James D McVittie

James D McVittie

also known as Legacy Preservation Law

5.0
Rating: 8.0

Licensed for 37 years

Estate planning Lawyer at Portland, OR
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Living Wills ... +2 more

4915 NE 42nd Ave., Portland, OR

About James

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 60%

Estate planning includes Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills / Health Care Directives.

26 years | 2,160 cases

60%
Probate 15%

Probate cases comprise only about 15% of our business because we encourage clients to plan in a way that avoids probate.

26 years | 255 cases

15%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 37 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 1988

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Oregon for 37 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 1988

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Legacy Preservation Law

4915 NE 42nd Ave., Portland, OR, 97218-1501

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James D McVittie's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

9 Client Reviews

5 star (9)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by anonymous | March 3, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Knowledgeable and patient.

Extremely knowledgeable and patient. His staff is thorough, efficient and pleasant to work with. We are very satisfied with the plan that we developed with Jim.

Posted by Jim | November 21, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Highly Recommend

We’ve been working with James for over eight years now regarding our Trusts. He and his team are always professional, kind, accurate and efficient. We’ve been very pleased with all that his team has done in order to provide a sense of relief that all our paperwork (and there’s a lot) are accurate,... up to date and complete.

Posted by Lynn | October 23, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

The world is a better place because of James McVittie.

I love this law practice. I met Jim McVittie 14 years ago, and am grateful that he is younger than me, so that he Is likely to continue to be my estate lawyer until I cross the threshold! I highly recommend him and his staff.

Posted by Jim | August 8, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Recently updated my Trust & Will

Recently updated my Trust and Will I no longer live in Oregon. All chanhed were done on line. I had some apprehension at first But the firm staff and attorney made the process easy, prompt and when finished, I was happy and satisfied with the finished document.

Posted by Arthur | July 31, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Wills

Jim and his team have been our attorneys for 7 years. They created wills and trusts for my husband and myself. They handled all aspects of this service with great professionalism. We appreciate their care and advice.

See All Client Reviews

James D McVittie's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse James
Jon S. McCarty headshot
Jon McCarty

Estate planning lawyer | May 11

Relationship: Other

"Jim is without a doubt a very compassionate and caring attorney. I've had the privilege of working with him in a professional setting as a fellow attorney on several occasions over the last two years. He is thoughtful, well versed in the law, and adept at working with clients to establish an estate plan based on their particularized needs. I recommend Jim without hesitation for all of your estate planning, probate and elder law needs."

Lora Michele-Foley Howard headshot
Lora Howard

Estate planning lawyer | May 26

Relationship: Other

"Jim is a knowledgeable and talented attorney. His personality puts people at ease and helps them feel comfortable talking about difficult issues. Jim takes the time to understand his client’s needs and carefully crafts estate plans to ensure their goals are accomplished."

Thomas Michael Fafinski headshot
Thomas Fafinski

Estate planning lawyer | Nov 22

Relationship: Other

"I am so completely and thoroughly impressed with James and his command of the alternatives available to estate planning. I have spent days with him learning and collaborating and am excited by the prospect of working with him. He really understands this niche backwards and forwards."

Jonathan A Millet headshot
Jonathan Millet

Probate lawyer | Jul 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney McVittie's advice is spot on; as shown by the answers he has posted to questions on estate planning and probate law, he takes the time to answer questions in a common sense manner and plainly addresses legal issues."

Terri Hilliard Olson headshot
Terri Hilliard Olson

Estate planning lawyer | Nov 11

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Sara K Yen headshot
Sara Yen

Unknown lawyer | Jan 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jim is one of the most thoughtful estate planners I know. I have referred him clients in the past with full confidence knowing he would put together a great plan for them, and take great care of them on a personal basis. He is always responsive to questions from newer attorneys and is very generous with his time and expertise."

Holly Anne Gibbons headshot
Holly Gibbons

Estate planning lawyer | Oct 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jim makes everyone feel comfortable! He is also an excellent attorney, who has the unique ability to convey complex ideas in way that everyone understands. I recommend Jim to anyone who has estate planning or administration needs."

Beth S Wolfsong headshot
Beth Wolfsong

Estate planning lawyer | Jul 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Jim McVittie is an exceptional attorney and wonderful human being. His expertise and compassion combine to make him one of the best lawyers in the field. Jim is also incredibly generous with his time and talent, mentoring newer / younger lawyers, and helping them to be the best that they can be. I strongly recommend Jim to anyone in need of an estate planning or probate attorney."

Eden Rose Brown headshot
Eden Brown

Estate planning lawyer | Jun 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jim is an outstanding estate planning attorney whom I have known and worked with for over 10 years. He is a creative problem solver and cares deeply for his clients' well-being. He is generous in his assistance and mentorship to other estate planning lawyers and has made great contributions to the estate planning field. Jim is also a life-long learner who constantly strives to stay at the top of his field. I endorse him wholeheartedly and would send my own family to him for planning - I trust him that much."

View All Endorsements
Joseph Q Kaufman headshot
Joseph Kaufman

Business lawyer

Linda Kelliher Fisher headshot
Linda Fisher

Estate planning lawyer

Oleg Feldman headshot
Oleg Feldman

Estate planning lawyer

Bernard John Toussaint headshot
Bernard Toussaint

Estate planning lawyer

Nathan Wayne Nelson headshot
Nathan Nelson

Estate planning lawyer

Thomas Michael Fafinski headshot
Thomas Fafinski

Estate planning lawyer

Richard Coryell Dayton headshot
Richard Dayton

Estate planning lawyer

Thomas M. Flannagan headshot
Thomas Flannagan

Estate planning lawyer

Lora Michele-Foley Howard headshot
Lora Howard

Estate planning lawyer

David B. Spangler headshot
David Spangler

Trusts lawyer

Jon S. McCarty headshot
Jon McCarty

Trusts lawyer

Keith R. Tokerud headshot
Keith Tokerud

Estate planning lawyer

Sara K Yen headshot
Sara Yen

Estate planning lawyer

Jennifer D Potter headshot
Jennifer Potter

Estate planning lawyer

Kenneth L Walhood headshot
Kenneth Walhood

Personal injury lawyer

Holly Anne Gibbons headshot
Holly Gibbons

Estate planning lawyer

Eden Rose Brown headshot
Eden Brown

Estate planning lawyer

Beth S Wolfsong headshot
Beth Wolfsong

Estate planning lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.0 (Excellent)

Honors

2014

2014 Five Star Estate Planning Attorney, Five Star Professional

2013

2013 Five Star Wealth Manager, Five Star Professionals

2013

Distinguished 4.2 out of 5.0, Martindale-Hubbell

2012

2012 Five Star Wealth Manager, Five Star Professionals

2011

2011 Five Star Wealth Manager, Five Star Professionals

Work Experience

2000 - Present

Owner, Legacy Preservation Law

Associations

2002 - Present

Portland Area Business Association/ Oregon Pride in Business

Member

2000 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Estate Planning and Administration Section

Member

1988 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

1988 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Member

1988 - Present

Multnomah County Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

A lesson in the importance of planning

Formal Probate and most likely a suit to Quiet Title

See More Legal Cases

Education

1987

Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College

JD - Juris Doctor

1984

Washington State University

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2018

Estate Planning 101

Estate Planning

2017

Estate Planning 101

Estate Planning

2012

7 Threats to Your Family Security

Estate Planning

2010

6 Oregon Lawyers Speak Out

Estate Planning Issues for Same-Sex Couples

Languages

English

Activity

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