If you’ve been named in a Will to serve as the Executor of someone’s Estate, you have a significant responsibility. As the Executor, you must ensure that the Estate is handled in accordance with Ohio law. One of the most important duties of the E…
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A client of mine came to me and had some concerns and needed my help. Her mother had passed away, and my client was worried that her brother was acting inappropriately with her mother’s assets. When she had spoken to the brother about what was…
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In Ohio, the kind of Probate proceeding an estate must use is determined by the amount of assets in the probate estate and who the beneficiary is. The typical kind of Probate is a “Full Administration,” and it typically takes 6 months to…
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In this video we look at the different types of guardianships for an incompetent adult in Ohio. There is a Guardianship of the Estate, Guardianship of the Person, and a Guardianship of the Person and the Estate. In order to have a Guardianship establ…
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One of the most frequently asked questions I get when I am meeting with people about their estate planning is “Why Should I Avoid Probate? What’s the big deal?” In this video, I give you the 3 top reasons why you want to avoid Probate.
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Being the Executor of an Estate in Ohio is a complicated and sometimes daunting task. For those who have never been involved in an Ohio Probate proceeding before, the rules and procedures can seem almost incomprehensible. The job of the Executor is t…
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Understanding what Probate is and how it works is essential to being able to make good decisions for yourself and your loved ones about your estate planning needs. In this post, we take a look at the purpose of Probate and the basic things that need…
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Anyone who has lost a close friend or family member knows what a difficult, painful, and overwhelming time it can be. We are often asked to help our clients through the estate administration process when a loved one dies, but estate administration is…
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Almost everyone we meet with for estate planning comes to us wanting to avoid Probate. Some of those people have been through the process with the estate of a loved one. Their experience in the Probate process gave them the background to understand t…
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I recently read a very good article written by a mortgage loan originator in Tennessee. The article is entitled “3 Things You Must Do after Inheriting a Home.“ The article states that after a home is inherited, there can be a feeling of &…
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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.
Protecting your Family’s Future – All about Wills, Trusts & Probate
Download our free “Protecting your Family’s Future – All about Wills, Trusts & Probate” book. 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.