Two Spruce Law P.C.

Are you married and living in Oregon? Does the total value of your estate fall under the federal estate tax threshold of $15 million? If so, you may be under the impression that you do not need an estate plan to protect your assets from easily avoidable tax consequences. However, as explained in our most recently shared video, Oregon’s estate tax has a much lower exemption—just $1 million per person.

Without proactive planning, you and your spouse may end up sharing one exemption, leaving any assets beyond the first $1 million vulnerable to estate taxes. In the video, attorney Patricia Louise Nelson explains that married couples can utilize their estate plan to double this exemption.

State-specific laws can have major implications for the distribution of your estate once you and your spouse are gone. Watch the entire video here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18C4LRhUPw/ and give us a call at 541-389-4646 to learn more.

Clients with strong spiritual or ethical commitments often struggle to reflect those beliefs in their Estate Plan without feeling like they are being overly controlling of their loved ones. In our most recent video, attorney Patricia Louise Nelson explains how “precatory language” can enable meaningful communication with your appointed Trustee and your beneficiaries, even after you are gone.

This type of language does not compel behavior, but it does inform Trustee decisions in situations when discretion is needed. For example, say one of your grandchildren requests an early distribution of their funds from your Estate to pay for college, or to backpack across Europe. If you have included precatory language about your values and priorities, your Trustee will be enabled to respond to such requests in a way that reflects what you would have wanted. Precatory language allows us to bring more of your voice into your Estate Plan, so that your hopes and dreams for your descendants can be upheld.

Watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ALKVZ8x6K/ and call Two Spruce Law today for an Estate Plan that reflects who you are and what you care most about.

The future is an unpredictable place. Because of this, it can sometimes be challenging for our clients to find the right balance between specificity and flexibility in their estate planning documents. As Patricia Louise Nelson explains in our most recent video, we encourage our clients to use precatory language, which allows us to acknowledge uncertainty while still guiding decision-making.

With precatory language, you can express what is important to you regarding your beneficiaries, such as financial stability, education, or emotional well-being. This information helps your Trustee understand what matters to you while protecting their ability to respond organically as circumstances evolve.

If you missed it earlier this week, view the video here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DYHkxqVHX/ to understand how precatory language helps your estate plan prioritize adaptability and certitude simultaneously.

Although usually only one individual gets appointed as personal representative in probate matters, entire families are affected by the process. Clear, consistent communication is one of the best ways to mitigate potential conflict and protect relationships.

When a personal representative openly shares documents, decisions, and anticipated steps, others are less likely to make assumptions or question motives. Trust is strengthened when everyone feels included, and no one is surprised at the end of the process.

Early transparency also gives family members the chance to have their voices heard before decisions become final. Encouraging trust through open communication from the start helps ensure a fair, calm, and well-managed probate experience for everyone.

Learn more about how to provoke trust in our previously published post https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17XuSVXoeW/ and reach out to us at Two Spruce Law via the contact information in our profile if you’d like to learn more.