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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
If you…
Have assets you want to protect…
Are Married or have children…
Own a business or real estate...
Are no longer as young as you used to be
…Are YOU’RE UNABLE TO WORK

The time is the Now.

Get Consultation

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 1

    Will/trust

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  • 2

    Durable power of attorney

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  • 3

    Beneficiary designations

    the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

  • 4

    Letter of intent

    when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it

  • 5

    Healthcare power of attorney

    to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries,

  • 6

    Guardianship designations

    but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining

Main Areas Of Practice

  • Elder
    law

  • Estate
    planning

  • Long term
    care planning

  • Medicaid
    planning

  • Guardianship

  • Probate

  • Wills
    & Trusts

  • Beneficiary
    litigation

Reviews

1/2

"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
2/2

"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

An estate planning attorney is specifically experienced in helping their clients ensure their affairs are in order so that they are prepared for their possible incapacitation and death. Estate planning attorneys often deal with living wills, trusts, power of attorneys, and many other estate planning tools.

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.

While you do not technically need a lawyer to create an estate plan, it is not advised to go at it alone. Estate plans are full of complicated legal documents and any single mistake has the potential to cause delays, heartache, and financial complications.

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.

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