Beth S. Wolfsong

Beth Wolfsong

Beth and her wife, Jennifer, opened where they primarily practice in the areas of estate planning, adoption, and assisted reproduction law, with a special emphasis on serving the LGBTQ and other minority communities.  Prior to becoming a lawyer, Beth worked in a variety of capacities as an advocate for the elderly, for the developmentally disabled, and for homeless pets. After graduating from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2002, Beth worked as a domestic violence attorney for Southern Arizona Legal Aid and staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson, Arizona, and then clerk for the Honorable Marilyn Litzenberger, and staff attorney (and later, a non-equity partner) at Beth Allen Law PC in Portland, Oregon.  No matter the endeavor, Beth has always enjoyed working closely with her clients to address the needs unique to each individual or family, and enjoys working in practice areas that enable her to maintain long-lasting relationships with her clients.

Beth grew up in Portland, Oregon, and enjoys all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.  In her free time, Beth enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing and a multitude of other outdoor activities with her wife, her daughter, and their two dogs.  Beth is also a volunteer with Beaverton CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and is excited to be doing more advanced training for emergency response, HAM radio, wilderness first aid and survival, and search and rescue.  The Wolfsongs are also devoted Portland Thorns fans and look forward to each exciting new season of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Bar Admissions
  • State Bar of Oregon, 2005 – present
  • State of Washington, 2012 – present
  • State Bar of Arizona, 2002 – 2006
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona, 2003 – 2006
  • Pascua Yaqui Bar, 2003 – 2006
  • Tohono O’odham Bar, 2003 – 2006
Current Professional Memberships
  • 2017 – present:  American Bar Association (“ABA”)
  • 2016 – present:  Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (“AAAA”)
  • 2016 – present:  member, Oregon Surrogacy Professionals Association (“OSPA”)
  • 2014 – present:  member, Oregon State Bar Family Law Section, Standing Committee on Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Law (“SCAARTL”)
  • 2011 – present:  member, Wealth Counsel
  • 2010 – present:  member, Portland Area Business Association (“PABA”)
  • 2010 – present:  member, Oregon Gay and Lesbian Lawyer’s Association (“OGALLA”)
  • 2007 – present:  member, Oregon Women Lawyers (“OWLs”)
Previous Professional Memberships
  • 2013 – 2015:  Pride Professional Alliance
  • 2013 – 2015:  Basic Rights Oregon Legal Group
  • 2005 – 2013:  Multnomah County Bar Association
  • 2002 – 2005:  American Bar Association
  • 2002 – 2005:  Pima County Bar Association
Professional and Civic Service
  • 2016 – 2017:  Volunteer, Harborton Frog Shuttle
  • 2016 – 2017:  Treasurer, Oregon Surrogacy Professionals Association (“OSPA”)
  • 2011 – present:  Volunteer and Member, Beaverton Community Emergency Response Team (“CERT”)
  • 2011:  Volunteer, Lewis & Clark Mock Trial competition
  • 2011:  Volunteer, Lewis & Clark Moot Court course
  • 2010 – present:  Volunteer, Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)
  • 2008 – 2010:  Board Member, Equity Foundation, Portland, Oregon
  • 2007 – 2009:  Board Member, Southwest Parent-Child Cooperative (Fundraising Co-Chair), Portland, Oregon.
  • 2007 – 2009:  Member, Affirmative Action Committee, Oregon State Bar
  • 2007 – 2009:  Member, Executive Committee of the Indian Law section of the Oregon State Bar.
  • 2006 – 2007:  Volunteer, Lawyer “Imprint Program” (Children’s Literacy), Portland, Oregon.
  • 2003 – 2004:  Volunteer Wildlife Tracker, Sky Island Alliance, Tucson, Arizona.
  • 2000 – 2003:  Volunteer with the following organizations or projects in Tucson, AZ.: Habitat for Humanity, Lawyers for Literacy, Native Seeds Search, Protect Zuni Salt Lake, Tohono O’odham Waila Festival, High School Mock Trial competitions.
Publications
  • Jumping Hurdles and Leaping Fences:  United States v Windsor Arrives at a Destination Full of Hope for Same-Sex Couples, Federal Bar Bulletin, March 15, 2014.
  • Blazing Trails to Murky Waters:  Considerations for Same-Sex Spouses in the Wake of United States v. Windsor, Oregon State Bar Elder Law Newsletter, October 2013.
  • Oregon Family Fairness Act: Charting a New Course, Washington County Bar Association Newsletter, Vol. 25, No. 2 (2008).
  • Trading Greenbacks for Green Behavior: Oregon and the City of Portland’s Environmental Incentives, (co-author with Mona Hymel and Roberta Mann), [ ] Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation [ ], Vol. 5 (2008).
  • Americans and their Wheels: A Tax Policy for Sustainable Mobility (co-author with Mona Hymel), 3 Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation 113, Vol. 3 (2006).
  • The Jurisdiction of Indigenous Nations to Regulate Water Quality, and the Benefits of Collaborative Resource Management in Tribal Water Rights Essays in Contemporary Law, Policy and Economics, (2006)(Bonnie G. Colby and John E. Thorson, editors).
  • Water Rights Settlement of the Confederated Tribes of the Warms Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon in Negotiating Tribal Water Rights: Fulfilling Promises in the Arid West (2005)(Bonnie G. Colby and John Thorson, editors).
Presentations
  • An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure:  How to Proactively Help Surrogacy Clients Have a Good Experience at the Hospital, May 10, 2017, AAAA Spring Conference, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
  • The ARTful Estate Planner:  Estate Planning and Administration Considerations in the Age of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (“ART”), March 16, 2016, Inn of Court, Bend, Oregon.
  • Expose Yourself to “ART”:  The Basics of Assisted Reproductive Technology Law in Oregon (with Robin E. Pope), March 6, 2015, Multnomah County Bar Association, Portland, Oregon.
  • Creating and Protecting Families in the New Millenium:  Adult Adoption, Second Parent Adoption, and a post- U.S. v Windsor World, December 15, 2014, National Business Institute CLE, Portland, Oregon.
  • Steps to Sustainability in Small and Solo Law Firms (panel member), May 28, 2014, Oregon State Bar Small Firm Section, Portland, Oregon.
  • ‘Til Death Do Us Part:  Estate Planning and Administration for Same-Sex Couples in a Post-Windsor World, May 19, 2014, Oregon Law Institute CLE, Portland, Oregon.
  • Representing Clients in a Post-Windsor World, March 11, 2014, Deschutes County Bar Association, Bend, Oregon.
  • The End of DOMA:  What Are the Practical Effects of Windsor and Perry  in Oregon,(with Hon. Beth A. Allen), December 12, 2013, Multnomah County Bar Association, Portland, Oregon.
  • Law and Medicine: How to Protect Your Wishes for Care and Visitation (with Kerry Lear), May 21, 2011, Gay & Grey Expo, Portland, Oregon.
  • Wealth Accumulation for the LGBT Community (with Pride Financial Partners), March 29, 2011, Q Center, Portland, Oregon.
  • Unique Issues in Estate Planning For Gay Clients (with Beth A. Allen), March 2, 2011, Multnomah Bar Association, Portland, Oregon.
  • Estate Planning 101, June 22, 2010, Q Center, Portland, Oregon.
  • Gay and Grey: Estate Planning Your Way, May 2010, Gay and Grey Expo, Portland, Oregon.
  • Financial and Legal Security for the GLBT Community, Important Strategies to Benefit You and Your Loved One While We Work Towards Marriage Equality (with Beth A. Allen), January 29, 2010, Ashland, Oregon.
  • Estate Planning 101, 2009 and 2010, Baby and Me, Portland, Oregon.
  • Planning to Protect LGBTQ Families, August 20, 2009, Portland, Oregon.
  • The Oregon Family Fairness Act: Charting a New Course, February 13, 2008, Hillsboro, Oregon.
  • Marriage Equality in Oregon: Things to Consider, Forest Grove, Oregon, October 9, 2008.
  • HB 2007: What Oregonians Can Expect, June 23, 2007.