Hillsboro Law Group is a full-service Washington County firm serving Oregon clients since 1973. Estate planning, probate, and trust administration are core practice areas, handled by a multi-attorney team alongside business, real estate, and family law.
Estate Planning for Washington County, Oregon Property Owners
For most Washington County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.
For a Washington County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Circuit Court. The two tools that keep a Washington County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Clerk, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Washington County property passes through the Circuit Court — even simple Oregon probates run 4+ months and start with $278 in filing fees.
Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Washington County
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Washington County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Clerk during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, an Oregon transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentORS 93.948 to 93.979Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathORS 93.948 to 93.979Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Where to Record Property Documents
Deeds and other real property documents for Washington County are recorded with the County Clerk at 155 North First Avenue, Suite 130, Hillsboro, OR 97124. Phone: 1-503-846-8752. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.
The County Clerk charges $86 for the first page plus $5 for each additional page. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Washington County comes to $91. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.
Washington County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Washington County · Department of Assessment & Taxation, Recording Division
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
155 North First Avenue, Suite 130, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Website
E-recording
available via Simplifile
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $86 |
| Each additional page | $5 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
ORS 205.320(1)(d)(A); ORS 205.323(1)
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Washington County
Kirkendall Law, LLC is the Tigard solo practice of attorney Valerie Ingram Kirkendall, who holds a certificate of mastery in Taxation and has over 20 years of Oregon practice. The firm focuses on estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships.
The Law Office of Wendell L. Belknap is a solo practice in downtown Oregon City handling probate, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, alongside real estate, family law, and personal injury matters for Clackamas County clients.
Caress Law offers a full suite of probate and trust administration services, including trust and estate administration, asset distribution, and tax returns for Portland area clients.
Gevurtz Menashe has been at the forefront of estate planning in the Pacific Northwest for more than four decades, counseling countless clients to ensure their affairs are in order. The firm serves clients in Portland and Vancouver.
Myatt & Bell, P.C. has an estate planning legacy dating back to 1960 and has drafted thousands of wills and trusts. The firm practices estate planning, probate, trust administration, and elder law with offices in the Portland metro area and Vancouver, Washington.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(2)·
Data sourced from Oregon statutes and official state code. How we research.
Forms for Planning Your Estate in Oregon
Free forms for planning your estate in Oregon: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Oregon.
Free
Last Will and Testament
In Oregon, a will is signed before 2ORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavitORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Get Started
Free
Codicil to a Will
In Oregon, a codicil is signed before 2ORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, like a will.
Get Started
Free
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Oregon allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2ORS 127.527 (HCR appointment), ORS 127.529 (comprehensive advance directive; form text set by 2021 c.328 §2 / SB 199 2021)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
Get Started
Free
HIPAA Release
In Oregon, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and genetic informationOr. Rev. Stat. § 433.045(4)(a); Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 192.535, 192.539 (Oregon Genetic Privacy Act)Verified Jun 20, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.
Get Started
Free
Financial Power of Attorney
Oregon treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultORS 127.002 (defs; 2023 c.9 §8); ORS 127.005–127.045 (2009 c.46; 2018 c.36; 2021 c.272); ORS 93.670Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementORS 127.002 (defs; 2023 c.9 §8); ORS 127.005–127.045 (2009 c.46; 2018 c.36; 2021 c.272); ORS 93.670Verified Sep 20, 2026View source.
Get Started
Free
Transfer on Death Deed
In Oregon, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryORS 93.948 to 93.979Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathORS 93.948 to 93.979Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. Oregon does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
Get Started
Free
Pour-Over Will
In Oregon, a pour-over will is signed before 2ORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
Get Started
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Oregon
Free tools for planning your estate in Oregon: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Oregon and read its answer.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
In Oregon, a will is signed before 2ORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Check the Rules
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Oregon recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedORS 112.255Verified Oct 19, 2026View source; a will signed in Oregon itself needs 2ORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Get the Answer
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
In Oregon, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 2%Modeled estimate under ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%Modeled estimate under ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Calculate Costs
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Oregon runs $3,550Estimate: 10 hours at $355, Clio's Oregon Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,325Estimate: 15 hours at $355, Clio's Oregon Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Calculate Costs
How Much Does a Will Cost?
An attorney-prepared will in Oregon runs $1,071Estimate: 3 hours at $357, Clio's Oregon Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,142Estimate: 6 hours at $357, Clio's Oregon Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $24,214ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
Calculate Costs
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
Compare Options
How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?
In Oregon, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will or a separate signed writingORS 125.060(2)(g), 125.200, 125.305Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18ORS 109.621 (formerly 109.510)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
See the Steps
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Probate in Oregon takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 2%Modeled estimate under ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%Modeled estimate under ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Get the Answer
Oregon Estate Planning Articles
Estate planning articles for Oregon.
