One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when setting up a trust is who to name as your trustee. It’s a role that requires a great deal of responsibility, trust, and integrity—this person (or entity) will be managing your assets and ensuring your wishes are carried out long after you’re gone. That’s a big deal.

When setting up an estate plan, many Ohio families choose a revocable living trust to avoid probate and simplify things for their loved ones. But here’s a common mistake I see: They forget to include a pour-over will.

As parents, we do everything we can to protect our children. We buckle them into car seats, make sure they eat healthy, and teach them to look both ways before crossing the street. But one thing many parents overlook is estate planning with kids—a critical step in securing your child’s future if something unexpected happens.

As estate planning attorneys in Cincinnati, we talk to people every day who want to make sure their loved ones are taken care of after they’re gone. One of the biggest questions we get is: Should I have a Will or a Trust? The answer depends on your goals, but the biggest difference between the two is how your assets are handled after you pass away.

When it comes to estate planning, many Ohio families assume that drafting a will is enough to protect their loved ones. It’s easy to see why—there are countless online tools promising quick and inexpensive DIY wills. But here’s the truth: a DIY will can create more problems than it solves.

When people think about estate planning, they often focus on what happens after they pass away. But just as important—if not more so—is planning for what happens during your lifetime if you become unable to manage your own affairs. One of the most powerful estate planning tools to address this is a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA). Without it, your loved ones could be left navigating a legal maze just to help manage your finances, pay bills, or handle critical decisions.

The holiday season isn’t just about gifts and celebrations—it’s also an opportunity to focus on what truly matters: your family’s future. With loved ones gathered, it’s a perfect time to consider adding an estate plan to your holiday priorities.

The Great Wealth Transfer is underway, with trillions of dollars set to be passed down from one generation to the next in the coming decades. This significant shift presents both opportunities and challenges for families, making estate planning more crucial than ever.

Probably every parent who has watched the news lately has felt the heartbreak over what’s happening to immigrant families at the border due to the Trump administration’s immigration regulations.

It always surprises me to hear parents who have a child with special needs tell me that they were not aware of what they needed to do to ensure the future well-being and care of their child is properly handled. Or sometimes, they tell me they didn’t know they needed to do anything at all.