After someone dies, handling their property can feel overwhelming, especially when you are responsible for the estate and unsure where to begin. Ohio law gives you a defined process for identifying and reporting property that belongs in the probate estate....
Most people in Ohio don’t think about writing a living will because they assume they may never need it. But, sorry for using this cliché phrase, life can be unpredictable. An unexpected medical emergency can leave you incapacitated and you may not be able to advocate...
Picture a council member texting a colleague about an upcoming zoning vote while making dinner at home. It feels private, yet that message may belong to the public as much as one typed on a city computer. In Ohio, that distinction has little to do with which phone you...
When making an estate plan, it is very natural to think of your most valuable assets first, at least from a financial perspective. Maybe you own stocks, bonds or other investments. Perhaps you have extensive savings. Maybe you need to figure out how you are going to...
To disinherit someone with your estate plan, it is best to take direct steps to do so. Parents are sometimes tempted just to leave a child out of the will, for example, evenly distributing all of their assets to that child's siblings. They believe this is enough to...
Outstanding debts still have to be paid during estate administration. This is a task that is often handled by the estate administrator. These debts will look different from one case to the next. Many people have credit card debt, for example, or outstanding car loans...
Many people delay estate planning because they believe they have plenty of time or assume their family will automatically inherit everything. Yet, if you die without an estate plan in Ohio, state law, not your personal wishes, determines who receives your property....
One of the challenges that can stymie Ohio residents who are doing or updating their estate plans is how to protect future beneficiaries from the problems sudden wealth can present to people. Ideally, your proposed beneficiaries will be well-equipped to manage and use...
You have a lot of decisions to make when you’re creating your estate plan. Some of these center around what will happen to your assets, but there are others. A key decision is who will serve as the administrator of your estate. The estate administrator (often known as...
Creating an estate plan is one option that you have for letting your loved ones know your wishes for your property, and in case you become incapacitated. When it comes to your property, having everything written out as comprehensively as possible is beneficial. By...
