Estate Planning Weekly

Whether you know it or not...whether you want it or not...you have an estate plan even if you've never signed one. In Oregon, (really in every state) our legislature created and the governor signed an "estate plan for all." Unless you do something to change it, that estate plan created by the State will decide who gets your stuff when you are gone. Dying Intestate When you die without an estate plan, you are said to die intestate. In that case (which happens all the time), the laws of the state kick in and dictate who will get your assets. You can read the Oregon Law by clicking here. Basically the State has set up a hierarchy of who will get your assets. It doesn't matter if you never had a relationship with the person, if they are the correct relative they will inherit from your estate. Guardians For Minor Children Without and estate plan, a judge will decide who will raise your minor children. You have no say in the matter after you are dead. Often times more than one family member will petition the cou