ESTATE ADMINISTRATION & PROBATE
From Complexity to Clarity.
Administering a loved one's estate is hard enough without the legal process adding to the weight.
At Bliss & Boge, our job is to carry that complexity so you can focus on what matters: your family, and your grief.
What Estate Administration and Probate Actually Involves
When someone dies, their estate doesn't settle itself. Depending on how their affairs were structured, their assets may need to pass through probate, which is a court-supervised process that validates their wishes, pays outstanding debts, and transfers property to the people they named. Even when an estate seems simple, the process involves deadlines, court filings, and legal responsibilities that arrive quickly, often with little guidance and no warning.
We help you understand what's required, what can wait, and how to move forward in a way that is both legally sound and emotionally sustainable.
Who We Work With
We work with executors and personal representatives who have been named in a will and need guidance on what that role actually requires. We help family members who have been appointed by a court when someone died without a will. We advise beneficiaries who want to understand their rights and what they should expect. And we support anyone stepping into a fiduciary role for the first time, which is most people, because this isn't something most of us have done before.
You don't need to have all the answers before you reach out. You just need to know you need help.
A Note for Non-Traditional Families
For LGBTQIA+ individuals, polyamorous families, and families of choice, estate administration can carry an extra layer of difficulty, especially if a loved one died without the right documents in place. When legal protections weren't established during someone's lifetime, chosen family members may have limited standing, and biological relatives who were estranged or uninvolved can sometimes step in by default under state law.
If you're in this situation, you are not alone, and it is not too late to get clarity. We understand these dynamics and will help you navigate them with honesty about what's possible.
Our Estate Administration Services
Opening the Estate
We handle the initial court filings, open the estate, and make sure required notices are properly given so the process starts correctly and on time.
Guidance for Personal Representatives
Serving as a personal representative, sometimes called an executor, is a legal role with real responsibilities. We walk you through your duties, help you avoid common missteps, and keep you in compliance with Oregon and Washington law throughout the process.
Asset Identification and Management
Locating and securing a loved one's assets, financial accounts, property, business interests, digital assets, and more takes time and organization. We help you approach this methodically, and we know what to look for.
Creditor Claims and Debt Resolution
Creditors have rights in the probate process, but so does the estate. We guide you through evaluating claims, responding appropriately, and paying valid debts in the correct order under state law.
Distribution of Assets
Once the estate's obligations are met, we assist with distributing assets to beneficiaries according to the will — or, if there was no will, according to Oregon or Washington's laws of intestate succession. We make sure the right people receive what they're entitled to, documented correctly.
Trust Administration
If your loved one had a trust, administration happens largely outside of probate, but it still involves legal duties, timelines, and beneficiary communications that require careful attention. We guide trustees through each step.
Closing the Estate
We prepare the final accountings, court filings, and documentation needed to close the estate properly, so you can move forward knowing everything was handled correctly.
A Practice Built Around You
At Bliss & Boge, we do things a little differently. On purpose.
We work with families navigating complex care needs, creatives building something they love, entrepreneurs turning ideas into reality, and people whose lives and relationships don't fit the standard legal template. LGBTQIA+ individuals, polyamorous families, families of choice, neurodivergent clients, people with learning differences — you belong here, and you don't need to translate yourself for us.
We believe that good legal work starts with actually hearing you. That means we take the time to understand not just your goals, but how you think, how you communicate, and what would make this process feel manageable. Some clients prefer to talk things through by phone rather than wade through dense written materials. Others want everything in writing so they can review it at their own pace. Some need extra time to process; others want to move quickly. We follow your lead, just tell us what works for you.
We're also committed to pricing transparency. Before any work begins, we'll align with you on scope, cost, and expectations. No surprises. No fine print that benefits us at your expense.
You deserve legal counsel that sees you, not just your legal matter.
Serving Oregon and Washington
Bliss & Boge serves clients throughout Oregon and Washington. Whether you're protecting your family's future, honoring a loved one's legacy, or building a business that reflects who you are, we offer legal support that centers both your needs and your humanity.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact Bliss & Boge to schedule a consultation. We'll start with a conversation, one that moves at your pace, respects how you communicate, and leaves you feeling clear and confident about the path ahead.