Law Offices of Geoff Bernhardt & Julie Nimnicht

08/03/2020

Have you endeavored to learn something new lately, just for the fun of it?

Older adults are taking advantage of their extra time during coronavirus restrictions to learn to play a musical instrument through online lessons.

05/15/2020

ESTATE PLANNING AS A RESPONSIBILITY

by Geoff Bernhardt

In the book The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, there is a wonderful scene where the Little Prince, who is a visitor from another planet, meets a Fox. Fox begs the Prince to tame him, and explains that "to tame" means "to establish ties." Fox explains how to tame him: "you must be very patient, come every day, sit a little distance from me, and say nothing. Gradually, I shall feel happier and happier as the hour of your coming approaches."

So the Prince tames Fox. The hour of the Prince's departure arrived, and Fox wept. Fox told the Prince "Men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."

This little story caused me to think about what I have tamed, and been tamed by, in this life. People and companion animals immediately came to mind. I also thought about causes and charitable organizations to which I have devoted my energy. To the extent Fox is right, and "to tame" means "to establish ties," I have also tamed and been tamed by these causes.

How can we be responsible, forever, for what we have tamed? We can devote time, energy, and money during our lifetime. But what about after we are gone? This is where estate planning comes in. By signing a will or trust, we can provide for those people, pets, causes, and organizations to which we have established ties during our lifetime.

So, if you don't have a will or trust, see an experienced estate planning or elder law attorney. If you do, read it and make sure it is up-to-date. If the will or trust is more than seven years old, see your lawyer to review it for changes in the law and the value of your assets. It's the way to be responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

04/30/2020

What is the difference between a will and a living trust?

This two-minute read will explain. While you are visiting our website, be sure to check out our other articles on estate planning and elder law issues.

Providing counsel and legal services for Seniors and their families. Over 25 years of competent, compassionate elder law experience. Senior citizens and their families face many challenges. One of the most difficult: the legal consequences of aging. The issues can be confusing and overwhelming. Esta...

04/14/2020

If you are having trouble finding Julie's livestream, click on the "Videos" link on the navigation bar (left side of screen, if you're viewing on a computer). You can rewind to start from the beginning, and the presentation will continue to be available after the event has ended. If you have questions, leave a comment! Thanks for joining us!

04/07/2020

We are here for you. -

Although our physical doors are temporarily closed due to the coronavirus, we are still working our regular business hours to meet the needs of our clients. Geoff and Julie continue to hold consultations via telephone and video conference, and they have established a plan to help their clients...

04/02/2020

Right now is a good time to get planning documents in place – or review your existing documents to make sure they reflect your current situation and wishes.

Give us a call or send us an email at [email protected] if you have questions or would like to schedule a telephone or video consultation with Geoff or Julie.

Please stay safe!

If you are quarantined or under a lockdown and can't get to a notary, how can you get your will, trust and other documents executed? Don't give up. There are ways to get it done without leaving home.

03/30/2020

We all know that exercise is good for you, but this recent study found that exercise -- specifically strength training or resistance exercise -- has significant positive outcomes for people at high risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Now is the perfect time to start a new exercise habit: grab a couple of cans of beans and that bag of rice in your pantry and push, pull, and lift!

Stay safe, everyone!

For the first time, an intervention - lifting weights - has been able to slow and even halt degeneration, over a long period, in brain areas particularly vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.

03/24/2020

Though our physical doors are temporarily closed due to the coronavirus, we are still open regular hours, working to meet the needs of new and established clients. Give us a call, send us a message, or email us to schedule a remote meeting; we can help you achieve a little more peace of mind during this uncertain time.

503.548.4000
[email protected]
www.elderlawpdx.com

03/17/2020

In this challenging and uncertain time, we are still here for you.

The Law Offices of Geoff Bernhardt & Julie Nimnicht is still open and working hard to serve our clients. We take your health seriously and are following CDC Guidelines for keeping a sanitized workspace, limiting in-person interaction, and implementing social distancing. As of now, we are continuing to hold some of our client meetings in our office, but we are also offering remote appointments via conference call to existing clients as well as to new clients.

Be well, and let us know if we can help you.

Many thanks, Geoff, Julie, Tonya, Sean, Juliana, Becky, and Tara