Creating an estate plan is an important first step—but making sure your family knows where to find your documents is just as important. Imagine this situationfrom a family in West Linn: A loved one has an emergency. Your family knows you created a trust, will, or medical documents, but nobody knows where they are located. Are they in a filing cabinet? A safe? A desk drawer? With your attorney? Stored digitally? In a moment when emotions are already high, searching for importa

Summer often brings exciting changes. Maybe your family bought a new home. Maybe you purchased a travel trailer for weekend adventures. Maybe you finally upgraded vehicles or made a significant investment you have been planning for years. Major purchases are often signs that life is moving forward. They are also good reminders to review your estate plan. Your Estate Plan Should Match Your Life Today Many families create a will or trust during one important season of life. May

Life changes faster than we realize. One minute you're choosing a guardian for your toddler, and the next minute you're helping your teenager learn to drive. One minute you're buying your first home, and years later you're thinking about retirement, downsizing, or helping your children become independent. Your estate plan should keep up with those changes. Many families create an estate plan during a major life event and then forget about it. But reviewing your plan every few

Vacation is all about stepping away from the normal routine and making memories together. But before you lock the front door and head out on your next adventure, there is one type of preparation many families forget: Making sure your family is protected if something unexpected happens. Wills and Trusts are Not Just About the Future When people hear "estate planning," they often think about something that happens later in life. They picture retirement, aging, or inheritance pl