Trust and Will Lawyer in Ashland, OH
At Brumbaugh Law Firm, we help families in Ashland and across Ashland County set up wills and trusts that pass a home and assets to the next generation without a long court process. We have been doing this work for Ohio families since 2002, and our clients have given us a 5.0-star rating.
A will says who gets what after you pass, but it still has to go through probate, the court process that reviews the will and transfers property. A trust holds your property during your lifetime and passes it directly to the people you name, usually without the court involved at all.
According to the Ohio State Bar Association, Ohio probate proceedings can take six months to over two years, and court costs and executor fees can consume 3 to 8 percent of the gross estate value. We know Ashland County Probate Court and what it takes to keep property out of it.
Many families assume this costs more than it does. Start with a free conversation or a free workshop, and see how this fits alongside our broader estate planning services.
What Clients Say About Brumbaugh Law Firm
“We both feel a lot better and relieved that everything will be taken care of as we get older. A huge burden off of our shoulders and our children’s plates.”, James & Linda T.
This is what a finished plan does: it takes the weight off you and off the kids who would otherwise be sorting it out later.
“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
Clear explanations come first, so you understand what a will does, what a trust does, and which one fits your property before you decide anything.
“We were going to lose our house, cars, everything… After getting the Brumbaugh Law Firm on the job, we were able to keep our house and cars.”, John W
Real property and land are exactly the assets families worry most about protecting.
“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 relationship does not end when the documents are signed, which matters when life changes and a plan needs updating.
“I had tried to deal with the Veterans Administration on my own… it was a nightmare. Mike did a fantastic job, he took care of everything… He’s a very caring person.”, Robert S
Can a Trust Protect My House From Nursing Home Costs in Ohio?
A revocable living trust generally does not protect your home from nursing home costs or Medicaid eligibility rules because you still retain control over the assets in the trust.
Certain irrevocable trusts may be used as part of long-term care and Medicaid planning. However, Ohio Medicaid applies a five-year look-back period to many asset transfers. If property is transferred too close to the time you apply for Medicaid, it can create a penalty period and delay eligibility.
That makes timing especially important. For families planning well in advance, an irrevocable trust may help preserve a home or other assets. If nursing home care has already started, other planning options may still be available, but they depend heavily on the family’s assets, income, and circumstances.
Why Work With Brumbaugh Law Firm in Ashland
Education-First Planning
Our free “3 Secrets of Estate Planning and Asset Protection” workshop walks through wills, trusts, and how property passes, all before you commit to anything. You learn first, decide second, and no one pushes you toward documents you do not need.
Plans That Get Finished, Not Just Signed
A trust only works if your home, land, and accounts are actually retitled into it. We can help you handle that funding step, so your plan does what you thought it would when the time comes.
Property And Farmland Are Part Of The Conversation
Land that has been in a family for generations raises different questions than a bank account does. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, only 46% of U.S. adults have a will, meaning most people, including many Ashland residents, risk having their property distributed under Ohio’s intestacy statutes instead of their own wishes.
23 plus Years Serving Ohio Families
We opened in 2002 and have worked with Ashland County families ever since, including matters that run through the Ashland County Probate Court.
Credentials That Matter To Families Like Yours
We hold a BBB A+ accreditation, a 5.0-star client rating, and membership in Ohio NAELA, the state chapter of attorneys focused on elder law and estate planning.
Our Trust and Will Services in Ashland
- Revocable living trust drafting
- Last will and testament preparation
- Pour-over will creation
- Testamentary trust planning
- Trustee and successor trustee selection
- Trust funding and asset titling
- Beneficiary designation review
- Incapacity and healthcare directive coordination
- Estate plan review and updates
- Probate avoidance strategy
Get Trusted Legal Support Today
For straightforward legal advice and representation, contact Brumbaugh Law. Call (419) 504-4674 to schedule your consultation.
I Inherited Property In Ashland County And I’m Not Sure What To Do With It. Can A Trust And Will Attorney Help?
Yes. Inherited land brings questions about ownership, unpaid taxes or liens, title problems, and whether the property still has to go through the court process known as probate. A trust and will attorney sorts out where things stand before anyone signs a deed or lists acreage for sale.
It also raises the question of how to hold that property going forward, and that decision starts with your family, not with a document. We look at who your children are and how they get along, what you own besides land, and whether long-term care costs could eventually reach it.
According to Ohio Revised Code § 5808.02 as published by the Ohio Legislature, a trustee who accepts the role is bound by a duty of careful administration, and without a named successor an Ohio court must step in to appoint one if the original trustee dies or resigns.
Incapacity is the other gap. A trust handles property, while a durable power of attorney covers decisions the trust cannot reach.
About Brumbaugh Law Firm
Michael Brumbaugh started Brumbaugh Law Firm in 2002, and for more than twenty years Michael, and his wife Pam, have helped Ohio families plan ahead with confidence and care. Michael is a teacher at heart, and he believes people make the best decisions about protecting what they own once they truly understand their options.
Pam came from a social work background and is not an attorney. Pam has decades of community service, and she walks families through hard conversations with patience and plain answers. Together they built an education-first approach, offering workshops, webinars, and personal planning that helps families keep their independence and take care of the people they love.
What Does a Pour-Over Will Do?
A pour-over will works as a backup to a living trust. It directs assets that were left outside the trust at death to be transferred into the trust and distributed according to its terms.
This can help catch property that was never formally retitled into the trust, such as a newly acquired account or other overlooked asset. However, those assets may still need to go through Ohio probate before they can be transferred into the trust.
The main purpose of a pour-over will is to keep the estate plan working together, so assets ultimately follow the instructions established in the trust rather than being distributed under Ohio’s intestacy rules.
Our Trust and Will Process for Ashland Families
1. First Call
A short conversation about your situation, your property, and what you want to happen to it. No commitment, no pressure, and no cost to talk.
2. Educational Consultation
We explain your options clearly, including how Ohio law treats wills, trusts, and land, before you decide anything. You leave understanding what you actually need and what you do not.
3. Plan Design
We build the plan around your real life: your home, your acreage, your family, and any long-term care concerns on the horizon. Nothing gets added that does not serve a purpose.
4. Document Drafting
We prepare your documents, which may include a living trust, a pour-over will that catches anything left outside the trust, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney naming someone to handle money or medical decisions if you cannot.
5. Review And Signing
You read everything, ask every question you have, and sign with the witnesses and notary Ohio law requires. If something does not sit right, we change it before you sign.
6. Funding And Implementation
Deeds and account titles need to be updated so your property is actually held the way the plan says. A trust that never gets funded does not work. We can assist you in funding rather than handing you a binder and wishing you luck.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trust and Will Planning
Does A Will By Itself Keep My Home And Land Out Of Probate In Ohio?
No. A will tells the court who gets what, but it still has to go through probate, which is the court process for transferring property after someone dies. In Ashland County, that means filing with the Ashland County Probate Court, and the process can take months.
What Is The Difference Between A Revocable Trust And An Irrevocable Trust?
A revocable trust can be changed or canceled by you at any time while you are living, and you keep full control of everything in it. An irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed once it is set up, which is why it is sometimes used in long-term care planning.
How Do I Actually Fund A Living Trust With Farmland Or Rural Acreage?
Funding means retitling property into the name of the trust, which for land means signing and recording a new deed with the county recorder. If the deed never gets recorded, the trust is just paper and the land can still land in probate.
Who Should I Name As Trustee If My Adult Children Disagree About The Land?
Most people name themselves as trustee while living, then name a successor trustee to step in after. Pick someone organized, fair, and willing to say no, which is not always the oldest child.
What Happens If I Die Without A Will Or Trust In Ohio?
Ohio’s intestacy statute decides who inherits, and the court appoints someone to handle it. For a married couple with children from a prior relationship, that split is often not what either spouse expected.
How Often Should I Update A Will Or Trust I Signed Years Ago?
Review it every three to five years, and sooner after a death, marriage, divorce, land sale, or a new grandchild. Documents drafted a decade ago by a general practice attorney often name people who have died or list property that has since changed hands.
Is A Trust Public Record In Ohio The Way A Will Is?
A will filed with the probate court becomes a public record anyone can read. A trust generally stays private, which is one reason families with land and business interests prefer them.
Do I Need Both A Will And A Trust, Or Just One?
Most property owners benefit from both, plus a power of attorney, which is a document naming someone to handle finances or medical decisions if you cannot.
Local Resources in Ashland for Trust and Will Services
- Ashland County Probate Court
Handles the judicial process for estates, guardianships, and related filings in the county.
- Ashland County Recorder’s Office
Maintains official records of deeds, mortgages, and other real property instruments.
- Ashland County Clerk of Courts
Files and maintains court records for civil, criminal, and appellate proceedings at the county level.
- Ashland County Auditor’s Office
Oversees property valuation, tax assessment, and transfer of real estate ownership records.
- Ashland County Treasurer’s Office
Collects property taxes and manages county funds, relevant when settling real property in an estate.
- Ashland County Department of Job and Family Services
Administers public benefits and social services, including programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
- Ohio Means Jobs Ashland County
Provides workforce development and employment assistance services to county residents.
- Ashland County Public Library
Offers access to legal self-help materials, notary services, and community reference resources.
- Ashland Area Council on Aging
Connects older adults with care coordination, benefits counseling, and community support programs.
- Ohio Secretary of State, Ashland Filing
Registers business entities whose ownership or dissolution may be addressed in estate planning documents.
Start Your Ashland Estate Plan Today
If you own a home or family land in Ashland County and have never put a plan in writing, the first step is a conversation, not a commitment.
We schedule around real life, including phone or video appointments. You can also start with one of our free educational workshops and learn how this works before you ever sit down with an attorney.
Reach out now, while you have the time to decide things calmly instead of during a crisis.
