Collier Law

10/12/2026

Marriage is one of life’s most exciting milestones. As you prepare to build a future together, you will likely spend months planning your wedding, combining finances, and dreaming about your future. Although these conversations are exciting, there is another important discussion that deserves a place in your planning: whether a prenuptial agreement is right for you.

Read our most recent blog post about Planning for Marriage: The Benefits of a Prenuptial Agreement

Need an estate planning attorney to protect your assets before marriage? Contact Collier Law today for clear, reliable prenuptial agreement guidance.

09/09/2026

When someone passes away, families often expect the estate to be distributed as inheritance. Then the bills arrive. Medical expenses, loans, taxes, credit accounts, and other obligations may compete for the same limited pool of assets. For families in the Salem area, working with a probate attorney can help the personal representative understand which claims are valid, which obligations take priority, and when distributions can legally occur.

At Collier Law, probate guidance includes helping personal representatives address creditors, consolidate estate assets, manage required filings, and distribute property appropriately.

The central challenge is that an estate isn't simply a collection of property waiting to be handed to beneficiaries. It is a legal entity with obligations that must be addressed before final distribution. A last will establishes the decedent's wishes, but those wishes don't necessarily override legally prioritized estate claims.

Read our most recent blog on how a probate attorney navigates creditor claim prioritization when estate assets are subject to conflicting distribution obligations.

https://collier-law.com/blog/how-does-a-probate-attorney-navigate-creditor-claim-prioritization-when-estate-assets-are-subject-to-conflicting-distribution-obligations/

09/02/2026

It often starts quietly with missed bills, confusion during medical appointments and overall forgetfulness. When a once independent loved one now struggles to manage daily life, their family is faced with difficult questions: Who should make financial decisions? Who can consent to medical treatment? How do courts determine when someone truly needs help? That is where guardianship and conservatorship may become essential.

A guardianship and/or conservatorship typically serves as a last resort in which the court oversees the entire process and appoints a person or entity to make medical and/or
financial decisions for another. Although most people assume this process is mainly reserved for those experiencing illnesses such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, guardianships and conservatorships are also important to serve those with all sorts of cognitive impairments.

As outlined in the Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 125, guardianship and conservatorship are two separate legal processes overseen by courts. Guardianships focus on personal care and include medical decisions, health care, and living arrangements. A guardian may step in when someone cannot safely choose a medical facility, understand treatment options, or otherwise make their own medical decisions. Conservatorships address financial decisions, such as managing bank accounts, investment decisions, or otherwise protecting a person’s estate or property. Sometimes only guardianship or conservatorship is needed; other times, both guardianship and conservatorship are required.

At Collier Law, we guide families throughout the State of Oregon through this complex process with clarity and care.

Read our most recent blog on guardianships and conservatorships: navigating whether it is needed and the path ahead.

https://collier-law.com/blog/guardianships-and-conservatorships-navigating-whether-it-is-needed-and-the-path-ahead/

09/01/2026

Passing wealth from one generation to the next sounds straightforward, until it isn’t. Blended families, tax concerns, business interests, and long-term care needs can complicate even the most carefully made plans. That is why working with a Will and Living Trust attorney becomes essential when structuring estate planning documents.

Planning for multiple generations also means thinking beyond immediate heirs. It involves anticipating how assets will support children, grandchildren, and even future family members. Questions about fairness, timing, and financial responsibility naturally arise.

When putting together an estate plan, it is essential to think about all sorts of possibilities. At Collier Law, our attorneys help clients structure thoughtful plans that allow maximum flexibility, minimize taxes, control the timing of gifts, and create legacies.

Read our most recent blog on establishing an Estate plan suited for your legacy.

https://collier-law.com/blog/establishing-an-estate-plan-suited-for-your-legacy/

08/28/2026

At Collier Law, community service is more than a value we list on our website. It is part of how we live out our work every day. Recently, attorneys Ryan Collier and Jenna Green had the privilege of hosting a seminar and open conversation at the Union Gospel Mission of Salem headquarters. They met with the UGM community to talk about something close to our hearts: how estate planning can help anyone create a lasting legacy that gives back, both during their lifetime and long after they are gone.

If you are looking for an estate planning attorney in Salem, OR, that your family can turn to for guidance on asset protection and understanding family law, then contact Collier Law, your legal experts, today.

We were honored to be joined by UGM’s Community Outreach Director Mark Hunter and Executive Director Craig Smith. Their presence underscored the deepening partnership between our firm and this vital Salem ministry that has served men, women, and children facing homelessness for more than 70 years.

Union Gospel Mission of Salem meets immediate needs with nourishing meals and safe shelter, then walks alongside people toward recovery, employment, stable housing, and restored dignity. Their mission is rooted in hope and practical care for our neighbors right here in Marion County and the Willamette Valley. Spending time with their community reminded us why local partnerships matter.

Read our most recent blog on creating a legacy of generosity.

https://collier-law.com/blog/creating-a-legacy-of-generosity-our-estate-planning-conversation-with-union-gospel-mission-of-salem/

08/11/2026

Passing wealth from one generation to the next sounds straightforward, until it isn’t. Blended families, tax exposure, business interests, and long-term care needs can complicate even the most carefully intended plans. That’s why working with a will and trust attorney becomes essential when structuring estate instruments that go beyond a basic last will.

Planning for multiple generations also means thinking beyond immediate heirs. It involves anticipating how assets will support children, grandchildren, and even future family members who aren’t here yet. Questions about fairness, timing, and financial responsibility naturally arise.

A will and trust attorney structures estate plans using trusts, wills, and tax strategies to control distribution timing, protect assets, and minimize estate tax exposure. Multi-generational planning ensures wealth transfers efficiently while maintaining flexibility, legal compliance, and long-term financial stability for beneficiaries.

Read our most recent blog on how a will and trust attorney structures estate instruments to address multi-generational asset distribution and tax efficiency.

https://collier-law.com/blog/how-does-a-will-and-trust-attorney-structure-estate-instruments-to-address-multi-generational-asset-distribution-and-tax-efficiency/

08/10/2026

It often starts quietly. Missed bills. Confusion during medical appointments. A once-independent loved one is struggling to manage daily life. Families begin asking difficult questions: Who should make financial decisions? Who can consent to medical treatment? And how do courts determine when someone truly needs help? That’s where guardianship and conservatorship become essential, offering a structured legal process to protect an incapacitated person while preserving their dignity.

At Collier Law, families are guided through this complex process with clarity and care. Many begin by reviewing the firm’s guardianship and conservatorship to understand how capacity assessments and court oversight work together.

Guardianship and conservatorship rely on capacity assessments and court oversight to ensure only the necessary authority is granted. Courts evaluate medical evidence, appoint investigators, and monitor decisions over time, balancing legal protection with individual rights for long-term decision-making authority under Oregon law.

Read our most recent blog on how guardianship and conservatorship navigate capacity assessments and court oversight for long-term decision-making authority.

https://collier-law.com/blog/how-does-guardianship-and-conservatorship-navigate-capacity-assessments-and-court-oversight-for-long-term-decision-making-authority/

07/23/2026

Our winery owner clients will tell you that having a plan in place is key, and we have a passion for planning. Our office represents business owners across a range of industries, but working with winery owners is a unique pleasure. Here are four tools we have incorporated into the estate plans of our winery owners that any business owner or family should consider.

Looking for an experienced estate planning attorney? Contact Collier Law today to help protect your winery, your family, and your legacy.

Read our most recent blog on 4 ways to protect your vineyard family and business legacy.

https://collier-law.com/blog/winery-estate-planning-4-ways-to-protect-your-vineyard-family-and-business-legacy/

06/29/2026

Another happy customer with attorney Althea Ender!

06/17/2026