Estate Planning Lawyers for Salem, Oregon
Need an estate planning lawyer in Salem, Oregon?
ContractsCounsel matches businesses with Salem-based estate planning lawyers, providing fixed-fee quotes from vetted attorneys with the first proposal typically arriving in just a few hours.
Hire a Lawyer for 60% Less than Traditional Law Firms
Meet some of our Salem Estate Planning Lawyers
Jason P.
Jason is a self-starting, go-getting lawyer who takes a pragmatic approach to helping his clients. He co-founded Fortify Law because he was not satisfied with the traditional approach to providing legal services. He firmly believes that legal costs should be predictable, transparent and value-driven. Jason’s entrepreneurial mindset enables him to better understand his clients’ needs. His first taste of entrepreneurship came from an early age when he helped manage his family’s small free range cattle farm. Every morning, before school, he would deliver hay to a herd of 50 hungry cows. In addition, he was responsible for sweeping "the shop" at his parent's 40-employee HVAC business. Before becoming a lawyer, he clerked at the Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic where he handled a diverse range of legal issues including establishing new businesses, registering trademarks, and drafting contracts. He also spent time working with the in-house team at adidas® where, among other things, he reviewed and negotiated complex agreements and created training materials for employees. He also previously worked with Meriwether Group, a Portland-based business consulting firm focused on accelerating the growth of disruptive consumer brands and facilitating founder exits. These experiences have enabled Jason to not only understand the unique legal hurdles that can threaten a business, but also help position them for growth. Jason's practice focuses on Business and Intellectual Property Law, including: -Reviewing and negotiating contracts -Resolving internal corporate disputes -Creating employment and HR policies -Registering and protecting intellectual property -Forming new businesses and subsidiaries -Facilitating Business mergers, acquisitions, and exit strategies -Conducting international business transactions In his free time, Jason is an adventure junkie and gear-head. He especially enjoys backpacking, kayaking, and snowboarding. He is also a technology enthusiast, craft beer connoisseur, and avid soccer player.
"Very nice! Great on responding back and being available! Recommend 100% !"
Curt B.
Curt Brown has experience advising clients on a variety of franchising, business litigation, transactional, and securities law matters. Mr. Brown's accolades include: - Super Lawyers Rising Star - California Lawyer of the Year by The Daily Journal - Pro Bono Attorney of the Year the USC Public Interest Law Fund Curt started his legal career in the Los Angeles office of the prestigious firm of Irell & Manella LLP, where his practice focused on a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters, including securities litigation, antitrust, trademark, bankruptcy, and class action defense. Mr. Brown also has experience advising mergers and acquisitions and international companies concerning cyber liability and class action defense. He is admitted in California, Florida, D.C., Washington, Illinois, Colorado, and Michigan.
"I was very impressed with the responsiveness and knowledge brought to my situation."
Jim B.
Since 2002, when I first received my law license and began practicing in criminal litigation, I have dedicated myself to providing competent and impassioned legal representation to my clients. Transitioning into business and intellectual property law and serving the Oregon community under the banner of INTELLEQUITY since 2016, I embarked on a mission to offer an unparalleled level of personalized legal guidance that empowers my clients through understanding, support, and legal mastery. As a seasoned attorney, I recognize that behind every case is a person with a distinct set of emotions, aspirations, and challenges. This is why my approach to legal services is not just about cases and statutes; it's about people and their lives. Whether it's navigating the intricacies of business law or safeguarding your intellectual property, I'm here to provide more than just professional counsel—I offer a compassionate, personalized approach to every case. This means keeping you well-informed at every step, empowering you with in-depth understanding, and steering you towards decisions that are legally sound and, more importantly, right for you.
"Great person to work with. He helped gain a better understanding of my own business."
Alexander M.
Broad area practice including Business (domestic & international), IP, Employment, Family Law, Administrative, etc. My focus is a direct, no-BS approach with fast turn around times on completed work.
"Alex was always fast to respond and worked very efficiently with precision."
Jessica M.
Jessica Molligan is an attorney with twenty years of experience in family law, bankruptcy, and litigation.
"Jessica was great to work with. We got a quick cliam deed done and it was an easy process to go through with her. Highly reccomend hiring her for any of your needs."
June 28, 2023
Shanon G.
Have experience in contract, family law, municipality work, criminal defense, litigation, some wills and estates as well. Been practicing law for over 22 years.
December 4, 2023
McCoy S.
P. McCoy Smith is the Founding Attorney at Lex Pan Law LLC, a full-service technology and intellectual property law firm based in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A and Opsequio LLC, an open source compliance consultancy. Prior to his current position, he spent 20 years in the legal department of a Fortune 50 multinational technology company as a business unit intellectual property specialist; among his duties was setting up the free & open source legal function and policies for that company. He preceded his in-house experience with 8 years in private practice in a large New York City-based boutique intellectual property law firm, working simultaneously as a U.S. patent litigator and U.S. patent prosecutor. He was also a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office prior to attending law school. He is licensed to practice law in Oregon, California & New York and to prosecute patent applications in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office; he is also a registered Trademark and Patent Agent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. He has degrees from Colorado State University (Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, with honors), Johns Hopkins University (Masters of Liberal Arts) and the University of Virginia (Juris Doctor). While in private practice, and continuing into his in-house career, he taught portions of the U.S. patent bar exam for a long-standing and well-known patent bar exam preparation course, and from 2014-2020 was on the editorial board of the Journal of Open Law, Technology & Society (JOLTS), and starting in 2023 will be on the editorial board of the American Intellectual Property Law Quarterly Journal (AIPLAQJ). He is the author or co-author of chapters on open source and copyright and patents in “Open Source Law, Policy & Practice” (2022, Oxford University Press). He lectures frequently around the world on free and open source issues as well as other intellectual property topics.
August 23, 2025
Alexander C.
I am a solo practitioner that runs my own legal practice. I am currently licensed in 16 states and I'm working to expand that reach.
Neil R.
Neil Rust is a transactional attorney with almost four decades of experience ranging across a broad range of fields, including M&A, finance, structured finance, VC and general corporate. Before moving to Oregon, Mr. Rust was a partner at the Los Angeles office of an international law for 26 years and the Century City office of a national law firm for 5 years. During his big firm tenure, Neil Rust gathered experience across multiple industries and enjoys counselling clients as much as drafting and negotiating.
May 12, 2026
Grace C.
Intellectual property attorney with 6+ years of combined law firm and in-house experience guiding global companies, startups, and creators through trademark strategy, IP due diligence, go-to-market strategy, and complex commercial agreements. Known for translating legal complexity into business clarity, negotiating high-value contracts, and building scalable IP frameworks that protect innovation and brand value. Experienced in advising on IP portfolio strategy and maintenance, AI, privacy, and international go-tomarket and compliance issues across industries including technology, consumer goods, storage and information management, data centers, fintech, advertising and media.
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers NowMeet some of our other Estate Planning Lawyers
D. Cassie B.
Cassie Bermudez Engel is a seasoned family law attorney with over a decade of litigation experience across Florida. She focuses her practice on divorce, custody and timesharing, alimony, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and post-judgment enforcement and modification. Cassie has served as lead counsel in thousands of cases and has represented clients in matters ranging from amicable settlements to high-conflict litigation. Before founding her own practice, Cassie honed her skills at boutique family law firms, served in-house for major insurance carriers, and was a partner at a nationwide law firm. She brings a strategic, results-driven approach to every case, with a particular focus on protecting her clients’ financial interests and guiding them through some of life’s most challenging transitions. Cassie is known for her clear communication, compassionate advocacy, and unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients.
"Working with Cassie was great! Not only did she stay on budget and was very responsive, but she completed the job on time. Cassie took her time to answer all of my questions and was a pleasure to work with. Would recommend!"
September 7, 2023
Paola R.
Attorney admitted to the New York State Bar. Hispanic. Eager to meet client's needs and provide legal assistance.
Estate Planning Legal Questions and Answers
Estate Planning
Life Insurance Trust
Kentucky
If a life insurance policy owner dies and the insured is still alive and it is a life insurance policy with cash value that the policy owner had taken out a loan against with the policy so withdrew some of the cash value and were not legally liable to pay that debt to the policy back, does the executor have to pay that debt to the cash value off?
My mom had a life insurance policy on my younger adult sister. My mom was the policy owner and my adult sister is the insured. My mom passed in 2022. The life insurance policy she had on my sister had cash value on it and my mom had taken some of that out when she built her house about 20 years ago. As the executor, am I required to pay that back, since my mom wasn't actually required to put the money back in the cash value if she didn't want to? Is it considered a debt that I need to pay out of the estate? The estate has the funds to pay it but I wasn't sure if it was required to pay.
Randy M.
When a policy owner takes out a loan against a life insurance policy’s cash value, that loan is secured entirely by the policy itself. It’s not a personal liability of the policy owner, and it doesn’t become a debt of the estate. The insurer tracks the outstanding balance and deducts it from the policy’s value. In your situation, your mother was the owner of a policy insuring your sister’s life. She borrowed against its cash value years ago. Because she wasn’t legally required to repay the loan during her lifetime, the obligation doesn’t shift to her estate. As executor, you don’t treat that loan as a claim against estate assets. The only impact is on the policy itself: the loan plus interest reduces the cash value if surrendered, or the death benefit if your sister eventually dies while the policy is still in force. What Happens After the Owner Dies Since your mother has passed and the insured (your sister) is still alive, the policy itself becomes part of the estate unless a contingent owner was named. That means you may have temporary control as executor. At this point you have several options: 1. Maintain the policy by continuing premiums if required. The loan remains in place and will keep accruing interest, which reduces the policy’s value. 2. Transfer ownership to your sister or another beneficiary under the will or intestacy laws. The new owner takes the policy subject to the outstanding loan. 3. Surrender the policy for its remaining net cash value, which will already reflect a reduction for the loan balance. 4. Allow the policy to lapse by discontinuing premium payments, though that wastes any remaining value. The right choice depends on the estate’s circumstances, your sister’s wishes, and whether preserving coverage has practical value. Executor’s Responsibilities Your duty as executor is to collect estate assets, pay valid debts and expenses, and distribute the remainder under the will or state law. Since policy loans are not debts of the estate, you don’t repay them out of general funds. The insurance company enforces repayment internally by adjusting the policy value. The only estate-level question is whether to hold, transfer, or surrender the policy itself. Review the Policy Contract You should review the actual policy contract to confirm ownership and rights after your mother’s death, as terms can vary. If the estate inherited the policy, the insurer will require documentation before you can act. For guidance on transferring ownership and managing the policy, it’s best to consult an estate attorney in your jurisdiction. Contracts Counsel can connect you with experienced estate attorneys who can assist with this process.
Estate Planning
Power of Attorney
Tennessee
Do I need a lawyer to get a power of attorney
My uncle is an elderly man and his wife passed away in January of this year. She did everything as far handling all of the important things. He doesn't understand a lot of things. He asked me if I would take over everything for him. So I think I need to get a power of attorney to be able to do tnat.
Rebecca R.
A power of attorney allows you to make decisions and dispose of property, it does sound like one might be helpful in your situation. When an attorney writes up the power of attorney, you have a range of permissions to cover all the needs of your individual situation. You’ll want to be sure that you have the ability to write checks, etc. Additionally, the power of attorney will be useful if other family members challenge your decisions or actions. Drafting the document is a fairly straightforward process, and most attorneys will bill 1-2 hours depending on whether you need additional documents for healthcare and estate decisions.
Estate Planning
Power of Attorney
North Carolina
Trying to become a poa
My uncle needs a power of attorney
Holly T.
A POA is best done through an attorney to ensure the verifying/interested parties are proper, the agreement includes what the principal wants, the principal is competent in case of a challenge and it's filed properly if necessary, for example if it will be used to transfer property. All persons should have a POA, HCPOA, Advanced Directives and Will. You can also pull the POA form out of the general statutes of NC. The form is included in the law.
Estate Planning
Trust
Florida
Can a trust be contested after the death of the person who created it?
Can a trust be contested after the death of the person who created it? I recently discovered that my late grandmother had created a trust before her passing, and I am concerned about its validity and the distribution of assets. There are certain family members who were excluded from the trust, and I suspect they may try to contest it now that my grandmother is no longer alive. I want to understand my rights and options in case a dispute arises regarding the trust.
Lori B.
You will need to review the Trust Agreement carefully. A Trust usually cannot be contested after the grantor dies. If the trust agreement was drafted correctly, it appoints a successor trustee to take over the trust and the trust assets. In other words, the trust continues to operate.
Estate Planning
Living Trust
Oklahoma
Do you review trusts
I am needing a trust and a LLC reviewed. Do you do this type of document review?
T. Phillip B.
There are attorneys on here would would review those documents. You may want to post this in the area where attorneys respond to your project post.
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
View Trustpilot ReviewHow It Works
Post Your Project
Get Free Bids to Compare
Hire Your Lawyer
Estate Planning lawyers by top cities
- Austin Estate Planning Lawyers
- Boston Estate Planning Lawyers
- Chicago Estate Planning Lawyers
- Dallas Estate Planning Lawyers
- Denver Estate Planning Lawyers
- Houston Estate Planning Lawyers
- Los Angeles Estate Planning Lawyers
- New York Estate Planning Lawyers
- Phoenix Estate Planning Lawyers
- San Diego Estate Planning Lawyers
- Tampa Estate Planning Lawyers
Estate Planning lawyers by nearby cities
- Bend Estate Planning Lawyers
- Eugene Estate Planning Lawyers
- Gresham Estate Planning Lawyers
- Hillsboro Estate Planning Lawyers
- Portland Estate Planning Lawyers
Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.
View Trustpilot Review
I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.
View Trustpilot Review
I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.
View Trustpilot ReviewHow It Works
Post Your Project
Get Free Bids to Compare
Hire Your Lawyer