Estate Plans Are An Expression Of Love
For anything involving an estate – from setting up a will to dealing with probate – you need an experienced lawyer. Our attorneys at Russo, Rosalina & Co., LPA, have spent over 28 years helping more than 45,000 people with a wide range of probate and estate planning issues.
Contact us to set up a personal consultation with one of our probate and estate planning lawyers. Our attorneys consult accountants and other experts when determining the assets and debts of estates. Their goal is expediting the probate process in order to help our clients avoid legal complications and additional anxiety or stress related to the settlement of estates.
We Provide A Full Range Of Estate Planning Services
Our attorneys can help you with any of the following issues:
- Wills, trusts and other estate planning components: One of our lawyers will sit down with you, get to know you and your wishes and then tailor the ideal arrangement of trusts, living trusts, wills and other measures to fit your needs.
- Health care directives and financial powers of attorney: These documents include your wishes regarding end-of-life care and allow someone you trust to make financial decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated and unable to make these decisions yourself.
- Estate administration: Our attorneys appear before the probate courts throughout northeastern Ohio to administer hundreds of estates each year in an efficient and effective manner.
- Will contests: We help people with all types of adversary actions, including will contests, inheritance disputes, declaratory actions and concealment actions. Our attorneys represent clients in cases involving undue influence and competency issues. We can also help you with trust disputes and issues involving breach of fiduciary duty as well as concealment of assets.
We serve clients throughout northeastern Ohio, including Cleveland, Parma, Euclid and Cleveland Heights. Our attorneys are also qualified to help people with probate and estate issues that involve international law, including matters in Italy.
Deciding Who Will Take Over: Powers of Attorney
Power of attorney is essential to a comprehensive and secure estate plan. It consists of a legal document that gives someone the authority to act on your behalf. In Ohio, many estate plans include two types of power of attorney, one for finances and one for healthcare. These powers of attorney are durable, which means the power of attorney holds after incapacitation.
Financial powers of attorney determine who will oversee your financial affairs. A healthcare power of attorney names the individual who will make important decisions regarding your medical care if you cannot make them yourself. When no power of attorney is named, the court will appoint a guardian to make those decisions.
Our experienced estate planning attorneys can help draft customized power of attorney documents to suit your needs and safeguard your interests. By evaluating your situation and which powers of attorney are appropriate to grant, we can give you peace of mind that you and your loved ones will be protected.
Long-Term Care Planning
As people age, some may need to move to a long-term care facility or hire an in-home nursing aide. This type of care costs can be vast, and no one wants to burden their family members with that responsibility. Taking steps to be proactive about planning for long-term care needs can alleviate some of the stress and burden on loved ones and ensure that you or your loved one can get the care they deserve.
At Russo, Rosalina & Co., LPA, our estate planning attorneys will get to know your needs, hopes and plans for the future and discuss your long-term care options. A long-term care plan can include asset protection and Medicaid planning measures, including irrevocable trusts and long-term care insurance. We will analyze your assets and other financial information to determine your best options and tailor a plan to protect you and your family.
Wills And Trusts: The Cornerstone Of Most Estate Plans
Wills and trusts are often the most utilized tools in estate planning. Deciding who you wish to inherit your estate is a common goal and purpose for many clients.
A will allows you to dictate your wishes about the distribution of your estate after your death, including designating a guardian for minor children, distributing property and naming an executor of your estate. The courts will decide for you under Ohio state laws if a will is not in place. These decisions may not reflect your wishes, so you must include a will in your estate plan to protect your interests.
Unlike a will, which only has legal authority after death, a trust may be used to manage assets during a person’s lifetime or after death. When creating a trust, the grantor transfers assets to a trustee, who manages the assets for the named beneficiaries. When assets are placed in a trust, they do not need to go through the probate process, making it easier on your loved ones and shielding assets from public records. There are various types of trusts our attorneys can assist you with. We will sit down with you and determine which is best for your goals.
Revocable And Irrevocable Trusts
Revocable and irrevocable trusts are different types of trusts with advantages and use depending on your needs. A revocable trust can be changed anytime, whereas an irrevocable trust cannot be changed.
A significant advantage of a revocable trust is the flexibility that comes with it. While you may be certain now that your wishes will not change, you may want to add or remove a beneficiary, for example. With a revocable trust, you can make that change without creating an entirely new one. However, a revocable trust does not protect the assets in your trust as an irrevocable trust does.
Our experienced estate planning attorneys can analyze your situation to help you decide on the best kind of trust to suit your needs. With years of experience assisting clients with protecting their assets and futures, you can trust us to provide you with trustworthy and honest legal guidance.
The Time To Create Or Update Your Estate Plan Is Now
Don’t worry if you are not sure what, exactly, you need within the area of probate and estate planning. Contact Russo, Rosalina & Co., LPA, online or by calling 440-663-1535 to let our lawyers guide you toward what you need. Ours is a name you know and can trust.