The philosophy of our firm is to find the “right fit” of estate-planning devices for you. We do not try to fit you into a prepackaged set of documents. We start the client-attorney relationship in the area of estate planning with no perceived notions about what estate-planning tools would be best for you. You will have considerable input into – and the final say in – decision-making for your estate planning.
Many clients have heard about, and are interested in, “avoiding probate”. (That phrase usually refers to eliminating or reducing the need to administer a decedent’s estate through the Probate Court.) We will be prepared to talk with you about ways to do so – and whether it is advisable in your particular situation. Under Ohio law, there are a number of ways to “avoid probate”, including: titling assets in joint-and-survivorship form; designating beneficiaries in one manner (for example, of life-insurance policies or retirement plans) or another (such as by transfer-on-death or payable -on-death labels); lifetime gifts; and, a “living trust”.