Probate & Estate Planning

Estate planning in Ohio includes preparation of legal instruments that establish certain preferences that persons have regarding future health care treatments. Two common health care directives are the living will and the health care power of attorney, which may be called by different names in different states. Most people do not usually know the difference between the two, and it…

You may have heard talk of probate and probate court, but not fully understand what it is or its implications in terms of wills, trusts and inheritances. The probate process is complicated, and a bit of basic knowledge can help you understand better how it works. Probate litigation comes into play when there are disputes over assets and distribution of…

Estate planning in Ohio and elsewhere is a neglected aspect of personal finance and wealth building, even among some who are wildly successful. Estate planning connotes a dry subject that is fit only for those who are very old and very rich. However, anyone with some assets, such as a home, retirement account, life insurance, savings, and the like, will…

In Ohio and other states, should a person’s estate have complete control over the decedent’s private emails? A service provider, Yahoo, recently filed a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking that it reverse a state court decision holding that a probate court could not refuse the estate’s access to the deceased man’s private emails. The original refusal of access…

Estate experts in Ohio and elsewhere would likely agree that the spirit of Valentine’s Day justifies a special kind of gift for one’s family: the gift of an estate plan that will protect the family if one becomes disabled and unable to handle his or her own affairs. It is also the gift of knowing that, when the person dies,…

Probate of an estate in Ohio begins after an owner of assets dies. The owner may die with or without a will. If there is no will, but there are assets in the decedent’s name, an estate must be opened. With no will, estates must follow state statutory rules and may not try to satisfy the decedent’s wishes. The decedent’s…

When it comes to estate planning in the Dayton, Ohio, area, one of the best things you can do to keep your loved ones from fighting amongst themselves. All too often estate disputes occur because one or several individuals do not agree with the final instructions the deceased has left behind. You do not want your relatives going at each…

Ohio business owners can benefit from establishing estate planning provisions for the protection of their families, partners and employees. In the personal context, a business owner will benefit from setting up some basic estate planning instruments that are suited to all individuals. The most well-known of these is the person’s last will and testament. The will appoints a personal representative…

Acting as the executor or personal representative to someone’s estate in Ohio is not an easy task that is quickly discharged. The probate of an estate may take many months before all the loose ends are wrapped up and the estate can be successfully concluded. A person can be appointed in a will to be the decedent’s executor or, where…

When it comes to planning your estate, most people want to ensure that their kids and grandkids are provided for after they pass. Leaving assets to your family can help them maintain financial security, and if you are passing along heirlooms, it can preserve memories in the family, too. Sometimes, however, you might wonder how much—if anything—you are obligated to…