Christopher David Hamilton

Elder law Attorney at Keizer, OR

About
Contact
Reviews
Cost
Resume

Dispute with Portland Public Schools

I am a transactional attorney who generally believes that reasonable people can always find a path to resolving their differences. At least I believed that until I had to deal with Portland Public Schools regarding my son receiving the services he needed and which PPS is obligated to provide. Faced with an early morning meeting with PPS, we called Wiscarson Law. Our call was returned promptly and Christopher offered to meet with us that evening and join us at our meeting the next day. Christopher listened to our situation and our goals for our son. He explained our rights and the practicalities of dealing with PPS and the individuals involved. He then took charge, contacting PPS's counsel to notify them that he would be attending our meeting in the morning and arranging to meet in advance with the administrator who that had been an absolute impediment to any workable solution. When we arrived Christopher informed us that PPS had agreed to the resolution we desired. This was, to say the least, an enormous relief. Following this, Christopher kept in regular contact with us, and helped ensure that any needed follow up was taken care of effectively and efficiently. As an attorney, I can honestly say that Christopher is a credit to the profession and I would recommend him whole heartedly. My only regret is that we didn't engage him or Diane Wiscarson much sooner. Our experience with PPS would undoubtedly have been much more productive or at least less stressful.

Guardianship not a painful process

Mr. Hamilton did an excellent job assisting me through the guardianship process. He was timely, honest and, compassionate. If Christopher was unsure about a specific questions, he was not afraid to research the answer and quickly respond. This is the mark of a professional. Guardianship process was smooth, and Christopher answered all my questions to my satisfaction. I highly recommend Christopher, and have to my friends who are approaching this unsettling time with their soon-to-be adult children with a disability.

About Christopher

Learn Christopher’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Elder law

20%

Most of us want to avoid the thought of dying or losing capacity. So, we put off planning for those events until too late. Without pre-planning, loved ones can be forced to make tough decisions while grieving or important decisions can end up made by strangers. I provide compassionate assistance to make a plan so your wishes can be carried out, giving peace to you and loved ones. If a loved one has lost capacity or died, I can also help you implement their plan or make the best of having none.
... Read more
11 years
Estate planning

20%

Estate planning is about 2 things, maintaining control of your life and protecting the ones you love. I will help you understand your options and setup a will, trust, power of attorney, and/or advance directive for health care that meets your needs.
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11 years
Probate

20%

When an individual passes away, the process transferring their assets to their loved ones can be confusing. I will help you look over whatever plans your loved one made and guide you through court and other processes to transfer their assets.
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11 years
Guardianship

15%

I assist you throughout all phases of establishing or maintaining a guardianship, conservatorship, or temporary fiduciary. At a free consultation, we will discuss the extent to which your loved one is unable to independently manage their personal or financial matters, decide which kind of fiduciary best fits their needs, and I will then file the necessary paperwork to get a fiduciary appointed. To provide predictability, I charge a flat rate of $1,500 for uncontested non-emergency guardianships.
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11 years
Trusts

10%

Trusts are a versatile tool for managing your assets during your lifetime, protecting some resources and access to some government benefits, and distributing your assets without the need for a court supervised probate when you pass away.
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11 years
Wills and living wills

10%

A will is a plan for how to distribute your assets when you pass away that will guide your loved ones through the court probate process. A living will is part of an Oregon medical directive that expresses your wishes regarding end of life care.
... Read more
11 years
Power of attorney

5%

A power of attorney is a contract giving someone you trust authority to access and manage your finances for you. Among other things, it can allow your agent to pay your bills, sign real estate contracts, and deal with US and foreign governments.
... Read more
11 years

I know how easy it is to hear about wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, etc and think "That's boring, I can't get excited about that." and then never get to it. So, I invite you to join me in leaning into that, don't get excited about the paperwork. Instead, let's get excited about providing tools and support to the people you love, staying the loudest voice in your own care and financial decisions even after you stop being able to understand or communicate, and leaving the mark you mean to on the world and your corner of it.

I grew up in Tualatin with a giant family, one biological brother and numerous informally adopted siblings, aunts, uncles, etc. I earned a BS at Western Oregon University and both a law degree and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution right here at Willamette University College of Law. If the academics matter to you, I was named outstanding Male Graduate of the class of 2009 at WOU and was ranked 8th in the class of 2012 at WUCL.

I'm looking to help others who, like so many of my informal siblings, have problematic biological or marital families and need to make sure the family that they've chosen (and who have chosen them back) are the ones that doctors and other professionals look to in case of incapacity and are the ones who receive the benefits of their estate in the end.

I'm also looking to work with families who are establishing a business, an investment property, or some other piece of wealth they can pass to their kids, breaking a cycle of generational poverty. I can help these families understand how to protect that new wealth in the present and build an estate plan to transfer it to the right people after death.

I balance my work time with time spent dancing (swing and fusion), consuming just about any form of sci-fi and fantasy (reading, watching, gaming), skiing, and connecting with the people I love.

Specialties: Guardianship, Conservatorship, Elder Law, Probate, Medicaid, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Advance Directives, Powers of Attorney.

Licensed for 10 years

State OR

Status Active

Acquired 2012

Updated 02/11/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Christopher

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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

2 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Posted by Alan | September 8, 2013

Dispute with Portland Public Schools

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Posted by Tracy | November 29, 2012

Guardianship not a painful process

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 8.8 (Excellent)

Work Experience

Partner
McGinty Belcher & Hamilton, Attorneys, PC
2018 - Present

Attorney
McGinty & Belcher, Attorneys, P.C.
2017 - 2018

Partner
Hanson & Walgenkim, LLC
2015 - 2017

Owner/Attorney
Christopher D. Hamilton, PC
2014 - 2015

Of Counsel
Hanson & Walgenkim, LLC
2014 - 2015

Attorney
Wiscarson Law, A Professional Corporation
2012 - 2014

Law Clerk
Wiscarson Law, A Professional Corporation
2009 - 2012

View all work experience

Education

Willamette University College of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence
2012

Western Oregon University
BS - Bachelor of Science
2009

Legal Cases

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2013
Wiscarson Law settled 93.75% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2013 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

Percentage of Cases Settled in 2012
Wiscarson Law settled 63.64% of state complaints, state due process filings and Office for Civil Rights Complaints filed in 2012 for its clients, without completing the formal decision-making process.

Associations

Marion County Bar Association
Member
2015 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Elder Law Section
Member
2014 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Estate Planning and Administration Section
Member
2014 - Present

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
Member
2014 - Present

Oregon State Bar
Member
2012 - Present

Multnomah Bar Association
Member
2012 - 2014

Christian Legal Society
Co-Chaplin and Co-Treasurer
2011 - 2012

Christian Legal Society
President
2010 - 2011

Multicultural Law Student Association
Memeber
2010 - 2012

Willamette University Moot Court Board
Board Member
2010 - 2012

American Bar Association, Law Student Division
Member
2009 - 2012

View all associations

Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

Certificate in Dispute Resolution
Willamette University College of Law
2012

Competitor in National Negotiation Competition
American Bar Association
2012

High Paper in Elder Law
Willamette University College of Law
2011

Regional Finalist in Negotiation Competition
American Bar Association
2011

Delmer Dewey Award for Outstanding Male Graduate
Western Oregon University
2009

High Paper in Criminal Law
Willamette University College of Law
2009

View all awards

Publications

r.i.s.e. Conference Supplement
Guardianship: Who Needs One and How It Works
2012

Oregon Disability Megaconference Supplement
What Should this IEP Say Anyway?
2011

Building Futures Conference Supplement
Self Disclosure in Employment and Higher Education
2011

Speaking Engagements

WR123 Composition--Research
Research Writing in the Law
2015

Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair
Behavior and the IEP
2015

Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair
FAPE 101: Special Education Law Basics
2014

Dislecksia: The Movie screening
Dyslexia Expert Panel
2014

Southwest Washington Special Education Conference and Resource Fair
What Should this IEP Say Anyway?
2013

r.i.s.e. Conference
Guardianship: Who Needs One and How It Works.
2012

Oregon Disability Megaconference
What Should this IEP Say Anyway?
2011

Building Futures
Self Disclosure in Employment and Higher Education
2011

View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (9)

Given (19)

Endorse Christopher

Jeff Jorgensen

Guardianship Attorney | Feb 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Christopher works very hard to make sure his clients achieve the results they want. He is focused and hardworking, while also empathetic to his client's needs."

Michael Rose

Guardianship Attorney | Jul 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"If you need a guardianship in Marion or Polk County, Christopher is the lawyer for you. He is a dedicated attorney that is passionate about helping his clients."

Jack Dekovich

Education Attorney | Nov 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Standing up for his clients is something very personal for Christopher. Mr. Hamilton is not just a lawyer by trade but by vocation, the craft is his calling. I have nothing but confidence is the skill, professionalism and compassion of this attorney."

Rebecca Pitts

Guardianship Attorney | Oct 14
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Christopher is a wonderful colleague. He is smart, caring, and efficient. He is a great asset to our community."

Stephanie Palmblad

Education Attorney | Oct 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Christopher bring a passionate perspective on education and is a great advocate for vulnerable populations."

Carl Cramer

Guardianship Attorney | Sep 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Adam Hanson

Unknown Attorney | Jul 23
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Young Walgenkim

Education Attorney | Nov 11
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Donald Henslee

Education Attorney | Apr 11
Relationship: Other

"It is an absolute delight to find a young education lawyer with Mr. Hamilton's analytical abilities. His observations on special education, in particular, are thorough and full of insight. I endorse him."

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