At Brumbaugh Law Firm, we help Fremont and Sandusky County families with estate planning and elder law, including guidance for high-pressure Medicaid and long-term care situations. Since 2002, our team has focused on clear scope, no-drama planning and practical, fully funded documents that do not get left half-done.
Genworth’s 2024 Cost of Care Survey shows Ohio nursing home costs have a median annual cost of $108,405 for a semi-private room and $120,450 for a private room, which is why many people want a plan that is organized and actionable.
“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.
In Ohio, the decisions you make now about powers of attorney can matter later if an illness or injury leaves you unable to manage finances or medical choices, because these documents can allow trusted people to act for you without a court guardianship process.
If you are planning ahead for retirement or responding to a sudden change in health, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
What Estate Planning Is and Why It Matters in Fremont
Estate planning is the set of legal documents and practical steps that help you stay in control of your decisions, your finances, and your family’s workload if you become seriously ill or pass away.
It often includes a will, trust, financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney, and advance directives that spell out who can act for you and what you want. It can also include beneficiary reviews, instructions for minor children, and planning for long-term care realities.
Many Fremont-area families are planning earlier because aging and incapacity are common, not rare. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.1% of Ohio’s residents are age 65 or older, which is one reason local households prioritize plans that address both inheritance and decision-making during life.
Just as important, many people still have no plan at all. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that 32% of U.S. adults say they have created a will, which means many families are still deciding between a will, a trust, or both.
One important Ohio law point, in Ohio, a will generally requires probate, while a trust can help avoid probate for titled assets when the trust is properly funded. That funding step matters, because a trust document alone does not automatically move your house, bank accounts, or other property into the trust.
Our Estate Planning Services in Fremont, Ohio
- Wills
- Trust planning
- Powers of attorney
- Health care directives
- Medicaid planning
- Medicaid crisis planning
- Long-term care planning
- Probate guidance
- Care navigation
- Memory care planning
Call (419) 504-4674 To Speak With Our Team
It’s never too early to start planning. Our attorneys are ready to walk you through every step, from protecting your home to qualifying for care. Contact us today to move forward with confidence.
What Sets Brumbaugh Law Firm Apart for Estate Planning
Since 2002, Brumbaugh Law Firm has served Sandusky and Northern Ohio with a calm, practical approach built for real life.
- Medicaid crisis competence when timing is tight: If a loved one is entering a nursing home or care needs change quickly, we help families understand Medicaid rules and options without adding confusion or pressure.
- Clear scope: We keep the work centered on planning solutions and avoid high-conflict matters that can turn personal decisions into expensive, exhausting disputes.
- Plans that are implemented, not left half-done: We prioritize follow-through, so key steps like signing, coordinating beneficiary designations when appropriate, and funding a trust are addressed instead of becoming a lingering to-do list.
- Community-embedded trust you can verify: We have a long-standing local presence, a 5-star rating with 66 reviews (and counting), and a BBB A+ accreditation, all of which reflect how we aim to treat people.
- Ongoing education: We offer free workshops to help families ask better questions and feel more confident before they ever sign anything.
- Professional involvement that supports better planning: Our team maintains connections within the elder law community, including membership in the Ohio Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), to stay current on planning issues affecting aging families.
Wills vs. Trusts in Ohio
Many Fremont-area families tell us they are unsure whether they need a will, a trust, or both. The good news is that these tools are not “either-or” in every plan, and the right mix depends on your goals, your assets, and your family dynamics.
A will is a written set of instructions that generally takes effect at death. In Ohio, a will typically guides probate, the court-supervised process that transfers property that is titled in your name alone. A will can name guardians for minor children and direct where probate assets go, but it does not avoid probate for those assets.
A revocable living trust is a trust you can usually change during your lifetime. If it is properly set up and funded, it can help your loved ones avoid probate for the assets owned by the trust at your death and can provide a clearer plan if you become incapacitated. A trust is not “set it and forget it,” though.
That is where trust funding matters. Funding means retitling certain assets into the trust (for example, moving a bank account or a home deed into the trust) and coordinating beneficiary designations.
Beneficiary designations are instructions on accounts like life insurance and many retirement accounts that name who receives them, often without probate. If those designations are outdated or conflict with the trust, your plan may not work the way you expect.
Medicaid and Long-Term Care Planning: Proactive vs. Crisis
Medicaid (a joint federal and state program that can help pay for long-term care for eligible people) often becomes part of the conversation when home care, assisted living or nursing home care is on the horizon.
Proactive Medicaid planning happens while a person is still stable, living at home, and able to choose the timing and goals.
It can involve coordinating legal documents, aligning accounts and beneficiary designations, and setting up a plan that is actually implemented and funded, not left as a to-do list. Its goal is often to preserve assets for the healthy spouse and/or the family.
Crisis Medicaid planning is different. It usually starts after a hospital stay, a fall, or an urgent move into a facility, when the family is trying to understand what care will cost next month. In these situations, the work is often about organizing records, evaluating options, and handling the application process.
Assets can still often be preserved even in a crisis situation but typically less assets than proactive Medicaid planning saves.
At a high level, planning should also account for the spouse at home. Ohio Medicaid rules include spousal protections, but they are technical and fact-specific, so it helps to get guidance before accounts are moved or forms are signed.
Get to Know Brumbaugh Law Firm
Since 2002, Brumbaugh Law Firm has helped families in Sandusky and Northern Ohio with estate planning and elder law. We provide clear, practical guidance with a defined scope and a focus on low-conflict solutions.
We take an education-first approach through workshops and community presentations, and we’re prepared to step in quickly when families face sudden care needs or Medicaid-related pressure.
Clients choose us for Medicaid crisis experience, a no-drama mindset, and follow-through, plans that are signed, coordinated, and fully implemented, not left unfinished.
If you’re planning ahead or responding to a health change, we can discuss your goals and outline next steps.
Our Process for Fremont Families
We take an education-first approach, including a free estate planning workshop so you can learn the basics and ask better questions before you commit to anything.
- Listen and set goals: We start with what matters most (avoiding probate, planning for incapacity, long-term care) and who should be involved.
- Gather key details: We collect a clear snapshot of your family, assets, and current documents (any existing will/trust, general asset list, key decision-makers).
- Explain your options: We walk through wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care documents in plain language. If Medicaid planning applies, we explain timing, eligibility basics, and tradeoffs.
- Draft the plan: We prepare documents and confirm roles, beneficiaries, and backups.
- Review and sign: We review everything with you and coordinate an organized, low-stress signing.
- Implement the plan: We help with next steps like funding a trust, retitling assets, and updating beneficiary designations (and coordinating with advisors if needed).
- Review as life changes: We recommend updates after major events like a move, diagnosis, death in the family, or retirement.
What Clients Have to Say About Brumbaugh Law
“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.”
This reflects what many families want in a stressful moment. Steady guidance, follow-through, and a caring approach when the paperwork and agencies feel overwhelming.
“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.”
Clients frequently mention the day-to-day experience: being treated well, having questions welcomed, and feeling comfortable reaching back out when life changes.
“Michael was so helpful in explaining issues in a way that we could understand… without a doubt, he puts his heart into his work.”
Clear education matters when decisions involve wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and long-term care. This speaks to taking time to explain options without making the process feel intimidating.
“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.”
This shows the practical impact clients look for in high-stakes planning. Every situation is different, but families often come in seeking lawful strategies and a clear path forward.
Local Resources for Fremont Families
- Erie County Probate Court
- Sandusky County Probate Court
- Ottawa County Probate Court
- Huron County Probate Court
- Erie County Clerk of Courts
- Ohio Department of Medicaid
- Ohio Benefits online portal
- Area Office on Aging
- Assisted living communities nearby
- Skilled nursing facilities directory
- VA benefits information (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
- Social Security Administration resources
- Medicare.gov plan finder
- Ohio Attorney General consumer resources
- Ohio Revised Code, Title 21
Call Us For Your Estate Plan Today!
If you are trying to make a clear plan for your family, or you are facing a sudden need for nursing home care, a short conversation can bring order to the next steps.
Register for a workshop if you prefer to learn the basics first, ask general questions, and understand common planning options before meeting one-on-one.
To get started, call to request a consultation or ask about upcoming workshop dates.
