Oregon estate planning
Make a will, living trust & powers of attorney in Oregon
Oregon sets its own rules for who can make a will, how it must be signed and witnessed, whether it needs a notary, and how estates are taxed. Estateur drafts your Oregon will, revocable living trust, and powers of attorney through a guided interview, then validates every document against Oregon law before you ever see it. It is a self-help document-preparation service, not a law firm.
Oregon estate planning at a glance
| Will witnesses required | two witnesses |
|---|---|
| Will must be notarized | No (self-proving affidavit optional) |
| Self-proving affidavit | Available (recommended) |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Not recognized |
| Electronic wills | Not permitted |
| State estate tax | Yes — 2025 exemption $1 million |
| State inheritance tax | None |
| Community property | No (separate / common-law property) |
General information, not legal advice. Figures such as tax exemptions change; confirm current requirements with the Oregon courts or department of revenue.
How to make a valid will in Oregon
A Oregon will must be in writing and signed by you in front of two witnesses. Notarization is not required for the will to be valid, but a self-proving affidavit — which is notarized — makes probate easier by removing the need for your witnesses to testify later. Oregon does not recognize handwritten (holographic) wills — the witness requirement applies regardless.
Spousal protection. Augmented-estate sliding scale 5%–33% by marriage length (ORS 114.605). A will can't fully disinherit a surviving spouse in most states — Estateur's interview flags this for you.
Living trusts & avoiding probate in Oregon
A will still has to pass through Oregon probate — a public, court-supervised process — before your assets reach your heirs. A revocable living trust holds your assets during life and transfers them at death without probate, which is usually faster and stays private. A trust is not right for everyone; it depends on whether you own real estate, the size and complexity of your estate, and your goals.
Estateur's free quiz recommends whether a will-based or trust-based plan fits your Oregon situation, and every trust-based plan includes a pour-over will as a companion document.
Powers of attorney & healthcare directives in Oregon
Estateur builds your financial power of attorney to Oregon's signing rules and includes execution instructions; because requirements vary, have it notarized so banks and title companies will honor it. (ORS ch. 127)
A Oregon healthcare directive can be signed before either two witnesses or a notary. (ORS 127.515)
A complete plan also includes a HIPAA authorization so your healthcare agent can actually get your medical information. Estateur builds each of these to Oregon's signing rules and includes execution instructions.
Oregon estate & inheritance tax
Oregon levies a state estate tax with a 2025 exemption of $1 million — well below the federal exemption, so an estate can owe Oregon tax while owing no federal tax. Oregon has no separate inheritance tax.
Estate-tax exemption amounts are 2025 figures and change annually. Confirm current thresholds with the Oregon department of revenue.
Oregon statutes referenced
- ORS 112.235
- ORS ch. 127
- ORS 127.515
Oregon estate planning: common questions
- Is an online will legal in Oregon?
- Yes. Oregon does not care who typed your will — it cares that the will meets Oregon's execution rules. A will is valid in Oregon when it is in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people (ORS 112.235). Estateur builds each Oregon will to those rules and includes step-by-step signing instructions, so an online will you sign correctly is just as valid as one prepared any other way.
- How many witnesses does a will need in Oregon?
- Oregon requires two witnesses to sign your will. Adding a notarized self-proving affidavit is optional but recommended — it lets the will be admitted to probate without tracking down your witnesses. Oregon does not recognize handwritten (holographic) wills.
- Do I need a lawyer to make a will in Oregon?
- No. Oregon law does not require a lawyer to make a valid will — you can prepare and sign your own. Estateur is a self-help document-preparation service (not a law firm, and no attorney personally reviews each plan) that drafts your Oregon documents against the state's verified rules and validates them before you see them. For complex situations — large or taxable estates, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or business succession — consulting a licensed Oregon attorney is wise.
- Does Oregon have an estate tax or inheritance tax?
- Oregon levies a state estate tax with a 2025 exemption of $1 million — well below the federal exemption, so an estate can owe Oregon tax while owing no federal tax. Oregon has no separate inheritance tax.
- How much does an online will cost in Oregon?
- Estateur uses flat, one-time pricing that is the same in Oregon as in every other state: a single Last Will & Testament is $79, or the full Will Plan (seven documents) is $99, with no subscription required.
Create your Oregon estate plan
Take the free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation, or go straight to the plan you need — built for Oregon, at a flat one-time price.
Estateur is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Information on this page reflects Oregon law in general terms and may change.
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