Blog

Estate Planning in the Time of Coronavirus

June 15th, 2020

The outbreak of COVID-19 has left many of us feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Some Oregonians may have found themselves contemplating their own mortality. You may also be concerned about the well-being of an elderly or vulnerable loved one. Considering your estate planning needs and goals can give you peace of mind during these uncertain times. Fr… Read More

Categories: COVID-19, Estate Planning, Guardianship

Congress Seeks Guardianship Oversight

May 27th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

In an effort to target guardianship abuses, a bill is under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives called the “Guardianship Accountability Act.” Introduced last summer by Democratic Representative Darren Soto, the bill (H.R. 4174) seeks to help states improve guardianship oversight and data collection by designating a National Onlin… Read More

Categories: Guardianship

Should I Become a Guardian for my Elderly Family Member

April 20th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

If you have an elderly relative who needs help making decisions, you may want to consider becoming a guardian. A successful guardianship arrangement can be beneficial to all involved. When there is a trusted person at the helm, who truly acts in the best interests of a loved one, the loved one is well taken care of and can often thrive. Your loved… Read More

Categories: Estate Planning, Guardianship

Parenting Time and COVID-19

April 5th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

Contributors: Sarah M. Litowich, Katherine Denning

We’ve all heard the stories and been wondering: how do we manage our parenting plan when our movement is restricted, schools are closed, and maybe the other parent is an essential worker? The short answer: keep following the parenting plan. If you have have a court ordered parenting plan, you need to keep following it unless a court issues a… Read More

Categories: Child Custody, COVID-19, Divorce

COVID and the Courts - How it Impacts You

April 5th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

By now, most of us are feeling the impacts of COVID-19 on our daily lives. It’s rough. For some of us, important legal matters have been delayed. Here is a summary of the order issued by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Each county may have slight variations to implement this order. Links to select orders can be found at the end… Read More

Categories: Court Operations, COVID-19

Guardianship or Conservatorship: Which is best for your loved one

March 20th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

If a loved one has become incapable of making decisions on their own, they may need someone to assist them. Whether they are facing decisions about their medical treatment or in their everyday life, Oregon has several options for families to consider, including guardianship and conservatorship. If your loved one only needs assistance in making fina… Read More

Categories: Estate Planning, Guardianship

10 Awesome Resources to Entertain Your Family at Home

March 18th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

School Closure Update Schools in Oregon are now closed through April 28, 2020. Some resources for you: Scholastic Learn at Home Program PBS Kids Sesame Street Duck Duck Moose MetKids Free eBooks – Gutenberg NaNoWriMo – it’s time to write a novel Science Friday Cool Math 4 Kids How Stuff Works Let us know if you’d like to see… Read More

Categories: Uncategorized

COVID-19 Update - Schools and Mediation

March 13th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

Mediation Orientation In Marion County is cancelled for the time being. The court will still assign mediators and mediation will proceed. The requirement that you attend the orientation is waived. COPE Class can be taken online. School Closures. The Governor has closed all K-12 Schools through march 31, 2020. As of right now, court hearings have no… Read More

Categories: Uncategorized

A Guide to Navigating the Coronavirus

March 11th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has been detected in 90 locations around the world. This includes many locations in the US. While the news about this outbreak seems scary, it is important to remember that there have been similar global outbreaks in the past two decades. Staying calm a… Read More

Categories: Child Custody, Divorce, Estate Planning, Guardianship

Coronavirus Protocol at Litowich Law

March 9th, 2020

Posted By

Sarah M. Litowich

We have been monitoring the CDC website regarding the Coronavirus. They recommend that people avoid close contact with people who have been exposed to the virus. None of our attorneys or staff have reported any exposure or symptoms. As a cloud-based firm, we can schedule consultations and client meetings using the telephone or video conferencing. W… Read More

Categories: Child Custody, Divorce, Estate Planning, Guardianship