Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
Beth Allen
Beth Allen Law, PC
811 SW Naito Parkway
Suite 420
Portland, OR 97204-3334
Phone: (866) 471-3556 | Fax: (503) 471-3556
http://www.bethallenlaw.com
http://www.gayportlandlawyer.com
Creating, protecting, and honoring your unique family.
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
Clients who recognize their need for legal assistance.
Sub-Categories
Wills, Trusts & Estates
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights
- Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
- Power of Attorney
- Tax Planning
- Charitable Giving
- Charitable Trusts
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
- Asset Protection
- Guardianship
- Power of Attorney
- Business Succession Planning
- Special Needs Trust
- Supplemental Needs Trust
- Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
Clients who recognize their need for legal assistance.
Sub-Categories
Family Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Name Changes
- Restraining Orders
- Adoptions
- Child Support
- Children's Rights
- Custody
- Paternity
- Visitation
- Civil Unions
- Domestic Partnerships
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender Rights
- Living Together/Cohabitation
- Marriage
- Power of Attorney
- Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
- Age Discrimination
- Guardianships & Conservatorships
- Long-Term Care
- Powers of Attorney
- Advanced Health Care Directive
- Healthcare Power of Attorney
- Healthcare Proxy
- Tax Planning
- Grandparent Rights
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
Clients who recognize their need for legal assistance.
Sub-Categories
Divorce
- Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
- Child Support
- Custody/Visitation Rights
- Delinquent Support Payments
- Division of Property
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR)
- Restraining Orders
- Uncontested Divorce
- Collaborative Law
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights
Bar Admissions
WA,
Bar Number: 30059
OR, Oct 1996
Bar Number: 965475
Other Court Admissions
State of Oregon, State of Washington, U.S. District Court for the State of Oregon, and U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Association Memberships
Oregon Women Lawyers, Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association, and Multnomah County Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I am so busy doing LGBT advocacy that I am constantly learning new legal accomplishments, cases and statutory law affecting that community. I am also a frequent speaker for law related matters, particularly regarding LGBT and ethics issues.
Papers and Publications
Same-Sex Marriage: A Conflict of Laws Analysis for Oregon; Willamette University, 1996.
I am often sought by news sources to opine about something related to the GLBT community, particularly marriage equality, same-sex estate planning, and adoption and surrogacy in the gay and lesbian communities.
Example Cases
Martinez v. Kulongowski: This case was an attempt to prove the validity of the marriages between same-sex couples that were permitted in a couple of counties, including Multnomah County, in 2004. We argued that the Oregon constitution required the State, and therefore the counties, to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. The case's most important point was cut short by passage of Measure 36, which placed discrimination into the Oregon constitution. I wrote an amici brief we nicknamed "The kids are OK" in which we presented the evidence that children raised by gay parents turn out just fine, and with a healthier respect for diversity.
Li v. Kulongowski: This was a challenge to Measure 36 on technical and constitutional grounds. Unfortunately, the Court let the anti-marriage provision stand. Join the effort to overturn Measure 36 by educating everyone you meet that Measure 36 expressly and wrongly discriminates against gay men and lesbians and their families, and that the Court's decision means that all minority groups in Oregon are at risk of having basic rights stripped by a majority vote.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctorate
School:
Willamette University College of Law
City:
Salem
State:
OR
Year:
1996
Honors:
Graduated Cum Laude; Willamette College of Law Woman Graduate of the Year.
Focus and Accomplishments:
LGBT Law; Appellate Law.
Number of Attorneys
2
State Licensed In
Oregon
Firm Focus and History
Our firm honors all families. We are not exclusively a "Family Law" firm.
This firm started out as Allen2 Law, with my sister as my law partner. When she and I decided to go different directions, I established Beth Allen Law, which essentially is the same firm. The family focus has remained the same, but we are more unabashedly friends and members of the LGBT community and we work every day to make sure that all families get the best possible legal advice.
Previous Employment Summary
Clerk for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, Mary Deits (1996 to 1998)
Associate Tonkon Torp (1998-2001)
Associate, Lane Powell (2001-2005)
Activities and Awards
Superhero Award, Basic Rights Oregon
Award of Merit, Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association
Diamond Jubilee Advocacy Award, Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
Clients who come in with a sense of what is possible and what they would like as an outcome will spend less time talking to a lawyer and therefore save money and angst. That said, many people rely on the internet to find answers to their questions, and can often become more confused, or come away with misinformation that colors their expectations. I would suggest using the internet as a place to uncover your questions, but recognize that it's not a very reliable source for legal advice.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
No willingness to review documents drafted by the client from online resources. Happy to review documents prepared by an attorney representing the other party.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I do not do this.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
To make the world safe for gay men and lesbians everywhere.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I was not a K through JD, meaning I did not go from kindergarten to law school and then start working. I held a variety of low paying jobs and was in the Army before and while attending law school. I paid my own way or secured scholarships for myself through community college, Portland State University and law school. I have lived the lives many of our clients live. I have had the heartaches and frustrations with inequality. I understand the difficulty of paying an attorney when you have so little to spare. While I won't shy away from my distinguished resume because I worked too hard to earn it, I understand that my good grades and awards alone do not make me a good lawyer. My real strength comes from my empathy, my ability to listen, and my willingness to go out on a limb to try something new and innovative.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
To be able to help families negotiate the unnecessarily complicated matter of creating and protecting families and creating and thriving in the small businesses that often support them.
What do you like best about your career?
My clients! I love working with my clients. It's like making new friends every day.
Tell us about your law firm:
Everyone who works at Beth Allen Law is committed to providing top notch legal services as efficiently and inexpensively as reasonably possible. We come to work each day excited to make a difference in our clients' lives.
What are your strengths and style?
I am not a "typical" lawyer. Although I have a stellar resume and have worked in some of the more prestigious firms and positions in the State, I am very down-to-earth. I have been where many of my clients are when they walk in the door. I can empathize and I can provide answers that come not only from a "book" but also from being directly involved in the issues that matter most to our clients.
Personal Interests:
My family, paddling on my Dragonboat team (the Oregon Women Lawyers Dragonflies), bicycling, and spending time with friends.
Office Manager/Assistant
Heather Walker.
Fax
(503) 471-3556
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Second-parent adoptions are generally at a fixed rate, as are donor and surrogacy agreements. We have several levels of fixed rate for Estate Planning documents. We also provide low cost, fixed rates for the legal work necessary to start a small business.
Hourly Rates
Range from $175 to $235 per hour. Our paralegal is $100 per hour.
Free Initial Consultation?
Generally not, except for fixed rate matters.
Typical Retainer
There is no typical retainer, just as there is no "typical" case.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
