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If you finalized an adoption in Ohio since January 1, 2023, you may now apply for money under Ohio’s new Ohio Adoption Grant Program.  Applicants are eligible to receive a one-time payment of: $10,000 for a child. This excludes a step-parent. $15,000 for a foster child or kinship caregiver. $20,000 if the child has “special...

Tragedy can interfere with life and the good intention of meaning to get around to it.  The result…conflict, damage, lawsuits.  There are many advantages to having a Living Trust.  Privacy, control, tax avoidance. Keeping your financial affairs private by avoiding probate is a fundamental benefit. Otherwise financial information may become public information. A Living Trust,...

Talking about death may feel uncomfortable but preparing for the future is important to ensure your estate is handled according to your wishes. In the event of your death, your loved ones will need access to your estate planning documents and other important information. Struggling to find this information can be an extra burden during...

A transfer on death (TOD) deed is a common method of transferring real estate. Upon death of the homeowner, the deed instantly transfers the property to the named beneficiary. A recent case brings to light a lurking danger of using TOD deeds, and serves as a cautionary tale. New precedent On February 5, 2021, the...

A while back, I was contacted by an old client who unfortunately told me he was terminally ill with cancer. Mr. Smith, (as we'll refer to him and obviously this is not his real name), my old client, contacted me to tell me that he wanted to get his Will updated. So we proceeded with...

Ahhhh… You think you’re gonna save money by using a do-it-yourself online Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, or just write something up yourself. We love it! Instead of avoiding one lawyer, in many cases it can guarantee work for one, two, or even three lawyers. So, on behalf of the Lawyer Relief Act… we thank...

After you set up a Trust, look at asset transfers and beneficiary designations.  Failure to do so can preclude maximizing benefits and causing extra costs and inconvenience. Typical Trust Mistakes Include: Asset Transfers:   Creating a trust is just the beginning.  Afterwards, you have to fund your Trust by transferring assets for maximum benefit.  Assets not...

If something happened to you, who raises your kids?   If you don’t take care of this, don’t worry . . . the courts will decide.   You don’t like this idea?   Then, do something about it.   Think about who would be the best choice . . . or the least worst choice!   Have a Will correctly...

House Bill 206 would increase the amount and change the refundability of an existing tax credit for adoption. Under current law, this credit equals the greater of $1,500 or a taxpayer's adoption expenses, up to $10,000. The Bill increases the minimum credit that may be claimed from $1,500 to $5,000. The Bill also converts the...

Ohio House Bill 188 prohibits a court, public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency from using a person's blindness as a reason to deny or limit that person's adoption/care for a minor, except when necessary to serve the best interests of the minor. The Bill provides that a "detrimental impact...

While your baby’s birth mother is in the hospital, a social worker from the Social Services Department will visit to answer questions about the hospital, the adoption process, or parenting. You may visit during visitation hours, or stay in another room by request, but be considerate of the birth mother and hospital staff. Give them...

A foster parent losing legal custody can be worse than anyone is prepared to accept. It is a foster parent’s advantage to have counsel as a spokesperson and navigator through complex and confusing child custody law. Hoping to adopt a child taken into your home when all of a sudden a long-lost relative comes out...