Wills and Trusts

Cincinnati Attorneys: Wills and Trusts

At Drew & Ward attorneys in our estate planning practice provide the thoughtful, comprehensive counsel necessary to help you identify long-term goals. After a discussion about your assets, your family, and other people you want to consider, the lawyers will recommend a comprehensive estate plan to achieve those goals. Essential instruments in every estate plan are a will and possibly one or more trusts. Through careful selection, design, and drafting of those documents, our lawyers will help you ensure your intentions are carried out, and your estate's losses to taxation will be as minimal as possible.

“I am conscientious about developing a solid relationship with a client and hearing their real concerns. Clients often learn what they want to accomplish as they talk it through."

Attorney Sybil B. Mullin

The will: A will is the basic, legally binding instrument that expresses a person's intentions after the person's death. In your will you can designate a personal representative to oversee the distribution of your assets, including personal property and mementos, according to instructions you have included in the will. When writing a will you also will nominate a guardian for your minor children. A "pour-over will" provides that assets automatically are transferred to a trust in the event of your death.

Trusts: If you are approaching retirement, saving for your children's college, providing for a child with special needs, providing for the private, speedy, and efficient transfer of property upon your death, preserving wealth to pass as a heritage to your heirs, or want to support a charitable endeavor, our attorneys will discuss the use of trusts and other complex vehicles:

• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable trusts and foundations for planned giving during your lifetime and as part of your heritage
• Trusts designed to minimize estate and gift taxation
• Trusts designed for the transfer of assets within a non-traditional family
• Revocable trusts, living trusts
• Life insurance trusts and other irrevocable trusts
• Special needs trusts to provide for you, your spouse, or a child with special needs in the event the person requires long-term medical care
• Family limited liability partnerships (family LLPs) and Limited Liability Companies (LLC) that allow for the smooth and tax-efficient transfer of closely-held business shares and family farms

The early stages of estate planning are critical. If you would like to arrange an initial consultation, please contact our Cincinnati office. Our lawyers will work with you to define your goals, identify significant aspects of your unique situation, and explain your alternatives.

Our estate planning attorneys: James H. Coogan, Frederic L. Goeddel, Anthony G. Covatta, Robert M. Smyth Richard G. Ward, Mark W. Jordan, and Sybil B. Mullin.

Related practice areas: estate planning, probate and estate administration, probate litigation, charitable trusts and foundations, business succession planning, gift and estate taxation, prenuptial agreements, division of marital assets, family law, real estate, employment law, mergers and acquisitions, and medical group representation