Probate Matters—Estates, Guardianships, Conservatorships, Adoptions
When a person passes away, whether or not they have a will or other estate plan in place, the Probate Court is generally involved to some extent in settling the decedent’s estate. The procedures for making sure that Ohio’s laws are applied properly to a person’s estate after his or her death must be followed exactly to ensure that real estate and other property are properly transferred to the intended parties, to make sure that the decedent’s debts are paid, if required, and to coordinate the distribution of both assets that are governed by the probate procedure and those such as Payable on Death bank accounts that are not controlled by probate rules.
Stoneman Law Office handles all probate matters in all counties in Ohio, representing executors/administrators, family members of a decedent and other heirs. The firm also assists families in the administration and termination of trusts whether or not an estate is required to be administrated in such situations.
Facing the death of a loved one is one of the most difficult events that anyone has to face. Having to navigate through the laws and procedures to make sure the decedent’s intentions about the distribution of his or her assets are properly followed can be complicated and can add an additional burden on the surviving family members. Our goal is to relieve the family members of this burden and provide competent and caring advice to the decedent’s loved ones in this area.
There are also times when a person becomes mentally incompetent or physically incapacitated, and he or she or the person’s family finds it necessary to establish a guardianship or conservatorship under the control of the Probate Court. This is often necessary to ensure that someone with reduced or limited abilities is not taken advantage of, can maintain his or her dignity and can receive the level of care and support necessary. Guardianships for minors are also necessary in various situations.
Adoptions are one of the areas of law that bring people into the legal and court system for a positive reason. Stoneman Law Office handles all types of adoptions, whether the child is placed through a public or private agency and in step-parent or other relative adoptions.