Estate planning and settlement at iQ Credit Union

iQ Credit Union is a credit union offering 10 accounts that interact with estate planning in different ways. As a membership-based credit union, iQ Credit Union the Locations page states "Visit one of our 17 area branch locations" and lists them across Southwest Washington and the Portland, Oregon metro. Washington: Battle Ground, Camas, 192nd (Camas), Ridgefield, Salmon Creek, Stevenson, Washougal, and six Vancouver branches (Cascade, Downtown, Fishers Landing, Hazel Dell, Sifton, Van Mall). Oregon: Happy Valley, Sherwood, St. Johns (Portland), and Williams (Portland). A separate Lending Center operates at 17800 SE Mill Plain Boulevard, Vancouver. Because branch coverage straddles the state line, the same iQ account can be settled under two different estate regimes: Washington is a community property state with its own small-estate affidavit procedure (RCW 11.62), Oregon is not a community property state and uses its own simple-estate affidavit (ORS 114.505 et seq.). The account agreement does not follow the branch, though: section 30 makes the Agreement governed by Washington law for every member, including the four Oregon branches. Per the Locations page, iQ "is a member of the credit union CO-OP, which offers nearly 30,000 ATMs and 5,000 shared branches nationwide.". Understanding how each account transfers at death—and which ones a trust can hold—helps families avoid probate delays and unintended outcomes.

Beneficiary designations at iQ Credit Union can be managed in branch, by phone, and by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.