Expect the Unexpected in 2020. But at least you’ll have a plan?
We help you protect what you care about the most with a personalized approach to planning what comes next.
Why Should I Hire an Estate Planning Attorney
It’s simple — you already have an estate plan. If you haven’t created the documents yourself, the “plan” follows intestate succession laws, which means there is already a plan in place for who will get what and who will make decisions on your behalf should you not be able to make those decisions on your own.
Without a plan, your estate will enter probate and a judge will decide who will make decisions on your behalf and who will get what.
The benefit of an estate plan is you control what happens next should you become incapacitated or pass away. This saves your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions without your direction. It also eliminates the chance of people fighting over your assets.

Premier Estate Lawyer in Ohio
- Estate Planning
- Probate
- Elder Law
- Long-term Care Planning
- Medicaid Planning
The time is the Now.
When Should I Hire an Estate Planning Attorney?
We all have different goals and needs. But what connects us all is that we want the best for the people we love. An estate plan allows you to outline your wishes and ensure that they are carried out.
What documents should be in most estate plans
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1
Will/trust
The primary function of both a will and a trust is to name the beneficiaries for your property in the event of your death.
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2
Durable power of attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney stays in effect if you become incapacitated - allowing the person you designate to make decisions on your behalf.
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3
Beneficiary designations
Beneficiary Designations are where you can list the person or persons who will receive a particular asset in the event of your death.
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4
Letter of intent
A Letter of Intent is left to your beneficiary in order to explain what should be done with your assets, and can also include special requests.
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5
Healthcare power of attorney
A Healthcare Power of Attorney allows you to designate a specific person to make decisions about your health if you are unable to do so yourself.
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6
Guardianship designations
A Guardianship Designation is a legal document where you can name the legal guardian of your minor children in the event of your death.
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1
Will/trust
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing
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2
Durable power of attorney
and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been
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3
Beneficiary designations
the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s
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4
Letter of intent
when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it
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5
Healthcare power of attorney
to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries,
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6
Guardianship designations
but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining
Main Areas Of Practice
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Elder
law -
Estate
planning -
Long term
care planning -
Medicaid
planning -
Guardianship
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Probate
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Wills
& Trusts -
Beneficiary
litigation
Reviews
"Erika is very quick and knowledgeable with her answers to my questions. Since being a business owner has been a new adventure in my life, she has made sure everything was in the right place, at the right time and always correct!"
KRISFormer Client
"I have had, on two separate occasions, hired Mrs. Apelis to do estate planning and incorporation work. She is professional, accessible, prompt and thorough. She answered all of our questions in detail and made us feel confident that we were being well represented. I would highly recommend her to those in need of legal representation."
BOBFormer Client
Create the perfect estate plan
Last Will & Testament
Control how your estate will be handled and distributed after you pass away.
Living Trust
Designate a trustee to manage and be the beneficiary for specific assets.
Will Package
The most crucial documents to ensure your wishes are followed when you pass.
Estate Planning Package
The necessary documents to organize your assets and create an estate plan.
Asset Protection
Financial planning to protect your assets from creditors and other claims.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designate an agent to legally make healthcare decisions on your behalf.
Power of Attorney
Give another person the authority to act on your behalf in legal or other matters.
Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will
Ensure your wishes for medical treatment are carried out if you are incapacitated.
Adult Guardianship
Designate the person who will make decisions for you if you cannot make them.
Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
Meet the qualifications for Medicaid while ensuring your assets are protected.
Pooled Income Trust
Preserve your assets while becoming financially eligible for public assistance.
Apply for Medicaid
Get government assistance with medical bills and some other health services.
Medicaid Package
The help you need to plan correctly for Medicaid application and approval.
Create the perfect estate plan
Medicaid Spousal Refusal Letter
Qualify for Medicaid, avoid the look-back period, and still protect your assets.
Inheritance Law
Ensure your estate is distributed according to your wishes after your death.
Estate Administration
After your death, your estate will be managed according to the rules you outline.
Will Probate
Authenticate someone’s last will and testament in order to distribute their estate.
Request a Free Consultation
All Consultations Are Free of Charge
FAQ
Choosing an estate planning attorney is a crucial part of planning for your future. Before you make a decision, here are some questions to ask your attorney
- Is estate planning your sole focus?
- What estate planning tools do you expect I will need?
- Do I need a Power of Attorney?
- How can I best prepare for the unexpected?
Both wills and trusts are important estate planning tools, and though they have many similarities, they serve different purposes. They are often used together to create a complete estate plan. One important difference between the two is that a will only goes into effect after you pass away.
You are never too young to create an estate plan. The future is unpredictable, and in order to make sure your loved ones are protected, and your estate is distributed according to your wishes, you need to have an estate plan in place. Estate plans are not one size fits all, and the plan you put in place at 30 will be different than one you will have at 65.
Cleveland Office
1375 East Ninth Street, One Cleveland Center, 29th Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1793216-978-5353