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Mature couple reviewing their estate planning documents.

Estate Planning

Legacy Planning Made Simple

What is estate planning?

Estate planning is the process of organizing your assets, legal documents, and healthcare wishes so your loved ones are protected and your decisions are honored, both during your life and after.

Through our Legacy Planning benefit, we connect members with our trusted partner, E.L. Law Firm, for a streamlined, affordable, and accessible way to build a plan. It is part of our commitment to your financial wellness at every stage of life.

Who needs estate planning?

Estate planning matters at any age and income level, not only in retirement. It is worth doing if you:

  • Own a home, savings, or a retirement account
  • Have children or other dependents
  • Want to help your family avoid probate delays and costs
  • Want a say in your healthcare and financial decisions if you cannot make them yourself

Without a plan, state law decides how your assets are distributed, and your loved ones may face added delays, costs, and stress.

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Get Started

What's included in your estate plan?

Document What It Does Why It Matters
Revocable Living Trust
 Holds and transfers your assets Helps your estate avoid probate
Pour-Over Will
 Directs remaining assets into your trust and can name guardians Acts as a safety net for anything not in the trust
Durable Power of Attorney
 Names who manages your finances Keeps your affairs handled if you cannot manage them
Certificate of Trust
 Confirms your trust exists and its authority Lets you verify the trust without sharing the full document
Advance Directive & HIPAA Authorization
 Records your medical wishes and privacy permissions Protects your care decisions

Have more complex needs?

If your situation calls for more advanced planning, ask E.L. Law Firm what options are available during your complimentary consultation. They can walk you through what fits your family and financial goals.

In addition to foundational estate planning, E.L. Law Firm provides enhanced estate planning services for those with more complex needs. These services include:

  • Family Protection Trusts – Preserve wealth across generations while maintaining asset protection.
  • IRA Trusts – Ensure tax-efficient inheritance of retirement accounts.
  • Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) – Maximize life insurance benefits while minimizing estate taxes.
  • Beneficiary Defective Inheritor’s Trusts (BDITs) – Powerful wealth preservation and asset protection strategies.

Other Legal Services Beyond Estate Planning

E.L. Law Firm also provides a range of business and probate services to meet your legal needs:

  • LLC Formation & Operating Agreements – Set up and structure your business with legal protections in place.
  • Probate Services – Guidance and legal support for handling estates after a loved one passes.

How It Works

  • 1

    Schedule Your Consultation

    Start by booking a consultation with E.L. Law Firm. Meetings can be held virtually or in person—whatever works best for you!

    Get Started Here
  • 2

    Complete the Estate Planning Worksheet

    This worksheet will help outline your preferences and is a great starting point for the planning process. You don’t need to have everything figured out—E.L. Law Firm will guide you through it.

  • 3

    Review and Customize Your Plan

    Work with E.L. Law Firm to tailor your estate plan based on your family’s needs.

  • 4

    Finalize & Sign Your Documents

    Once your documents are ready, you’ll finalize them in a smooth, efficient process—including the option for a Notarization Party to celebrate this important step in securing your future.

Estate Planning FAQs

  • Estate planning is the process of deciding how your assets, finances, and medical decisions are handled during your life and after your death, so your wishes are followed and your family is protected.

  • Rivermark does not provide legal services directly. Through our Legacy Planning benefit, we give members access to estate planning through our partner, E.L. Law Firm, an independent law firm that provides all legal advice and documents.

  • Many people benefit from both. A will directs your wishes and can name guardians for children, while a living trust can help your family avoid probate. E.L. Law Firm will help you decide what fits your situation.

  • E.L. Law Firm uses flat-fee pricing, so you know your costs upfront with no surprises. As a Rivermark member, you can start with a complimentary consultation.

  • The Legacy Planning benefit is available to Rivermark members. E.L. Law Firm is licensed to serve clients in Oregon, Washington, and California.

Get Started

Take advantage of your Legacy Planning benefit. Complete the form to request a complimentary estate planning consultation with E.L. Law Firm.

Rivermark Community Credit Union (Rivermark) is a promoter of E.L. Law Firm under a Financial Institution Services Agreement, through which E.L. Law Firm collects and processes fees for legal services provided to Rivermark member-clients. This financial agreement creates a potential conflict of interest, as Rivermark has an incentive to recommend E.L. Law Firm over other providers. However, you are under no obligation to retain E.L. Law Firm and will not incur additional costs for being referred. Rivermark may promote E.L. Law Firm's services, but both are independent entities with no shared ownership. E.L. Law Firm maintains sole discretion over legal services, and all fees are handled per the Financial Institution Services Agreement and Oregon State Bar trust account rules.