Kathryn Bourn

Location:  Gresham, Oregon
Phone:     503.492.4229
Fax:          503.491.4891
Email:      Email me​

​Experienced litigator Kathryn Bourn joined Gresham Family & Bankruptcy Law in February 2016. She enjoys the opportunity to help people navigate challenging times in their lives. She routinely guides people through the process of wrapping up a loved one’s final affairs. She is committed to helping her clients craft clear, workable agreements and being a strong advocate in court when reasonable negotiated agreements are not possible.

Kathryn has more than 17 years of experience helping people with estate planning, including wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, probate matters (both non-contested and contested), personal bankruptcy, contested divorce, custody, and spousal support. She also has extensive experience representing abused and neglected children in foster care.

Kathryn began her legal career by prosecuting domestic assaults for the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office. Using her litigation experience, she ran her own family law and bankruptcy practice in Astoria for 11 years. In 2010, Kathryn helped found a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer advocates for foster children. She served as the executive director of Columbia County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program until 2013. In 2013 she joined Kivel & Howard, where she helped people with a broad range of legal matters, including family law, debtor-creditor issues, and estate planning.  

Born and raised in Oregon, Kathryn enjoys the many outdoor activities our region offers, including gardening, bicycling, and snowshoeing and backpacking with her husky.

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Areas of Practice

• Family / Divorce / Legal Separation
• Child Custody
• Parenting Time
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
• Restraining Orders (FAPA) / Stalking Orders 
• Probate & Estate Administration / Contested Probate
• Bankruptcy
• Wills & Estate Planning
• Elder Law & Elder Abuse

Bar Admissions

• Oregon State Bar, 1995
• U.S. District Court District of Oregon, 1997​

Education

• Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York - J.D. with an emphasis in advocacy.
• University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon - Bachelor's degree in Journalism

Professional Associations, Memberships and Activities

• Volunteer Attorney, Multnomah County Child Representation Project, 2017 to present.
• Volunteer Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Oregon Senior Law Project, 2017 to present.
• Member, Oregon State Bar Family Law, Debtor-Creditor, and Estate Planning & Administration Sections, Multnomah County Bar Association, and Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association
• Member/Former Board Member, Oregon Women Lawyers and Queen’s Bench
• Bankruptcy Clinic Volunteer, Multnomah County Volunteer Lawyer Project/Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Section, Portland, Oregon, 2015 to 2016
• Testified before the Oregon Legislature on foster care issues, March 2013
• Member, Columbia County Multi-Disciplinary Team (addressing child abuse), 2010 to 2013
• Advocate for Domestic Violence Survivors, Call to Safety, 2005 to 2007

Community Involvement

• Wildlife Tracker, Cascadia Wild, 2018
• Mock Trial Team Coach, David Douglas High School, 2016 to 2017
• Mobile Superhero, Sunday Parkways – Portland, Oregon, 2015 to 2016
• Member & Event Host, Portland Ladies Tea Guild – Portland, Oregon, 1999 to present

Public Recognition

• Article in Among Ourselves in Oregon State Bar Bulletin, August/September 2001
  
• St. Helens Chronicle article: “CASA seeks volunteers to give Columbia County kids a voice,” January 7, 2011
  
• Portland Tribune article “CASA looks to grow volunteer force to help underserved foster children,” October 26, 2011
  
• Steve Duin column “Oregon teen at the heart of a vicious circle, March 25, 2013
  
• South County Spotlight, “Foster care: the challenge of permanency,” April 26, 2013
  
• Article in Among Ourselves in Oregon State Bar Bulletin, May 2016

Office Location

Gresham Family & Bankruptcy Law 
1217 N.E. Burnside Road, Suite 204 
Gresham, OR 97030 
Phone: 503-492-4229 
Fax: 503-491-4891 
Map and Directions