Understandably, the topic of estate planning often makes people a little uncomfortable, even though most individuals understand the importance of planning a secure financial future for themselves and their families. As specialists in estate planning, we appreciate the deeply personal nature of the decisions involved. We understand that there is no such thing as a “standard” estate plan, and we are dedicated to helping you create a plan that meets your personal goals.
Buckley LeChevallier assists its clients in navigating the often complex road of estate planning by encouraging its client to adopt a “life plan.” The life plan approach includes a clear but flexible map that anticipates changes in personal health, taxation, business succession, philanthropic goals, and the ultimate disposition of wealth. Our practice deals with all kinds of assets, from stocks and bonds, to real estate, to pensions and trusts. The services we provide range from simple wills to complex plans for individuals of high net worth.
In preparing your estate plan, our attorneys will work closely with your accountant, insurance broker, and investment advisor to ensure the end result addresses all your needs. We also draw on the resources of our business, employment, and family law specialists to help deal with changes that may necessitate modifications to your estate plan.
In all cases, our goal is to help you feel comfortable with the process, while creating a plan that helps you preserve your wealth, minimize taxes, and provide a secure financial future for you and your loved ones.
Frequently requested services
- Advance directives
- Charitable and lifetime gifting
- Generation-skipping issues
- Guardianships and conservatorships
- Life insurance trusts
- Living trusts
- Tax and estate planning
- Trust administration
- Valuation of assets
- Wills and probate
Hot topics
- How do I choose a trustee for my estate?
- I want to provide for children of a prior marriage in addition to children from my current marriage.
- How can an estate plan help me do that?
- Is there any way for my beneficiaries to reduce or avoid paying taxes on my life insurance benefits?
- What is a charitable remainder trust?
- What is a family limited partnership?
- What is a probate?
- Will I owe Oregon inheritance tax?
- The terms used by estate planners are confusing.
- What do these terms mean?
L. B.
Attorney(s):
Jay Richardson
Attorney(s):
Richard A. Uffelman Thank you so much. This is really good news. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the expert help I've received from you!
2009 Estate Planning Update
2009 is a good time to review your estate planning documents, particularly those related to a bypass or “credit shelter” trust. The good news is that the federal estate tax exclusion amount for 2009 is $3.5 million per individual. That's an increase of $1.5 million over the $2 million available in 2008. With adequate planning, the increased exclusion should allow a married couple to leave up to $7 million to their heirs without paying any federal estate tax. This is very important to small business owners and real estate investors.
Attorney(s):
Robert LeChevallier Estate Planning in a Down Economy
Why should you do estate planning in a down economy?
Attorney(s):
Robert LeChevallier Securing Credit in Today’s Economy: How to Finance Your Business & Investments
Date & Time:
April 29, 2009 7:30am - 9:30am 
KWEF Logo: KWEF LogoSecuring financing to fund ongoing operations and expansion is one of the major business challenges owners and managers face today. But credit and financing can be obtained. How?
Attorney(s):
Robert LeChevallier Mr. and Mrs. Wilson
Attorney(s):
Richard A. Uffelman Mr. Dick Uffelman has always been so helpful - you can't improve on very satisfactory service.
G. and J. A.
Attorney(s):
Robert LeChevallier Rob has been terrific in his professional service for my wife and I regarding our trust and my mom's estate. I want to especially point out his paralegal's excellent service as well.
For Better or For Worse: Oregon Family Fairness Act
Oregon common law has recognized domestic partnerships for about the past 30 years. However, the Oregon Legislature had never enacted a statute until recently when Governor Kulongoski signed the Oregon Family Fairness Act (“the Act”) into law on May 9, 2007. The Act will become effective on January 1, 2008.
Attorney(s):
Christine R. Costantino
Attorney(s):
Jay Richardson The Estate Taxation of Life Insurance and How Using Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts Can Help Avoid Having to Pay These Taxes
1. What do you mean the proceeds of my life insurance are subject to estate tax? I was always told that life insurance proceeds were tax-free!
Attorney(s):
Robert LeChevallier Oregon's Revised Inheritance Tax
On September 24, 2003, Governor Kulongoski signed a new law which firmly established an Oregon Inheritance Tax in addition to the Federal Estate Tax. In 2001, the federal law changed federal estate tax laws to increase the federal exemption amount (formerly unified credit) to $3.5 million in 2009, and repealed estate tax and generation skipping tax in 2010. However in 2011, the exemption will once again be $1 million for the federal estate tax.
Attorney(s):
Robert LeChevallier
Attorney(s):
Jay Richardson General Explanation of Advanced Directive
Oregon law allows a person who is at least 18 years old and who is capable of making and communicating his or her own health care decisions, to sign an "Advance Directive," a document containing health care instructions and/or the appointment of a "health care representative." An Advance Dire
Attorney(s):
Robert LeChevallier 
