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A will is a legal document that outlines how your assets will be distributed after your death, while a trust can take effect during your lifetime and provide more control over how and when your assets are distributed. Our attorneys can help you determine which is right for your situation.

We keep our overhead low in order to stay competitive on fees. There are some types of cases that we may do on a contingent fee basis, such as plaintiff's personal injury, medical malpractice, and probate litigation. For all other types of cases, we charge a retainer based on our initial assessment of the case.

Perhaps surprisingly, small asset estates tend to be a lot more work than larger estates. I believe this is partly due to the assumption that low-value assets are easier to transfer. They are NOT, and the additional time required on poorly planned (or no plan) estates seriously reduces what will be left over (if anything) for your loved ones.

There is no magic number, but typically, major life events (e.g., births, deaths, divorces, acquisitions of large assets, health issues, etc.) are when most people usually start thinking seriously about estate planning.

The state legislature (Ohio for us), in all its infinite wisdom, has determined that your probated assets will be applied towards any outstanding debts, and anything leftover will go to your next closest blood relatives.

Every person and situation is different. Your plan should depend on your goals, what you own, and any number of individual considerations. That said, the simplest estate plans can probably be created in two meetings with your attorney. Especially if you come prepared! (Check out our estate planning checklist and questionnaire!)

We like to provide a questionnaire (find that here) first which will help guide the first discussion, but you can always call first as well. If we need additional documents after that we will let you know, but oftentimes deeds and corporate documents (for business owners) end up on the list of documents that we ask for.

Almost always the answer is "yes." It is important to keep in mind that declining mental capacity can be a barrier to making further changes to your will, and waiting too long can invite legal fights later.

For most people, whenever there is a major life change. (e.g., births, deaths, divorces, acquisitions of large assets, health issues, etc.)

The answer depends on the plan. For a very basic plan, expect to spend about $750-$1,000. For more complex planning (which actually may SAVE your next of kin a small fortune in the long run), expect to spend more. Remember, what is cheap is not always good, and what is good is rarely cheap.

Having a will allows you to nominate your choice of person to serve as your fiduciary. It will also allow them to save the cost of getting a bond, and allow you to designate your beneficiaries. Finally, it allows your fiduciary to act without receiving specific approval for all actions from the probate court, which tends to cut down on how much attorney work needs to go into administering the estate. These savings are substantially more than the cost of the will itself.

You can reach out to us through our contact page to schedule an appointment or free consultation.

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