Source: https://willing.com/oregon-last-will-testament
Timestamp: 2019-01-16 02:39:00
Document Index: 543660442

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 113', '§ 113', '§ 112', '§ 112']

Oregon Last Will & Testament - Write Your Legal Will - Willing
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Oregon Last Will and Testament
The legal requirements for making a will in Oregon can be found in ORS § 112.225. See below for the basics.
Making a Will in Oregon
Oregon Will Requirements
To make a valid will in Oregon, certain legal requirements must be met. There are requirements for both the person making the will (called a “testator”), and for the will itself.
Any person who is 18 years of age or older or who has been lawfully married or who has been emancipated . . . and who is of sound mind, may make a will. ORS § 112.225.
Regarding the will itself, the standard requirements are set forth in ORS § 112.235.
a will shall be in writing and shall be executed in accordance with the following formalities:
(a) The testator, in the presence of each of the witnesses, shall:
(A) Sign the will;
(B) Direct one of the witnesses or some other person to sign the name of the testator and the signer’s own name on the will; or
(C) Acknowledge the signature previously made on the will by the testator or at the testator’s direction.
(b) At least two witnesses shall each:
(A)(i) See the testator sign the will;
(ii) Hear the testator acknowledge the signature on the will; or
(iii) Hear or observe the testator direct some other person to sign the name of the testator; and
(B) Attest the will by signing the witness’ name to the will within a reasonable time before the testator’s death.
Although there are various exceptions and special rules, these are the standard requirements for Oregon wills.
You should definitely have your will notarized. Under Oregon law, a will that meets certain requirements — including proper notarization — is “self proved”. ORS § 113.055. A self proved will can be admitted to probate court without the testimony of the witnesses to the will. (When a will that isn’t self proved is submitted to the probate court, the court will require testimony from witnesses, or other proof, to establish that the will is what it claims to be.)
How does it work? To make a will self-proved in Oregon, the witnesses must sign a “self proving affidavit” before a notary public. An affidavit is a sworn statement, and a notary public is an officer of the court. Therefore, an affidavit before a notary public is like making a statement in court. So, when an affidavit states that the will was properly executed, it’s as good as in-court testimony, and the witnesses don’t need to show up when it’s time for the will to be admitted to court. ORS § 113.055.
Do I need an attorney to make a will in Oregon?
No. An attorney is not required to make a will in Oregon. For the vast majority of people, an attorney will simply do the same things that a good will-making software does — ask you questions and then create documents for you based on your information and wishes. However, in certain situations it is a good idea seek legal advice from an attorney, like if you have a child with special needs, or if you have a high net worth (around $10 million) and are concerned about federal estate taxes. In these cases, an attorney can help you navigate special questions and create a proper plan.
Oregon law handles old wills in two ways. First, if you have an old will in place, you can cancel it by creating a new one. A good will usually contains a statement that it revokes (cancels) any prior wills. Second, a will can be cancelled simply by physically destroying it. ORS § 112.285.
Under Oregon law, a will must be filed with the court within 30 days after the death of the testator. ORS § 112.810. So, after you pass away, your will should be filed in your local probate court by the person named to be your personal representative (also called an “executor” or “administrator”). This will begin the legal process known as “probate” through which your wishes are carried out under court supervision.