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2024

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Best Estate Planning Lawyers in Cleveland, OH

Our Recommended Top 12

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Cleveland Estate Planning Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

117Reviewed

75Curated

12Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

1350 Euclid Ave. - Suite 280, Cleveland, OH 44115

Why choose this provider?

Rhodium Law, LLC, drafts guardianship designations, living trusts, powers of attorney, and wills to protect the legacy of Cleveland clients. Principal attorney Andrew C. Goodwin reviews and updates estate plans to reflect major life changes and collaborates with CPAs, financial planners, and wealth managers to maximize assets and minimize tax liabilities. Inspired by his experience caring for his mother with dementia, he transitioned from serving as in-house counsel for a global hospital system to founding his estate planning practice.

North Royalton, OH 44133

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (39)

Why choose this provider?

Kirner & Boldt Co., L.P.A. serves the community of North Royalton, Ohio and its surrounding areas. The full-service law firm was established in 1989 and some of their practice areas include divorce, dissolution and custody matters, post-divorce and modification issues, guardianship and estate administration, elder law, and more. Kirner & Boldt Co., L.P.A. has received an Excellent Avvo Rating of 8.6 for being a Featured Family Attorney.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Boldt - Managing PartnerActive38 yrs

Cleveland, OH 44114

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Cavitch, Familo & Durkin Co., LPA is a Cleveland, Ohio-based law firm that provides services in the categories of business law, capital and finance, disability and special needs planning, elder law, employment law, and more. The firm also specializes in family law, litigation, probate, and real estate. Cavitch, Familo & Durkin Co., LPA was a recipient of the 2017 Best Law Firms Award by the U.S. News and World Report.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Marcus Notaro - Associate AttorneyActive6 yrs
Michael Cohan - Shareholder and Managing PartnerActive47 yrs

Rocky River, OH 44116

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Ronald H. Mills & Associates is a law firm that is located in Rocky River, Ohio and serves clients throughout northeast Ohio, including Rocky River, Cleveland, Lakewood, Westlake, North Olmstead, Avon, Elyria, Fairview Park, Lorain, Olmstead Falls, and more. Established in 1972, their practice areas include real estate, business law, and estate planning. Some of their estate planning services include simple wills, powers of attorney, complicated trusts, and more. Ronald H. Mills & Associates aims to help clients reduce tax consequences.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Ronald Mills - Principal / OwnerActive52 yrs

Cleveland, OH 44115

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (11)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper, LLC is a Cleveland, Ohio law firm that has been in practice since 1933. Some of their services include business and corporate law, employment law, workers’ compensation defense, sports and entertainment law, and more. Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper, LLC the recipient of the 2015 AV Preeminent for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability Award from Martindale-Hubbell.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Richard Cooper - Member / PartnerActive47 yrs
Karen Moss - MemberActive35 yrs

6105 Parkland Boulevard, Suite 140, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd. has law offices in Mayfield Heights, Independence, and Westlake, Ohio. Established in 1993, their practice areas include estate planning, elder law, probate, trusts and estate administration, and business law. Their lawyers will tailor their estate plans to meet the specific needs and goals of their clients by using tools such as trusts, safe trusts, marital trusts, QTIP trusts, and more. Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd. is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Solomon - PartnerActive48 yrs

Seven Hills, OH 44131

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Scott A. Williams & Associates, LPA is a law firm that has served the community of Seven Hills, Ohio and its surrounding areas for over 25 years. Some of their areas of practice include estate planning, inheritance protections, and estate settlement. The firm has received an Avvo Superb Rating of 10.0 for being a Top Estate Planning Attorney and was the recipient of the 2016 Avvo Client’s Choice in the Estate Planning category.

17407 Lorain Ave Ste 207, Cleveland, OH 44111

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (8)
Facebook
5.0 (5)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Armstrong Law Offices based out of Cleveland, Ohio is a law firm with areas of practice including domestic relations including dissolution or divorce, civil protection orders such as anti-stalking and domestic violence, adoption, probate, wills and estate planning, and criminal defense. Armstrong Law Offices has received an Avvo Superb rating of 9.3 for being a Top Family Attorney.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Erin Armstrong - PrincipalActive27 yrs

Cleveland, OH 44113

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
6.8 (144)
Avvo
4.9 (42)

Why choose this provider?

The O'Brien Law Firm LLC has law offices located in Cleveland, Willoughby, and Beachwood, Ohio. The firm is comprised of estate planning and Medicaid planning attorneys. Some of their services include asset protection and business planning, elder law and Medicaid services, estate planning, family-owned businesses and farms, financial planning assistance, and more. Michael Joseph O'Brien has received an Excellent Avvo Rating of 8.3 for being a Featured Estate Planning Attorney.

Independence, OH 44131

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Baron Law, LLC serves the community of Independence, Ohio. Some of their areas of practice include estate planning, wills and trust, estates and trust, probate, Medicaid planning, and business. Their estate planning services include financial power of attorney, guardianships, healthcare power of attorney, and more. Baron Law, LLC has won the 2016 Avvo Clients’ Choice for Estate Planning award.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Dan Baron - Founding MemberActive9 yrs

Cleveland, OH 44114

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.1 (9)
Facebook
5.0 (1)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

RaslanPla & Company, LLC has been serving the people Cleveland, Ohio and its surrounding areas since for over 15 years. Some of the laws they practice include civil litigation, family law, immigration, and probate. Their probate areas of practice include estate planning, probate administration, and probate litigation and their probate services include the involvement of various devices such as wills, trusts, powers of attorneys, and living wills. The RaslanPla & Company, LLC attorneys aim for honesty and diligence to serve their valued clients.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Lila Raslan - PartnerActive23 yrs

Avon Lake, OH 44012

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (17)
Avvo
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Joseph L. Motta Co., LPA is a law firm that practices out of Avon Lake, Ohio. They specialize in estate planning and elder law with practice areas that include estate planning, probate and estate administration, long-term care and Medicaid planning, and more. Joseph L. Motta, Attorney at Law is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and a member of the “Estate Planning Council of Cleveland.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Joseph Motta - PrincipalActive41 yrs

Compare our Top Estate Planning Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Rhodium Law, LLC
1350 Euclid Ave. - Suite 280, Cleveland, OH 44115
Kirner & Boldt Co., L.P.A.
North Royalton, OH 44133
Cavitch, Familo & Durkin Co., LPA
Cleveland, OH 44114
Ronald H. Mills & Associates
Rocky River, OH 44116
Nicola, Gudbranson & Cooper, LLC
Cleveland, OH 44115
Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd.
6105 Parkland Boulevard, Suite 140, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Scott A. Williams & Associates, LPA
Seven Hills, OH 44131
Armstrong Law Offices
17407 Lorain Ave Ste 207, Cleveland, OH 44111
The O'Brien Law Firm LLC
Cleveland, OH 44113
Baron Law, LLC
Independence, OH 44131
RaslanPla & Company, LLC
Cleveland, OH 44114
Joseph L. Motta Co., LPA
Avon Lake, OH 44012

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What does an estate planning attorney do?

    An estate consists of the total assets that form an individual’s net worth, no matter how large or small. Estate planning attorneys use their in-depth knowledge of state and federal laws to help people best manage what will happen with their estates after they die or become incapacitated. Estate planning attorneys can prepare wills, form trusts, reduce estate tax burdens, and decrease or eliminate the need for probate court.

  • What are valuable estate planning services an attorney can provide?

    With the many intricacies of assets, taxes, and state and federal laws that can affect a person’s estate, an estate planning lawyer can be a valuable professional asset, no matter how large or small a person’s estate may be. An estate planning attorney can:

    • Create a comprehensive plan to protect a client's legacy, that includes a will, power of attorney, trusts, life insurance, and advanced medical directives
    • Optimize an estate plan as tax laws, life events, assets, and goals change over time
    • Protect a client’s loved ones by preventing assets from entering probate
    • Help clients designate a person to make important health decisions for them if they become incapacitated

  • Can estate planning attorneys help create trusts/wills?

    Estate planning attorneys can create trusts and wills. Through a will, an attorney can help a client designate their estate’s beneficiaries and assign an executor to represent the will in probate court. These attorneys can also create trusts, allowing a client to assign a trustee to oversee the estate, potentially avoiding probate court and holding assets to be distributed over time.

  • Is estate planning the same as drafting a will?

    While both estate plans and wills officially document how their owners wish to allocate certain assets after their death, there are key differences. In estate planning, a will is often just one of several documents that form a comprehensive plan. In a will, people must designate a person responsible for executing their will after their death. The will can include guardians for their children when they die and beneficiaries to receive an inheritance of money, property, and other assets.

  • What are the steps involved in estate planning?

    To create a thorough and effective estate plan, individuals should follow these steps:

    • Prepare a will that designates an estate executor; indicate who will receive what assets, and assign a trust and guardians for any children. Consider using an attorney if the will is in any way complex.
    • To avoid probate, have an attorney create a revocable living trust.
    • Assign beneficiaries to other assets, such as life insurance policies, retirement plans, and securities.
    • Use an attorney to prepare a living will, name a health care proxy, and create a HIPAA release form.
    • Update the plan every five years.

  • How long does the estate planning process last?

    The length of the process can vary greatly depending on the size and complexity of the estate, the specific law office, and whether there’s an emergency or urgent need. If you’re using an attorney, you can generally expect it to take one to five weeks. You may be able to speed up the process by immediately providing your attorney with any bank statements or other documents they need.

  • What is a trust?

    A trust is an agreement between a grantor, a trustee, and a beneficiary. In this agreement, the grantor allocates funds or real property assets to the trustee to be held either until the grantor passes away or until a specific, agreed-upon date. At that point, it's the responsibility of the trustee to distribute funds or property to the beneficiary or beneficiaries. While there are similarities between a will and a trust, a will is a more comprehensive document that typically requires probate court, while a trust allows assets to pass to the beneficiary without probate.