; or (3) Parents of minor children may include guardian and conservator provisions to protect their children until adulthood. For larger estates, limiting the amount of estate tax owed upon death is a good reason to make sure a comprehensive estate plan is in place. Depending upon the size of the estate, the plan may include trusts, charitable planning or gifting strategies to decrease the size of the taxable estate. In sum, estate planning provides a means to deal with uncertainties, plan for the next generation and protect yourself and your assets.
- Probate