Estate Planning Lawyer in Ashland, OH
At Brumbaugh Law Firm, we help families in Ashland and across Ashland County put a plan in place for what happens if they get sick, need care, or pass away. Since 2002, we have helped Ohio families plan with confidence.
We hold a 5.0-star client rating, BBB accreditation with an A+ rating, and membership in Ohio NAELA. Our founder has built the practice around teaching first, so you understand your options before you commit to anything.
Estate planning means deciding who handles your money and your medical care if you cannot, and who receives your home and savings after you are gone. That usually includes a will, a power of attorney, and an advance directive for medical decisions.
Without a plan, your family may end up in Ashland County Probate Court, waiting months for permission to handle things you could have arranged in an afternoon.
You do not need a large estate for this to matter. We offer free educational workshops and a no-cost consultation, so you can ask questions, learn how estate planning works, and decide at your own pace.
What Our Clients Say About Us
“We both feel a lot better and relieved that everything will be taken care of as we get older.”- James & Linda T.
Most couples describe this same relief once they finally sit down and get their plan in place.
“Michael was so helpful in explaining issues in a way that we could understand… without a doubt, he puts his heart into his work.”- David H
Plain explanations come first, before any decisions are made.
“We were going to lose our house, cars, everything… we were able to keep our house and cars.”- John W
Care costs are what families fear most, and planning ahead is what changes that outcome.
“Everyone there went out of their way to make things pleasant… Even today, I know if I should ever need further assistance, I can call and be treated wonderfully well.”- Karen B
The door stays open long after the paperwork is signed.
“Mike did a fantastic job, he took care of everything… He’s a very caring person.”- Robert S
Handling the paperwork and the process is part of the job, not something families figure out alone.
Necessary Documents for an Ohio Estate Plan
Most plans for Ashland County families are built from a handful of documents, reviewed together so nothing contradicts anything else.
- A will, which says who receives your property and who is in charge of carrying out your wishes
- A revocable living trust, a legal container that holds your property so your family may avoid probate court
- A power of attorney, the document that lets someone you trust handle money, banking, and the house if you cannot
- A healthcare power of attorney and living will, which name who speaks for you medically and record your wishes about care
- Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, which pass outside your will and are often outdated
According to the Caring.com 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study, only about 33% of Americans have a will or living trust, so most families start from zero.
Our Estate Planning Services in Ashland County
Brumbaugh Law Firm helps Ashland families create fully implemented estate plans that protect independence, preserve assets, and keep loved ones out of avoidable trouble at the Ashland County Probate Court.
- Estate Planning Lawyer
- Trust & Will Lawyer
- Power of Attorney Lawyer
- Probate Lawyer
- Elder Law Lawyer
- Long-Term Care Lawyer
- Medicaid Planning Lawyer
- Medicaid Crisis Planning Lawyer
- Asset Protection Lawyer
- Care Navigation Lawyer
- Memory Care Lawyer
- Uncontested Guardianship Lawyer
Get Trusted Legal Support Today
For straightforward legal advice and representation, contact Brumbaugh Law. Call (419) 504-4674 to schedule your consultation.
Why Ashland Clients Choose Brumbaugh Law Firm
Education-First Planning
The firm’s free “3 Secrets of Estate Planning and Asset Protection” workshop lets you learn what a will, a trust, and a power of attorney each do before you spend a dollar. You ask questions, go home, and decide later.
Recognition for Our Work
Our approach is backed by 23 years of practice since 2002, a 5.0-star client rating, BBB accreditation with an A+ rating, and membership in Ohio NAELA, the state chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
Fully Implemented Plans
Signed papers in a drawer do not protect a spouse. We help you make sure accounts, deeds, and beneficiary forms actually match the plan, so your family is not untangling it later at the Ashland County Probate Court.
Medicaid Planning is a Priority
Long-term care is part of the conversation from the start. According to the Ohio Department of Medicaid, as of 2026 the income limit for long-term care Medicaid is $2,982 per month for an individual. Ohio’s estate recovery program allows the state to seek reimbursement from a deceased recipient’s probate estate, which makes Medicaid planning a real part of any Ashland County estate plan.
Why an Unfunded Trust Offers No Protection in Ohio and The Importance of Power of Attorney Documents
A trust is a legal container. If your house, bank accounts, and other property are never retitled into it, the container sits empty and those assets still go through probate.
Funding is the step most do-it-yourself kits skip entirely.
Without a power of attorney, if you become incompetent, a court may have to appoint a guardian under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2111, which is a lengthy and costly process.
Life Events That Signal It Is Time to Revisit Your Plan
- A marriage, divorce, or the death of someone named in your documents
- A serious diagnosis or a stay in a nursing home
- Selling or refinancing your home, or opening new accounts
- Beneficiary forms on an old life insurance policy or retirement account that no longer match your will
Ohio repealed its state estate tax in 2013, so most families here are planning around probate, a spouse, and long-term care. Our free workshops walk through all of it, and a conversation about your estate plan costs you nothing.
Get To Know Brumbaugh Law Firm
Michael Brumbaugh started Brumbaugh Law Firm in 2002, and for more than twenty years he has helped Ohio families plan ahead with confidence and care. The practice grew from a general law office into a firm focused on elder law and estate planning, built around education, honesty, and community.
As a lawyer, Michael believes families make the best decisions when they understand their options first. Michael’s wife, Pam, also works in the firm, and she brings a social work background and decades of community service, walking families through hard conversations with patience and clarity.
Our Process for Ashland Families
1. Free educational consultation
You start by learning, not signing. Come to a free “3 Secrets of Estate Planning and Asset Protection” workshop or sit down with us one on one, ask every question you have, and leave with no obligation.
2. Understanding your situation
We look at your family, your home, your savings, and your health, including whether long-term care costs could be a concern. This is where we tell you honestly what you need and what you do not.
3. Building your plan
Your plan is built around your goals, not a template. That may include a will, a trust, a power of attorney, health care directives, and Medicaid planning when it fits.
4. Review and approval
We walk through every document with you in plain language before anything is signed. Nothing gets finalized until you understand what it says and why it is there.
5. Signing and funding
Documents are properly signed, and your house, bank accounts, and other property are titled to match the plan. This is the step that makes a plan actually work when your family needs it.
6. We stay reachable
Health changes, families change, and Ohio law changes. You will know exactly how to reach us when something shifts, whether that is a new diagnosis, a move, or a question about the Ashland County Probate Court.
Common Questions About Estate Planning in Ashland, Ohio
Do I really need a lawyer to make a will in Ohio, or can I just use one of those online will kits?
Ohio law lets you write your own will, but it must be signed by you and witnessed by two people who receive nothing under it. Kits usually miss what matters most: no power of attorney, no advance directive, and no help making sure your accounts and house are titled the way your plan assumes.
Additionally, most kits have a disclaimer telling the person using it that they should have an attorney review the documents which can end up costing more than if the attorney had just prepared the documents from the beginning!
What is the difference between a will and a living trust in Ohio?
A will tells the probate court who gets what after you die, and the court supervises the process. A living trust is a legal container you place your property into while you are alive, so it can pass to your family without court supervision.
What happens if I die without a will in Ashland County?
Ohio’s intestacy law, found in Chapter 2105 of the Ohio Revised Code, decides who inherits, not you. Your spouse may receive everything if all children are also your spouse’s, but blended families often split the estate in ways people never intended
What is a durable power of attorney, and why does everyone say I need one?
A durable power of attorney lets someone you trust handle money matters for you if you cannot, such as paying bills or dealing with the bank. Without one, your spouse may have to ask the probate court to be appointed guardian, which costs time and money.
What is the difference between a health care power of attorney and a living will in Ohio?
A health care power of attorney names the person who makes medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. A living will is your written instruction about end-of-life care when you are permanently unconscious or terminally ill. Ohio families typically sign both, and Brumbaugh Law Firm reviews them together so the two documents never contradict each other.
How does Ohio Medicaid’s five-year look-back affect my estate plan?
When you apply for Medicaid to help pay for nursing home care, Ohio reviews the previous five years of gifts and transfers. Money or property given away in that window can create a penalty period where Medicaid will not pay. Planning ahead gives you more options, which is why Medicaid planning is part of the conversation at Brumbaugh Law Firm long before a crisis hits. Additionally, it is important to realize that having assets in a revocable trust is not an effective planning technique for Medicaid planning. This is why we also educate families on the use of irrevocable asset protection trusts that allow a person to avoid probate and to protect assets from nursing home costs.
Does Ohio have an estate tax I need to worry about?
Ohio repealed its state estate tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2013, so most Ohio families owe no state estate tax. The federal estate tax applies only to very large estates, well above what a typical home, savings, and pension add up to.
How long does probate take in Ashland County?
A straightforward estate in Ashland County Probate Court commonly takes six months to a year, partly because Ohio gives creditors six months from the date of death to file claims. Real estate, out-of-state property, or family disagreements can stretch it further.
When should I update my plan after it is signed?
Review your plan after a marriage, divorce, death, birth, a move to another state, or a major change in your health or property. Beneficiary forms on retirement accounts and life insurance override your will, so those should get checked too. A plan that was never funded or updated often fails at exactly the moment your family needs it.
Local Resources in Ashland for Estate Planning
- Ashland County Probate Court
Handles wills, guardianships, and the administration of decedents’ estates under Ohio law.
- Ashland County Clerk of Courts
Maintains official court records and filings for civil and probate proceedings in the county.
- Ashland County Recorder’s Office
Records and preserves deeds, mortgages, and other real property documents for the county.
- Ashland County Department of Job and Family Services
Administers Medicaid, public assistance, and adult protective services for county residents.
- Ashland County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Provides support and services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
- Samaritan Regional Health System
The primary hospital serving the Ashland area, often referenced in medical power of attorney and healthcare directive matters.
- Ashland County Senior Services
Offers programs and support for older adults, including connections to legal aid and community resources.
- Ohio Legal Help, Ashland County
A statewide resource with county-specific guidance to help residents navigate legal processes and find assistance.
Start Your Ashland Estate Plan With a Firm That Puts Education First
A consultation is the easiest way to start. Bring your questions, learn what a will, a power of attorney, and an advance directive would actually do for your family, and decide from there with no obligation.
Based out of Sandusky, Brumbaugh Law Firm has helped Ohio families put plans in place that are fully implemented, not left half-finished in a drawer. We hold free educational workshops so you understand your options before you spend anything. We also offer phone, video, and virtual appointments in addition to in person appointments.
We are familiar with how matters move through Ashland County Probate Court, and we will explain what applies to your home, your savings, and your spouse.
Call us to schedule a free consultation or ask about an upcoming workshop. Let’s talk about what your family needs, at a pace that works for you.
