Deanna L. Franco - Portland, OR
Attorney at Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP
Estate & Trust Planning Lawyers in Portland, OR
900 SW Fifth Avenue 24th Floor Portland, OR 97204
Portland Estate & Trust Planning Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Estate & Trust Planning
- Business & Corporate Law
- Professional Liability
- Real Estate Law
- Taxation
Attorney Information
Overview
Deanna is an experienced attorney providing advice and counsel to clients in the areas of: estate and tax planning, probate and trust administration (including tax compliance), guardianship and conservatorship matters, entity formation, governance and general business planning, as well as associated commercial and residential real estate transactions. Her clients range from individuals with modest to high-net worth estates, corporations to family-owned businesses, as well as fiduciaries and beneficiaries.
Creative problem solving is one of the most rewarding parts of Deanna’s practice. She collaborates with clients and their advisors to implement solutions tailored to address their specific unique goals and needs. Deanna enjoys getting to know her clients and takes immense pride in being able to assist them through the various stages of their personal and/or business lives. Deanna’s compassionate and detailed approach to the practice of law brings her clients piece of mind in what may be emotional and stressful events.
Having worked at the Marion County District Attorney’s Office and in a general practice firm prior to joining Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP, Deanna has a broad ranging background in a number of practice areas in addition to her current practice, including family law and general litigation.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- The Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates (2024)
Education
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Legal Education
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Willamette University College of Law,
Salem,
Oregon
J.D.
-
Willamette University College of Law,
Salem,
Oregon
-
Non Legal Education
-
Portland State University
B.A.
Major: Criminology and Criminal Justice
Minor: Sociology
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Portland State University
Current Employment Position(s)
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Special Counsel
Classes and Seminars
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“Brawl in the Family – Reducing Family Disputes After the Death of a Parent”, January 2021
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“The Six Deadly Sins of Business Succession”, September 2015 – Deanna was a guest lecturer at the Clackamas Business Expo
- “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul: Using Self-Directed Retirement Plans to Start a Business or Buy Real Estate”, February 2004 – Deanna co-presented at the Buckley Law Lunch
Pro Bono Activities
- Portland Youth Philharmonic Association, Board of Director
- Multnomah County “Bail-Out List” for Probate/Protective Proceedings, Volunteer
- Oregon Law Commission Probate Modernization Work Group, Interested Person
Published Works
Articles
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Co-author, “Brawl in the Family – Reducing Family Disputes After the Death of a Parent”, OSCPA Magazine (Winter 2020)
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Co-author, “I Know the Trust Says “Irrevocable,” But “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, The Accountant (October/November 2016)
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Co-author, The “Bare Bones” of Distributions Under Oregon Probate Law and Federal Income Tax Law, The Accountant (November/December 2012)
Bar Admissions
- Oregon, 2010
- Washington
- Supreme Court of the United States of America
Other Affiliations
- Washington County Circuit Court, Pro Tempore Judge
- Estate Planning Council of Portland, Member
- Estate Planning, Elder Law, Tax and Business Law sections, Oregon State Bar, Member
- Real Property, Probate and Trust and Tax sections, Washington State Bar Association, Member
- Multnomah Bar Association, Member
- Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Board, Region 7, Past-Member
- Oregon State Bar Client Security Fund, Past-Member
- Oregon State Bar Legal Ethics Committee, Past-Member
- Oregon State Bar’s House of Delegates, Region 7, Past-Delegate
Fraternities and Sororities
- Alpha Phi Sigma
Photo
Contact
900 SW Fifth Avenue
24th Floor
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 323-9000
Fax: (503) 323-9019
Email: Send a message
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