Our Services

We know how hard you have worked for your assets – let us help you protect them during your lifetime and ensure they pass smoothly to your loved ones. Through the tools outlined below, we can ensure that your assets are always handled according to your wishes and in the most efficient way possible. Our attorneys welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and do a thorough consultation to develop a plan tailored to you and your family. The basic estate planning tools include the following:

1. Wills.  Wills direct the court how to administer probate property after your passing. They are amendable and revocable during the testator’s life.
2. Trusts.  A trust refers to a legal arrangement whereby property is held and administered by one person or entity for the benefit of another or others. The person or entity is called the trustee. There are many different kinds of trusts that achieve different purposes. One purpose is to avoid the probate process and to keep information regarding one’s assets from becoming public. Some trusts can avoid taxes when the trustor (maker of the trust) passes on, while others can be structured so that funds of the trust are used only for specific purposes, i.e. the education or welfare of a child. Whether a trust is an appropriate estate planning tool for you depends on many contributing factors. Let us help you perform an in depth review of your particular circumstances, so we can together choose the best estate planning portfolio for your family.
3. Powers of Attorney (POAs).  This is an instrument that authorizes another person to act as one’s agent or attorney in fact. The agent’s power may be either general or special, meaning that it may be broad and apply for all purposes or be limited to achieve a specific purpose.A general, durable Power of Attorney will avoid the need for guardianship of a person who, after execution of the document, later becomes incompetent.
4. Health Care Power of Attorney.  A Health Care Power of Attorney designates a person or persons (in order of priority) to make health care decisions, in the event that a person becomes unable to do so by reason of physical or mental condition.
5. Living Wills.  A living will, also known as a medical directive, sets forth one’s direction regarding life support systems or other artificial means for prolonging life, in the event of a permanently unconscious or terminal condition.
6. HIPAA Release.  This is a document that authorizes friends or family members to speak to doctors and obtain medical and treatment information relating to your care.
7. Guardianships.  While there are many types of guardianships, this generally refers to an arrangement where one person (the guardian) agrees to, and is charged with, the care and control of another person (the ward) and /or another person’s property; this is done when the ward is in need of guardianship due to his physical or mental condition.
8. Contact our office to learn how to develop a comprehensive and cost effective estate plan.

Probate refers to the process established by law to transfer the assets of a deceased person (the “decedent”) to his or her beneficiaries. This process provides for appointment of a person to administer the estate, which includes gathering assets, paying just debts or taxes (if any) and distributing the net assets according to the terms of the decedent’s Will. If there is no Will, Ohio law provides to whom the assets are to be distributed.

The existence of a valid will, executed with the assistance of an attorney, aids greatly in making administration of a decedent’s estate smooth and more cost effective. Often finalizing the affairs of a deceased person involves probating and trust administration or handling of assets that have been titled to avoid formal probate administration.

Our firm has more than thirty years of collective legal experience assisting people in the administration of trusts. When someone has transferred assets to a trust, legal assistance is generally required for trust administration upon that person’s death. Special and complex rules apply governing tax liability and the responsibility of trustee.

When the time comes, we welcome the opportunity to help you or your family with this process.

Long-term nursing home care is extremely expensive, and can decimate a lifetime of savings in a very short time. Many people rely on Medicaid coverage to pay for their long-term nursing home care. Medicaid coverage, however, may be available only after your assets are severely depleted. But with careful planning, there are ways to preserve your assets so that you can still leave a legacy to care for and benefit the people you hold most dear. We look forward to the chance to meet with you to discuss planning options.

Real Estate transactions of all kinds can be complex, confusing, and overwhelming. It is crucial to work with someone who knows what issues may be important, how to review documents for accuracy, and how to negotiate well when it matters. We guide buyers and sellers through every stage of the transaction, from due diligence to closing, minimizing risks and streamlining the process.