Owning a vacation home, rental property, or inherited land in another state may feel like a smart investment. But when it comes to estate planning, out‑of‑state property can create real complications for your family. Without proper planning, your…
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Serving as a trustee is an important responsibility. You are managing someone’s legacy and protecting beneficiaries’ interests. Yet many trustees feel overwhelmed by legal requirements and deadlines. Mistakes can lead to disputes or even personal…
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Blended families have unique goals and unique risks. Without a plan, children from a prior marriage can be left out or a current spouse can be left exposed. This article explains smart estate planning for blended families, with practical steps that p…
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The cost of long-term care in Ohio is staggering – nursing home care averaged over $8,750 per month in 2025. Without proper planning, even a lifetime of savings can be depleted in just a few years. Medicaid can help cover these costs, but quali…
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Your estate plan is not “set it and forget it.” The end of the year is a natural checkpoint to make sure your revocable living trust, beneficiary designations, and incapacity documents still reflect your life today. In Ohio, trust planning is oft…
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Parents of children with disabilities face unique decisions that affect their child’s lifetime care, stability, and independence. The goal is to provide support without jeopardizing eligibility for essential government benefits. In Ohio, the right…
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Are the rising costs of long‑term care in Northwest Ohio keeping you up at night? The price of long‑term care is surging across the country. Nationally, the median cost of a semi‑private nursing home room reached $111,325 per year in 2024 (abou…
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In today’s digital age, estate planning is no longer limited to physical property like homes, cars, and bank accounts. Our lives – and wealth – are increasingly stored online. From cryptocurrency wallets to cherished family photos in th…
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Probate can feel overwhelming, especially during a time of loss. If you’re wondering what probate means and how it works in Ohio, you’re not alone. This article breaks down the process step by step and offers tips to make it easier for your famil…
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When a loved one begins needing help with daily tasks, families often step into the caregiving role without much guidance or preparation. What starts as driving to appointments or helping with medications can gradually evolve into managing finances,…
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First published in 2020, this comprehensive guide walks you through the essentials of estate planning, giving you the knowledge you need to safeguard your loved ones and their future.
Put in its most simple terms, estate planning involves putting your affairs in order so as to maximize the benefits that your assets can provide to you during your life and to those you desire to benefit from it after your death. Estate pla… Read More
What Does a Proper Estate Plan Include?
A proper estate plan to provide for the needs of your family may include:
An adequate Will or Trust
A written agreement concerning the status of your assets
If you already have an estate plan, it should not be considered permanent. Conditions, as well as your desires, may change. Estate plans should be reviewed at least every two-three years but, additionally, any important change in your life demands… Read More
What Happens if You Don't Have a Will or Trust?
If you do not have a Will or a Trust and have not used other probate-avoiding techniques, upon your death your assets will pass according to the laws of the state which has jurisdiction over your assets. The “state plan” may not provide for th… Read More
What Other Probate Avoiding Techniques Are There In Addition to Living Trusts?
The following methods are often used to avoid probate: joint tenancy title, community property title, bank account trusts, pay on death accounts, life insurance proceeds, retirement proceeds (IRA’S, TSA’S, 401K’s, etc.), retirement pla… Read More
What Should I Bring to My First Meeting?
People often ask what they should bring with them to their initial estate planning consultation (we call this “the Discovery Meeting”) with one of our attorneys.
As we discuss in Our Planning Process, the Discovery Meeting is our oppor… Read More
I Already Have an Estate Plan. Why Should I Think About Changing It?
We find that many people already have an estate plan, but it does not meet their current planning needs. They may have a Will that was prepared many, many years ago, or they may have a trust that prepared more recently, but those plans may not be… Read More
What Does an Estate Plan Cost?
As you might imagine, we get that question all the time. It is a difficult question to answer because fees are determined by the type of plan we put together, and that is determined by your goals, objectives and asset mix. The planning fees can ra… Read More
How Much of an Estate Do I Need to Have In Order to Set Up a Trust?
There is no “bright line rule” for determining whether a person needs a trust as a part of their planning. The answer for any particular person will depend on their own planning needs and planning goals.