Did a caretaker use his or her position to get a disproportional share of an estate? Has a will or trust of your parent or relative been changed "unfairly" to exclude you? Were so called "gifts" made before your parent or relative died? Are there missing assets which should be in the estate?

Based upon years of experience, I understand the hurt you feel during an estate dispute. Clients have told me: "I wake up in the middle of the night wondering what I did wrong" or "I feel like I have been thrown off a 10 story building by my own family."

I try to provide sympathetic assistance during trying times and you can feel comfortable talking to me.

I have an informal personality and believe I am easy to talk to. Many of my cases have similar fact patterns and so I can often guess what you will say next.

Probate disputes are the sole focus of my law practice. My probate litigation practice deals with:

Will contests - where I challenge or defend the validity of the will.

Trusts contests - where I challenge or defend a trust or trust amendment.

Farm inheritance disputes - where I challenge or defend a will, trust or deed involving a farm.

Trust/will constructions - when there is confusing or conflicting language; I ask the Court to interpret the language in the will or trust.

Pre-death gifts and transfers - where I challenge or defend questionable asset transfers made during a person's lifetime. Known formally as "inter vivos transfers," these transfers may be made by gift, deed or designation of a beneficiary on a bank account, brokerage account, security, annuity, insurance policy, retirement account or other asset.

Breaches of fiduciary duty - when trustees, executors, persons holding a power of attorney, guardians or other individuals who abuse their position by acting in their own personal interest instead of the best interest of the asset owner or beneficiary.

Concealment of assets - when someone has taken or hidden assets that rightfully belong in an estate.

Inheritance enforcement - when someone is attempting to enforce their rights, usually under a will or trust.

Inheritance disputes or estate disputes - these are additional terms used to describe the probate disputes above.

My niche as a probate litigation lawyer is based upon more than 25 years of experience litigating these estate disputes as well as my years of handling estate administrations and drafting documents. My willingness to take many cases on a contingency fee basis is greatly beneficial to my clients who cannot afford to pay an attorney at an hourly rate.

MY APPROACH TO YOUR CASE

As probate litigation cases are very fact intensive, I have developed a system of obtaining comprehensive information from my clients, witnesses and related documents.

I initially speak to clients on the phone to assess their case. I often make a pretty good assessment of your case during this initial contact.

I like to meet with my client personally, if possible.
I gather information through interrogatories (written questions) and requests for documents.

I obtain and review the decedent's medical records.

I subpoena other relevant documents such as lawyer's notes and bank records.

Take depositions of potential witnesses, including opposing parties, attorneys and other persons with knowledge of your case. I have taken hundreds of probate dispute depositions. Depositions are where you make or break your case.

There are similar fact patterns in probate litigation cases and I am very familiar with them. My knowledge of these patterns helps me to ask the right questions and build strong support for your case.

I am one of only a small number of Ohio attorneys who have actually tried a number of probate disputes. Also, I am one of only a small number of Ohio attorneys who take these cases on a contingency fee basis.

I see cases through to their completion.

My practice is statewide.