Plain-language explainers
Notes from a McMinnville law firm.
Short, statute-cited explainers on the issues we see most: personal injury, criminal defense, estate, immigration. Written by the attorneys who handle these matters every week.
The index
Explainers, by date.
Suing a Public Body in Oregon: The 180-Day Tort Claim Notice
Why the Oregon Tort Claims Act deadlines under ORS 30.275 can quietly end a meritorious case before it is ever filed.
Family-Based Petitions (Form I-130): A Step-by-Step Overview
How USCIS Form I-130 works, who can file, eligible relatives, preference categories, priority dates, and what comes next.
What to Expect at a Yamhill County Arraignment
Where to go, what happens, and what not to do at your first appearance at the Yamhill County Circuit Court.
Do You Need Probate in Oregon? A Plain-Language Test
How to tell whether a deceased Oregonian's estate needs full probate, a small-estate affidavit, or no court process at all.
Oregon Expungement: Who Qualifies, What to Expect
A clear walkthrough of ORS 137.225 set-asides: eligibility, waiting periods, the hearing, and the practical effect on background checks.
Comparative Negligence in Oregon: The 51% Bar
How Oregon's modified comparative-negligence rule under ORS 31.600 reduces, or eliminates, recovery in an injury case.
DUII Diversion in Oregon: Who Qualifies and What Happens
A plain-language guide to ORS 813.215 diversion: eligibility, the one-year program, and when diversion is the right call.
Refusing the breath test in Oregon: the trade-offs
Implied consent, license consequences, and where good counsel changes outcomes.
After a Yamhill County crash: the first 72 hours
Steps that protect your health and your claim before you ever call an insurer.
What “Measure 11” actually means for your case
A clear breakdown of mandatory minimums in Oregon and the decisions that matter early.