by Josi R. Howard | Oct 2, 2026 | Blogs By Josi R. Howard, Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning
Credit Shelter Trusts as a Planning Strategy in Oregon Many people relocating to Oregon, as well as many long-term residents, are surprised to learn that Oregon has one of the most aggressive estate tax systems in the country. Not only is Oregon one of a relatively... 
by Josi R. Howard | Apr 11, 2026 | Blogs By Josi R. Howard, Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning
If you are domiciled in Washington, you should understand how Washington’s estate tax may affect your estate. Although the state recently increased its exemption amount, many people still have estates that exceed the taxable threshold. For those estates, Washington’s... 
by Josi R. Howard | Jan 3, 2026 | Blogs By Josi R. Howard, Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning
Preparing Your Personal Representative Helps Avoid a Stressful Estate Administration Creating an estate plan is an essential step in ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes while minimizing delays, confusion, and potential conflicts among your... 
by Josi R. Howard | Apr 10, 2025 | Blogs By Josi R. Howard, Estate Planning
Why Estate Planning for Blended Families is Critical Estate planning, while important for every family, is crucial for blended families. Blended families are families that include children from a previous relationship of one spouse or both. Coming up with an equitable... 
by Josi R. Howard | Sep 6, 2024 | Blogs By Josi R. Howard, Estate Planning
One common question is whether someone should have a trust or a will as their main estate planning document. Both types of estate plans can accomplish many of the same objectives, such as planning for minor children or estate tax planning. However, deciding whether a... 
by Josi R. Howard | Feb 14, 2024 | Blogs By Josi R. Howard, Estate Planning
A major life event, such as having a child, can prompt a person to seek out advice about setting up an estate plan. Other times, busy parents can put estate planning on their to-do list, but as we all know, sometimes life gets in the way and now their child is...