Find Lawyers in Ohio, United States for Trusts and Estates
Practice Area Overview
How Can a Trusts and Estates Attorney Help You?
Trust and estate attorneys help clients plan for the efficient and effective transfer of assets to spouses, to younger generation family members, to other persons clients wish to benefit, and to charities. The practice involves the preparation of trust agreements, wills, powers of attorney, medical directives, and closely held business structures, including partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations.
What are the Trusts and Estates Practices Focal Points?
Wealth Planning
When attorneys begin the planning process, they consider your objectives, your family relationships, charitable inclinations, and the relationship of federal and state estate tax, gift tax, and generation skipping transfer tax laws to these objectives. Attorneys then work with you and, in some cases, with other advisers to design the appropriate plan to meet your goals and objectives, prepare the necessary documents to carry out the desired plan, and assist with the implementation of your plan. In connection with family wealth planning, attorneys plan and draft trust agreements and wills, create various business entities, and carry out business reorganizations.
Estate Administration
Trust and estate attorneys also handle the administration of estates. Attorneys confer with members of a decedent’s family on the various issues, including:
• Assistance to the executor with the preparation of the required probate documents and assist in valuation of estate assets
• Making insurance claims
• Preparation of final income tax returns and the estate’s income and federal and state estate tax returns
• Monitoring of the investment of the estate’s assets
• Arranging for the distribution of the estate’s net assets
• Throughout the administration of an estate, consideration is given to income tax savings through the timing of distributions and the timing and claiming of appropriate deductions.
Trust Administration
In the trust administration area, attorneys advise and consult with corporate and individual trustees concerning the discharge of the trust’s terms and consult with beneficiaries concerning trust administration matters including the preparation of trust accounts.
Trust and Estate attorneys also assist clients in all phases of probate and trust litigation. This may involve construing or reforming the terms of a will or trust, prosecuting or defending a will contest action or surcharge actions against trustees.
What is a Trusts and Estates attorneys goal for its clients?
The goal of an trust and estate attorney is to assist clients to achieve their personal goals while obtaining the significant tax savings which may be available to them through proper planning. Attorneys in the practice spend a significant amount of time dealing with the federal estate, gift, and generation skipping tax issues involved in transfer planning.
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Cities
Chuck Adler joined the firm in 1993 and became a Partner in 1995. He has a special interest in planning for individuals, families, and closely held businesses. Chuck counsels individuals and families on complex estate, charitable, financial, and retirement planning matters; on estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes; and on the organization and operation of private foundations. He also works with owners of closely held and family businesses on succession planning. Before joining the firm,...
Brandon Borgmann joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in September of 2008 and practices in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, probate, special needs law and tax. Brandon represents individuals, business owners and families concerning estate planning, tax planning and business succession planning. He also represents executors and trustees with respect to administration of estates and trusts, probate litigation and taxation.
As anyone who has ever argued with a spouse or small child knows, there is a difference between hearing and listening, between being able to repeat what was said and actually taking it in and thinking about it. With Jody Brant, there is never any question that he is both hearing and listening. In a world of loud talkers, it is Jody's ability to listen, to thoughtfully consider the input of others before speaking, that sets him apart as a lawyer and as a leader. For Jody’s estate and wea...
Dianne Blocker Braun practices in the areas of Estate & Trust Planning/Administration, Special Needs Trusts, Medicaid Planning, and Closely Held Business Planning. Dianne received her B.A. degree from Indiana University and her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law. Dianne holds an AV Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory as designated by her colleagues. She also was selected by her peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America®, and has been selected to the list of Ohi...
Jim Bright has been practicing law since 1976. He applies his considerable expertise to advising individuals and families on estate planning, tax planning (including income and estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes), and charitable gift planning. He also provides counsel to trustees of private foundations on administration, initial formation, and tax qualification. Prior to the formation of SSSB, he served as President of Spieth, Bell, McCurdy & Newell Co., L.P.A. Jim is a Fellow of...
Jim Brun focuses his practice on estate planning as well as probate and trust administration. Prior to joining Keating Muething & Klekamp, he was a partner with a large Cincinnati law firm where he practiced for more than 21 years, concentrating his practice in the estate planning and personal tax areas. Jim served as a law clerk to the Honorable George H. Palmer, Judge of the Court of Appeals for the First Appellate District of Ohio from 1976-1978.
Douglas C. Carlson has extensive experience in corporate, partnership, individual and estate tax matters. The primary emphasis of his practice is on transactional planning, including acquisitions and dispositions, reorganizations and limited partnership syndications, liquidations and executive compensation, including stock options and deferred compensation. He has substantial experience in compliance activities, controversy matters, and state and local tax matters. As a business law attorney,...
James (“Jim”) J. Chalfie specializes in the areas of estate and tax planning for individual clients, succession planning for small businesses, estate and trust administration, and litigation involving trusts, estates, fiduciaries, and guardianships. Mr. Chalfie is admitted to practice in Ohio, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court. He graduated with an undergraduate degree in Economics from Brandei...
James F. Contini is a director of Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co., L.P.A., and currently serves as a member of the firm’s management committee. His focus is primarily in estate planning, business succession planning, probate, estate and trust administration, elder law, business law, and real estate law.
M. Patricia Culler focuses her practice on wealth transfer and business succession planning, wills, trusts and estates, and tax. She has extensive experience in sophisticated estate planning, charitable gift planning, prenuptial agreements, estate settlement, trust administration and fiduciary litigation. She also works with clients on tax matters relating to trusts and estates, including income, gift, estate and generation-skipping taxes. With more than 30 years of experience, Patricia&rsquo...
Rick is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and a Certified Elder Law Attorney. For both 2009 and 2010, Rick has been included in the “Top 100 Lawyers” for the state of Ohio by “Ohio Super Lawyers” and (a joint publication of Law & Politics, Cincinnati Magazine, and NorthernOhioLive. ) Rick is a member of the Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Council of the Ohio State Bar Association and...
As a partner in Hahn Loeser’s Business Practice Area, Dana Marie DeCapite dedicates her practice to estate planning, business succession planning, asset protection planning, prenuptial planning, and estate and trust administration. Dana collaborates with individuals, families and businesses to recommend and draft custom-tailored plans that implement each client’s personal, financial and charitable goals. Dana has extensive experience drafting and interpreting documents ranging fro...
Bill's practice includes advising clients on benefits and compensation issues and ERISA. He provides consulting, preparation of plan documentation, implementation of plans and ongoing representation to participants, trustees, fiduciaries, sponsors and third-party administrators in a wide variety of employee benefits matters.Bill counsels individuals and small business owners in the design of estate and succession plans, including retirement plan aspects. He also provides general business repr...
Christina D’Eramo Evans is a partner and Chair of the firm’s Cleveland office Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer & Preservation Section. Christina is an OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Her practice is focused on assisting individuals and families with the transmission of their wealth in a tax advantaged manner that at the same time accomplishes desired intent and preserves...
Paul Fidler joined the firm in 1996 and became a Partner in 2003. He works with individuals, businesses, and foundations, and his practice emphasizes estate planning and administration; trust administration; income taxation of estates, trusts, and individuals; planning for charitable gifts and foundations; and business succession planning. Paul is a frequent speaker and author on a wide range of estate planning topics. In particular, he has a strong expertise in qualified retirement plans and...
Stephen H. Gariepy chairs Hahn Loeser’s nationally respected Estate Planning and Business Succession Group. Steve focuses his practice on leading-edge estate planning techniques. His ability to design creative and comprehensive plans – and make them practical and understandable – has attracted clients nationwide from the ranks of Forbes 400, business owners, families and nonprofit organizations. Steve regularly counsels owners of privately held companies and guides business ...
An elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Kyle has years of experience counseling multi-generational families, business owners, fiduciaries, entities, family offices and beneficiaries regarding: Administration of estates and trusts (including tax compliance, selection of investment counsel, discretionary distributions and fiduciary accountings) Asset protection Business succession Charitable giving (including private foundations, donor-advised funds, pledg...
Joe Gibbons joined the firm in May 2005 and became a Partner in January 2006. Prior to joining SSSB, Joe spent the majority of his career with McGinty, Gibbons, Hilow & Spellacy Co., LPA, and Carney & Broadbent, both located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, Joe has represented a variety of individuals, businesses, institutions, and governmental entities. His primary practice areas include estate planning, estate and trust administration and related litigation, real estate,...
Arthur E. Gibbs III is a partner in the Trusts and Estate Planning Group and is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Florida. Art is an Ohio State Bar Association Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and focuses on providing creative estate, tax and business planning advise to business owners and other wealthy individuals, as well as representing individuals, financial institutions, and non-profits in estate disputes. Art is a past Chair of the firm’s Cle...
Joan M. Gross is Senior Counsel to the firm’s Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer and Preservation Section, working out of the Cleveland office. For over 40 years, Joan has assisted clients in transferring their wealth, in a tax efficient manner, to the individuals and charities they wish to benefit. Joan is an OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. She is also listed in the 2005-20 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the 2008-20 editions of...
Ralph has over 35 years of experience counseling clients on estate planning, business succession, and transfer tax issues. He also has extensive experience in trust administrations, both as counsel to trustees and as a fiduciary. Ralph has helped administer and finalize a vast number of probate estates over the years. Ralph has achieved the highest ranking, AV Preeminent, from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list.
Bryan K. Hogue is the Managing Partner of Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP. He has been a lawyer for 35 years and concentrates his practice in the representation of business owners and closely held businesses concerning their general business matters, estate, tax and business succession planning. He currently co-chairs the Business Department at CPM, which provides a wide range of services for corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and other business organizations. He previou...
Jan Houston has extensive experience in representing high-net-worth clients in the areas of taxation, estate planning and business planning. Her practice focuses primarily on tax and estate planning including multi-generational planning and incorporating charitable giving into estate plans. In addition, Jan assists business owners with succession planning and also handles income tax and estate tax audits. She finds creative solutions for her clients by listening carefully and outlining a path...
Service to clients and to his life-long community are Mr. Jacobs' focus and passion. Frank D. Jacobs concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, general tax planning, charitable planned giving, business structuring, business succession planning and planning for qualified retirement plan beneficiary designation payouts. Mr. Jacobs is admitted to the bar of Ohio and to practice in the federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Additionally, he holds a Certified Pu...
Matt's practice covers a wide range of tax-related areas, including estate planning and business succession, foreign bank account reporting (FBAR) and related issues, entity taxation, exempt organizations, and representation of clients before the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Tax Court. Matt formerly served as an attorney-advisor to Judge Herbert L. Chabot of the U.S. Tax Court, and, in addition to Cleveland, has practiced in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Washington D.C. Matt has spoken nationall...
Frank C. Krasovec, Jr. has a practice focused on estate planning, estate administration and taxation. Frank is well-versed in the intricacies and specific benefits of the various methods of estate planning, including revocable living trusts, wills, lifetime gifting, joint ownership, beneficiary designations and life estates.
David C. Krock has over 34 years of experience as a lawyer, CPA (non-practicing), trust officer and tax advisor. His law practice is concentrated primarily in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, charitable planned giving, probate, tax and providing general counsel to small and medium size businesses. Mr. Krock is a member of Eastman & Smith. Mr. Krock graduated from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1982 where he was a member of the law review. He is a mem...
Margaret Kubicki practices in the areas of estate planning, succession business planning, taxation, and trust and estate administration. Margaret utilizes sophisticated estate planning techniques including the use of marital trusts, generation skipping trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, spousal limited access trusts, charitable trusts and domestic asset protection trusts. She also practices in the area of corporate law and has experience with structuring and implementing transactions to...
Geoffrey Kunkler joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in 2014 and has been a Partner since 2018. His practice is centered around estate planning for individuals and business owners, as well as asset protection planning for retirees. He focuses primarily on the areas of estate planning, elder protection, estate administration, charitable and philanthropic planning and special needs planning. He also has extensive experience in conducting educational seminars on legal topics related to his e...
David Lenz joined the firm in 2006, became a Partner in 2013, and was elected to serve as Managing Partner in 2020. His practice focuses primarily on planning for and administering wealth transfer for individuals and families, in addition to counseling charitable organizations. David considers each client’s unique estate planning needs, creating comprehensive plans and helping families communicate their purpose and goals to the next generation. This often includes complex charitable, re...
Bart spent the first part of his career as an insurance advisor and securities analyst. He later became a lawyer and developed his skills as a litigator and trust attorney. This wide range of experience enables him to give his clients a comprehensive view of financial planning not often found in estate planning attorneys. Bart Leonardi is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the Ohio State Bar Association. His practice is concentrated in the areas of estate plan...
Attorney Janet L. Lowder has devoted her career to defining, promoting, and protecting the legal rights of the elderly and of persons with mental and physical disabilities. Janet's activities have encompassed individual representation, litigation on a local and state-wide scale, representation of agencies and county programs serving people with disabilities and the elderly, legislation, and publication in professional journals. Janet is a recognized authority on Medicaid issues and estate pla...
Jane Higgins Marx joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in August 2000 and practices estate and business planning, probate, probate litigation, business succession planning and elder law. Jane counsels individuals, business owners, executives and caregivers on matters of estate planning, estate and gift taxation, income taxation of trusts and estates, charitable giving, business succession and probate. She provides comprehensive planning for disability, including counseling on special needs...
JULIA B. MEISTER is a partner in Taft's Litigation, Health & Life Sciences, and Private Client practice groups and heads the firm's Cincinnati Estates, Trusts and Fiduciary Litigation practice. She counsels clients and represents them in business, commercial, estate, guardianship, trust, and fiduciary matters and professional ethics and discipline matters before courts, administrative tribunals, and arbitrators. Julia advises clients on a variety of health care issues, including privacy, ...
Mr. Mire’s practice is concentrated in the areas of corporate and business law, real estate law, and probate. He has extensive experience counseling clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions of numerous businesses. Terry has also represented sellers and purchasers in commercial real estate transactions. He frequently appears in Ohio probate courts on estate matters. Terry has served as local counsel in business and real estate transactions.
Lisa Monihan is a Partner in the Trusts & Estates practice group, and she also serves as a practice group co- coordinator. Her practice is focused on wealth transfer planning for individuals and fiduciaries, including income, gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; trust and estate administration; multi-generational family issues; retirement planning; succession planning for closely-held businesses; and charitable planning. A client once told Lisa that the decision to...
Joe Rouse is the leader of the Private Client Services Group . He has lectured on several topics in seminars sponsored by various organizations in Greater Cincinnati; serves on the Board of Trustees of several local private foundations; and is active with other civic and charitable organizations. The major areas of his legal practice include estate and succession planning, general corporate representation (including mergers and acquisitions), probate and trust administration and tax related s...
As the second oldest of nine children, Bill began resolving family disputes at an early age. His childhood also gave him insights as to how children may perceive fairness and equity differently than do the parents. While some wealth strategists may believe that tax avoidance is the major objective of wealth planning, Bill believes that wealth planning is ultimately about family planning: how to devolve wealth without creating acrimony or bitterness among family members, and all the while pres...
Jennifer is a partner at Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell LLP. She serves as a high net worth family counselor with knowledge and understanding of sophisticated estate planning techniques and the broader needs of high net worth families. Her strength lies in communicating complex matters in plain terms and working collaboratively as part of an advisor team to provide practical counsel to multigenerational families consistent with their risk tolerance, goals, family dynamics, and desire for comple...
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