Personal Representative Guidance · Portland Metro
Named executor of an Oregon estate? You don’t have to do this alone.
In Oregon the role is called personal representative. Most of our clients in it have never hired an attorney before. Hedlind Law walks you through every responsibility, deadline, and decision — in plain language.
- Filings, notices, claims & distribution — handled
- Filings prepared for your county’s Circuit Court
- Free 15-minute consultation, no pressure
Talk to an estate attorney
Tell us a little about your situation. We’ll follow up promptly.
Two ways this starts
With a will, or without one — the path differs
Either way, Oregon calls the role personal representative. What changes is how you get appointed and who inherits. We handle both.
You’ve been nominated in the will
A will nominates you, but it does not appoint you. The Circuit Court does that, and until it issues Letters you have no authority to act on the estate’s behalf.
- Filing the will and petition with the Circuit Court
- Being appointed and receiving Letters Testamentary
- Sending Information to Heirs and Devisees
- Distributing property as the will directs
You may petition to serve
Without a will, Oregon law sets both who has priority to serve as personal representative and who inherits. We help you petition and administer the estate correctly.
- Petitioning for Letters of Administration
- Confirming who inherits under Oregon law
- Identifying and securing estate assets
- Paying valid claims before any distribution
Same steady guidance, whichever situation you’re in.
Why it’s a lot to carry
Personal representative is a real job — with real responsibility
We explain your duties
Understand exactly what Oregon expects of you, step by step, so you always know what comes next and why it matters.
Calm, steady support
A patient guide through an unfamiliar and often stressful process. You work directly with Bryan Hedlind at every stage.
We handle the red tape
Petitions, notices, inventory, and accountings prepared and filed on time — so you can focus on your family.
What we handle
Your responsibilities, start to finish
A personal representative gathers assets, pays valid claims, files court documents, and distributes property. Here’s how we help with each.
Petition & appointment
Filing the will and petition with the Circuit Court and obtaining the Letters that give you authority to act.
Notice to heirs & creditors
Sending Information to Heirs and Devisees, publishing notice, and giving direct notice to known creditors.
Inventory & managing assets
Locating, securing, and valuing estate property and reporting it to the court on the inventory.
Accounting, distribution & closing
Preparing the final accounting, distributing property, and closing the estate once obligations are met.
Not sure what your first step should be? A short, no-pressure conversation can make it clear.
Schedule your free consultationWhy personal representatives choose Hedlind Law
Patient, plain-spoken, and ready for your questions
We expect that most of our clients in this role have never done it before — and we’re ready for it. You’ll get straight answers and steady guidance, one-on-one, from start to finish.
- Built for first-timersWe expect your questions and take the time to answer every one.
- Direct attorney accessWork with Bryan Hedlind by phone, email, or virtual meeting.
- Local to the Portland metroFilings prepared for the Circuit Court in your county.
- No jargon, no pressureClear explanations during a difficult time, at your pace.
What working with us looks like
We take the time to explain every form, every deadline, and every decision — so you’re never left wondering if you’re doing it right.
You’ll leave your first conversation with a clearer picture of the role and exactly what comes next.
Common questions
Oregon uses personal representative for both situations. If a will nominates you, the court appoints you and issues Letters Testamentary. If there is no will, the court appoints a personal representative and issues Letters of Administration. Executor and administrator are the terms many other states use for the same job.
You gather the person's assets, notify heirs and creditors, report an inventory to the court, pay valid claims and expenses in the right order, and distribute what remains - all under Circuit Court supervision. We walk you through each responsibility so nothing gets missed.
You are not required to have one, but most first-time personal representatives find the filings, notices, and deadlines far easier to handle with guidance. We can take on the paperwork and explain each step so you can serve with confidence.
Several run from the date of appointment. Information to Heirs and Devisees generally goes out within 30 days, and the inventory of estate assets is generally due within 60 days. Notice to interested persons is published, and creditors then have four months from first publication to present claims. We track these with you.
A personal representative owes duties to the estate and its beneficiaries, and mistakes can create personal exposure. Understanding those duties and following the process correctly is how you protect yourself - and that is exactly where we help.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation
Confidential. No obligation. We’ll help you understand the role and your next steps.
Get guidance with confidence
Understand what it means — before you take another step
If you’ve been named in a will or are considering petitioning to serve, the first step is understanding what that actually means in Oregon. We’ll listen, explain your responsibilities clearly, and outline exactly what we can handle for you.
- A free, no-pressure consultation
- Your duties explained in plain language
- Serving families across the Portland metro
Attorney advertising. This page is advertising material. It is provided for general information only and is not legal advice.
Viewing this page, submitting the form, or calling does not create an attorney-client relationship. That relationship is formed only by a written agreement signed by both you and the firm.
Every estate is different. Descriptions of Oregon probate procedure on this page are general and may not apply to your situation. Do not act or delay acting on the basis of this page without speaking with an attorney about your circumstances.
Attorney responsible for the content of this advertisement: Bryan Hedlind, Hedlind Law, PLLC, 12725 SW Millikan Way, Suite 300, Beaverton, OR 97005. Bryan Hedlind is admitted to practice law in Oregon.