Planning Your Estate: Your Pet's Care

Join us Thursday, November 14th for an incredible opportunity to sit down with two knowledgeable Attorney’s from The Reynolds Law Firm, PC as they discuss everything a pet owner should know about planning your estate and pet care in the event of emergency or death. This presentation will allow pet owners to leave feeling knowledgeable, and comforted that their pet can be cared for in the event of tragedy, as well as help them create a plan that works best for them. Topics will include:

– Different ways to approach an estate plan (Wills vs. Trusts)
– Oregon Estate Tax (Kicks in much sooner than most realize!) & how to plan for this
– Customized “Pet Trusts” and other techniques relevant to pets and horses.
Dinner will be provided.

Learn about our presenters:
Justin Wirth, Attorney at Law: Justin brings a holistic approach to representing his clients, finding that many have legal needs in a variety of interrelated areas involving the care of their families (including children, aging loved ones, or both), businesses, and real estate holdings. His areas of practice include estate planning, charitable planning, probate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, business law, real estate, construction law, and non-profit law. While Justin believes firmly that proper planning and proactive advice can prevent many problems, he also litigates in the above areas when the need arises.
Before joining The Reynolds Law Firm, Justin served as an Honors Attorney and an Assistant Attorney General with the Oregon Department of Justice, working in the Natural Resources Division, primarily representing the Oregon Water Resources Department. He also worked in the Government Law practice group at the firm of Harrang, Long, Gary, Rudnick, representing local governments (mostly cities). Immediately before joining The Reynolds Law Firm, he practiced at another Corvallis firm for several years in areas of practice like those in which he now works.
Before law school, Justin worked as a litigation paralegal at a large insurance defense firm in Los Angeles, California. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Benton Community Foundation, as well as on its Scholarship Committee. He is a past board member and past board president of the Heartland Humane Society, served on the board of the Zonta Service Club of Corvallis Foundation, and was previously a member of the board of Financial Stewardship Resources (now known as the Center for Non-profit Stewardship).
Justin received his law degree from the University of Oregon in 2000, where he also earned a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law and the Pro Bono Certificate. He also holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a paralegal certificate from the University of West Los Angeles.
Justin has lived in Corvallis since 1999 and has practiced law here since 2006. He enjoys spending time with his family as well as woodworking, home improvement projects, mountain/gravel biking, skiing, hiking, and backpacking.
Karen Porter, Attorney at Law: Karen’s practice encompasses estate planning, probate, trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and business succession planning.
​
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University in Agriculture and Resource Economics and her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School. She had a solo private practice for many years focused on estate planning, agricultural law, small business formation, and business succession planning. She closed her practice in 2020 to provide legal and admin services to a rapidly growing farm development and management company for three years. She then spent a short amount of time as a finance manager for a nonprofit before joining the estate planning group at The Reynolds Law Firm at the beginning of 2024.
​
Karen enjoys working with clients from all backgrounds and has significant experience in rural Oregon assisting landowners, land managers, farmers, and natural resource businesses. Her goal is to thoroughly communicate with her clients so that they understand their options and the documents that will carry out their vision.
​
She owns a farm with her husband that produces hazelnuts and pastures beef, as well as houses her horses. When she’s not working, she likes to hike, horseback ride, travel, cook, read, and crochet.