Hannah Arno joined Legacy Law Group in 2025 after working with a large Toledo firm. She is admitted to practice law in both Ohio and in Michigan. Hannah is a Northwest Ohio native who began practicing law after graduating from The University of Toled…
Lisa K. Burke has been a licensed attorney for almost 28 years. She is eager to bring her experiences to the Legacy Law Group to help educate clients about their estate planning options. She understands that estate planning is something that many peo…
Chris E. Steiner is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law. Chris has been an Ohio licensed attorney for over 45 years. Most of that time was spent in private practice. Prior to joining Legacy Law Group in June of 2023, Chris was a par…
Debbie J. Papay has been a northwest Ohio attorney concentrating in estate planning, elder law, probate and real estate for four decades. Debbie enjoys helping clients have the peace of mind that they have planned for both what might be, and what wil…
Tim Alley joined Legacy Law Group in 2012 after working with a few other firms and as a sole practitioner. He has been in practice since 2001 after graduating from the University of Toledo College of Law. Since starting his practice Tim has focused o…
Richard Chamberlain is the founder and managing attorney of Legacy Law Group. He is admitted to practice law in both Ohio and Michigan. As an attorney, Richard’s passion is helping his clients make the best possible choices for themselves and their…
Download our free “Estate Planning Checklist: The Essential Guide for Making your Best Estate Plan in Ohio.” The checklist walks you through the steps you need to address to have the plan that is right for you and your loved ones.
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.
