Portland, OR asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Oregon

Q: I have a simple will and have named an executor. How do I make sure small household items go to specific people?

I was told that some states require you to itemize even small things in the actual will, otherwise they will all be sold & money distributed. Some things are sentimental rather than valuable. In Oregon, is it sufficient to just provide the executor with a list of items & who they should go to? I can't imagine rewriting my will every time I buy something small that a family member might like to inherit later.

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: You don't have to rewrite your will every time, but you do need to write it once to refer to a personal property memorandum that you can then add to or change at any time and from time to time. Here is the statute:

https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/112.260

Theressa Hollis agrees with this answer

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.