Top Estate Planning Lawyers Near Me in Columbus Area

Yale R. Levy graduated from The Ohio State College of Law in May, 1995, and became a licensed Ohio attorney in November, 1995.  Mr. Levy is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and the Ohio Federal Bar for the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court, Southern Division and Northern District as well as the United States Tax Court.. In 2006, Mr. Levy was appointed special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office by Attorney General James Petro, and continues to serve in that capacity assisting the state of Ohio in collecting past due obligations.. While attending The Ohio State College of Law, Yale R. Levy was an Intern at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio for Judge Calhoun.. Yale R. Levy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana with a BS in Accounting in May, 1992.  He was a member of the Indiana University Honors Program as well as being a member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Accounting Fraternity.  Mr. Levy was recognized for passing all four parts of the Accountancy Examination his first time taking the examination an accomplishment that occurs less than 10% of the time.. Yale R. Levy began his legal career at Pope & Levy Co., LPA, now known as Levy & Associates, LLC, in November of 1995.  As an attorney at Levy & Associates, LLC, Mr. Levy has extensive experience in retail, commercial and medical collections, creditor/debtor rights and general civil litigation.  Mr. Levy is a frequent speaker on Collection topics to other members of the legal community.  Mr. Levy has in-depth experience practicing in Common Pleas Courts, Probate Courts and Municipal Courts located in all of Ohio’s 88 counties.. Mr. Levy is a member in good standing of the Ohio State Bar Association, Columbus Bar Association, National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA), the CLLA, ACA-Map List, and Ohio Collection Attorney Association (OCAA).

Tim McGrath earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1965 and a Juris Doctor Cum Laude from The Ohio State University in 1969. He is an OSBA Certified Specialist in the practice of Business, Commercial and Industrial Real Property Law.

Thomas Taneff was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1988 and has been practicing law for over 37 years. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School. Mr. Taneff was a Judicial Law Clerk and Franklin County Probate Court Magistrate. He practices in the areas of estates, probate, trusts, estate planning, guardianships, adoption, surrogacy/reproductive law and foster parents throughout the State of Ohio, including interstate and international adoptions. He has been involved in over 5,000 Probate/Estate/Trust/Guardianship matters. He has handled over 5,000 adoption and/or surrogacy related cases and was awarded the United States Congressional Adoption Award in 2005. He was chosen as an Ohio Super Lawyer for 2011 through 2024, won Columbus C.E.O. Magazine's Best of Business Award (for law firms under 50) for 2010 and 2011, and won Columbus C.E.O. Magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2022 and 2024. Macedonian Honorary Consul to the United States (Ret.).

Thomas J. Bonasera is a Partner in the Corporate Department of Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP and a member of the firm's Board of Directors. Mr. Bonasera focuses his practice on trust and estate administration and litigation, estate planning and closely held business matters. Mr. Bonasera advises his clients on a broad range of trust and estate planning and litigation matters, obligations and liabilities of trustees and other fiduciaries and trust and estate beneficiary rights and closely held business matters including business disputes.

Thank you for reviewing my Avvo page. I am a proud father of three daughters, the oldest of which has autism.  I am active in the special needs community and enjoy working with families on special needs estate planning and guardianships in addition to traditional estate planning, probate, real estate and small business.  I enjoy cooking, especially smoking meat, and spending time with family.  I have also enjoyed water skiing, snow skiing and SCUBA diving.

Paul Kilpatrick graduated from the University of Georgia with an A.B. in 1963 and a J.D. in 1965. Following his successful completion of the Georgia Bar, he began practicing law in 1964.. Mr. Kilpatrick served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Conflict, from 1965-1968, leaving with the rank of Capt. JAG. Mr. Kilpatrick left active duty military service in 1968 to practice law in Columbus, Georgia.. Mr. Kilpatrick has served with several associations, including the Columbus Bar (President, 1975-1976), Russell County, State Bar of Georgia (Member, Board of Governors, 1975-1991; Member, Executive Committee, 1989-1994; President-Elect, 1990-1991; President, 1992-1993; Immediate past President, 1993-1994; Chairman, Family Law Section, 1980-1981; Member, Board of Bar Examiners, 2000-2006), Chair of the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Legal Education, The Florida Bar, Alabama State Bar, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Alabama Trial Lawyers Association and the Southern Conference of Bar Presidents.

Melissa is an associate attorney at the Law Office of Wright & Associates, LLC who has represented hundreds of clients in a broad assortment of legal matters. Her legal experience began in 2011, when she worked as a legal secretary at a general practice firm in South Eastern Ohio while obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Political Science. After graduating with honors from Ohio University in 2015, Melissa went on to pursue her law degree at Capital University where she was an editor of the law review and graduated cum laude in 2018. After earning her law degree, Melissa practiced law at a well- respected general practice firm in Southeastern Ohio where she gained valuable experience representing clients throughout the state in a variety of legal matters, including domestic relations, estate planning, oil and gas law, adoptions, guardianships, trusts, and real estate matters. In addition to litigating cases in the trial court, Melissa has also represented clients in the appellate courts and the Ohio State Supreme Court.  As an associate at the Law Office of Wright & Associates, Melissa has also gained valuable experience in litigation construction defect cases as well as insurance cases. In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, travelling, reading, and playing volleyball.

Larry Huddleston ("C L" to his golf and fishing buddies) was admitted to the Bar in 1977, and has been an estate planning attorney for more than 25 years. He was in the first class of Certified Ohio Specialists in Trust, Probate and Estate Planning. He has taught estate planning in almost half the states in America to attorneys, accountants, physicians, and many others in groups from 10 to 1,000. He participates actively in several professional organizations from trade associations to "think tanks." He is enthusiastic about his work, and intends to keep at it for many years. He carries a single digit golf handicap at Scioto Country Club, is a pretty fair fly fisherman, an almost-passable trap and skeet shooter, an active pilot, downhill skier, and sings bass in the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church choir.. He is a graduate of Portsmouth (Ohio) High School, Muskingum College and Capital University School of Law.  Prior to starting his estate planning career, he was a general practice attorney, litigator, financial regulator, expert witness in "banker misbehavior" cases, and a financial institutions merger-and-acquisitions consultant.  He lives in Dublin with Debbie, his patient wife of 40 years.  They have two grown daughters of whom he is very proud, and two rambunctious grandsons.

John graduated from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio in May of 2016 and was sworn in as an Attorney in November, 2016.  John focuses primarily on business formation and counsels business owners on best practices for sourcing capital, entity selection and other business issues such as asset protection and succession planning.  John also advises on Estate planning, providing guidance to clients on how to best protect their assets.. John lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Allyson and his son, Thomas.  In his spare time he enjoys cycling, football, soccer and spending time with his family and friends.

Jay received his B.S. degree from West Liberty State College in West Liberty, West Virginia, and his J.D. degree from Capital University in Columbus. After graduation Jay held associate positions in several mid-size law firms before establishing his own practice. Jay has received certification as a specialist from the Ohio State Bar Association Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Specialty Board. He has written several articles on estate planning and estate issues.. Jay frequently lectures on probate and real estate issues for the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association, and formerly lectured for Ohio BarBri Bar Review. Jay was previously an instructor at Columbus State Community College in the legal assisting program. Jay serves on the boards of Apprisen / Consumer Credit Counseling Service, and the Central Ohio Breathing Association.. Areas of Practice:

James M. Schottenstein, President of Schottenstein Law Legal Services Co., LPA, was born in Columbus, Ohio, February 8, 1947. Mr. Schottenstein He was admitted to the Ohio bar in November of 1972 in Ohio, and to the Florida Bar in 1973. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio and the U.S. Tax Court in 1975 and admitted to practice before the Northern Districts of Ohio in 2003. In 2006, he was admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and U.S. Tax Court.

Jacintha Kraft Balch is an Ohio Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust, holds the highest Martindale Hubbell AV rating available to any lawyer, and has been named as one of Central Ohio's Top Lawyers in C.E.O. Magazine.. She is a member of The Columbus Foundation's Professional Advisory Board, has served on the Columbus Jewish Foundation's Professional Advisory Board and as a Board Member of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio.. She is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education events and for community groups.

I grew up in Massillon, Ohio and moved to Columbus to attend college and go to law school.  I attended Capital University for both.. While at Capital University Law School, I served as Editor-in-Chief of the Capital University Law School.  I graduated summa cum laude with pro bono honors.. I am an associate attorney at Taps & Sutton, where I am also a co-author of the Ohio Medicaid Manual.  I currently serve as Vice President of the Tri-County Estate Planning Council.. After law school, I got married and bought a home in Pickerington.  I love living in Central Ohio and experiencing all that is has to offer.. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors - walking, hiking, biking.  I love reading, and watching football and baseball. I'm partial to the Browns and Buckeyes during football season and the Indians during baseball season.

I am dedicated to helping families protect their children and assets while building their legacy. I provide families with the guidance and the support they need to create an estate plan that protects their children, safeguards their wealth, and cements their legacy.. For a flat fee, I create customized plans for each client. This way, I eliminate unexpected attorneys' fees while still delivering the highest quality legal work with integrity. My goal is to provide peace of mind for my clients knowing that their loved ones are safe, and their assets are secure for generations to come.

I am an experienced elder law, estate planning, special needs, and probate attorney. I have helped hundreds of families over the past nine-plus years protect assets from long-term care costs, obtain needed by disabled individuals, and transfer resources as painlessly as possible from one generation to the next. I am please to bring my services to Carlile Patchen & Murphy, and look forward to continuing to help Ohio residents protect everything they have worked so hard to earn.

Geoff’s practice is centered around estate planning for individuals and business owners, as well as asset protection planning for retirees. He joined CPM Law in 2014.. Geoff Kunkler has been a family wealth planning attorney since 2011.  He focuses his practice in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, Asset Protection, Estate Administration, Business Planning, and Special Needs Planning. Kunkler has a wide variety of experience in conducting educational seminars on legal topics.. Geoff is active in several organizations within his profession and community. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, Columbus Young Professionals, The Arc of Ohio, and the National Aging in Place Council. Geoff is also a pro bono volunteer to provide legal services to veterans through Operation Legal Help Ohio and is a volunteer member of the Development/Marketing Committee for the Delaware County Foundation.. Geoff received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Case Western University, and his law degree from The Ohio State University-Moritz College of Law.. Geoff was born in Wooster, Ohio where his family still resides. In his free time, Geoff enjoys eating out and vacationing with his wife, Lauren, and playing with his dogs, Teddy and Mowgli. A former personal trainer, Geoff is a bit of a fitness nut and is currently focusing his efforts on CrossFit.

Drawing upon his trial experience as a former federal prosecutor with the Criminal Tax Division of the Department of Justice and his substantive civil federal tax background and experience, with a Master in Tax Law from Georgetown University and as Certified Public Accountant (inactive), Mr. Grady’s practice primary centers on federal white collar defense representation and representation and litigation with the Internal Revenue Service in income and estate tax, criminal tax, trust fund recovery tax controversies, and complex collection controversies and litigation.  The firm’s federal criminal tax and federal white collar crime defense representation relates to administrative and grand jury investigations and indictments relating to alleged violations of federal criminal tax, currency violations, health care fraud, money laundering, wire and mail fraud, securities fraud, and other white collar related laws and investigations initiated and conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Department of Justice, and other federal law enforcement agencies.  The firm’s civil tax controversy representation relates to representation before the IRS in all stages of civil tax controversies, from audit examination, appeals, complex collection representation, penalty matters, refunds, liens and levies, trust fund recovery controversies, and civil and criminal litigation against the IRS.  Finally, the firm represents corporate and small businesses in planning, structuring and representation, including substantive civil tax advice planning for businesses and individuals, including assisting individuals with estate and asset protection planning.. Terrence A. Grady & Associates, Co., L.P.A. is a boutique law firm primarily focused on providing legal representation and counsel to individuals and businesses faced with civil and criminal tax related controversies with the IRS and States.

Brad Coppedge was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia. He received his B.B.A. in Accounting from Mercer University in 1993, his J.D. degree from Mercer University School of Law in 1996, and his LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Taxation from the University of Miami School of Law in 1997. Before joining Goggans, Stutzman, Hudson, Wilson & Mize, LLP in 2022, Mr. Coppedge was a shareholder/partner for six years at Hall Booth Smith, P.C., and prior to that practiced at Hatcher, Stubbs, Land Hollis and Rothschild, LLP for 18 years, becoming a partner in 2002. He joined Hall Booth Smith in 2016. He has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1996 and the Alabama Bar since 1998. Mr. Coppedge is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court and is a member of the Columbus Bar Association and the Atlanta Estate Planning Councili.. A significant portion of Mr. Coppedge's practice is dedicated to estate planning and estate administration. As part of his estate planning practice, Mr. Coppedge provides estate and tax planning advice for individuals, including the preparation of Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, life insurance trusts, family partnerships, gifting and transfer documents and various charitable planning techniques, such as charitable remainder and charitable lead trusts. In connection with his representation of estate planning clients, Mr. Coppedge regularly drafts pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Mr. Coppedge also represents both individual and corporate trustees in fiduciary matters including changes in trustees, trust terminations and similar matters.Mr. Coppedge also works with clients in the creation of Special Needs Trusts (SNTs), both for self-settled and third party donor created trusts, in Medicaid planning and in planning for beneficiaries with disabilities.Mr. Coppedge maintains an active probate and estate administration practice, which includes the representation of clients in the probate of Wills, administration of Estates, and Year's Support proceedings. Further, Mr. Coppedge works with families and individuals in need of a guardian of the person or conservator of the property, for adults, minors, and individuals with disabilities or special needs.. With his educational background and LL.M. in Taxation, Mr. Coppedge regularly works with clients in the areas of entity selection/formation/operation, Mr. Coppedge represents a significant number of small businesses, helps clients create new start-up business (LLCs, c-corporations, s-corporations and partnerships) and also represents a number of physician groups. He advises these clients on the best form of entity from a tax, liability, and operational standpoint, entity formation or incorporation, and continued representation on matters such as employment agreements, buy-sell agreements, contracts, leases, retirement plans and other matters related to the operation of a business. This representation regularly includes representing buyers and sellers of a business in connection with an asset purchase agreement or stock purchase agreement, and other corporate transactions.Mr. Coppedge also  regularly represents both entity and individual clients in controversies with the IRS and the State Department of Revenue including resolution procedures such as offers in compromise, innocent spouse filings and instalment agreements. Frequently, these matters involve payroll and sales tax liabilities assessed by the State Department of Revenue or Internal Revenue Service, both as against the employer and against an alleged responsible person of the employer such an owner or officer.Additionally, Mr. Coppedge also has a niche practice committed to helping clients with NFA Gun Trusts, also referred to as a Class 3 Trust or a Firearms Trust, which are utilized to legally purchase and own, and facilitate the subsequent transfer of, Title II Firearms, such as suppressors and SBRs sold by Class 3 dealers.Mr. Coppedge has written numerous articles in local, state and national publications and often speaks locally and regionally at events sponsored by private and public groups, on the topics of estate planning and choice of entity. Mr. Coppedge is AV rated by Martindale.

Attorney Jessa M. Gary received a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Florida Atlantic University in 2008.. Mrs. Gary received her law degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan in May 2011.  Upon graduation, she became licensed to practice law in Florida, Ohio and North Dakota.   Mrs. Gary is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and a member of the Catholic Foundation’s Professional Advisors Group.. Prior to joining Jackson and Curtin, Mrs. Gary worked in Fargo, North Dakota performing legal review of documents for an investment firm.

As a graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital Law School, I have been practicing law in Central Ohio for almost 10 years. My work is in Family Law- Elder Care, Wills/Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Divorce, Custody, and Child Support.

Amber N. Crawford is an Associate at Hall Booth Smith, P.C. in Columbus, Georgia, and she focuses her practice on estate planning, probates, guardianships and conservatorships, business transactions, and fiduciary litigation. She also represents clients in commercial real estate matters.. Before joining Hall Booth Smith, Amber spent several years at a firm in Newnan, Georgia, where she specialized in probates and estate planning. She also represented creditors’ rights in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, handled contract negotiations, closed commercial and residential real estate transactions, and litigated civil and transactional matters. She served as a guardian ad litem and court appointed attorney in Probate, Superior and Juvenile Court matters, and was one of two County Administrators/Conservators in Coweta County Probate Court.. Earlier in her career, Amber served as a prosecution intern in Georgia’s Northern Judicial Circuit, which included Madison, Hart, Franklin, Oglethorpe and Elbert counties. She also completed several other internships in probate and state courts.. Amber earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, where she was a research assistant for Professor Eleanor Lanier for a grant project about the public guardianship program and the Founder and President of the Older Wise Law Students (OWLS) program. She was an academic tutor and student mentor, participated in the LLM and Judicial Clerkship Panels, and co-organized a Working in Public Interest (WIPI) Panel. She also completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, magna cum laude, at Columbus State University. During her undergraduate career, she was in the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.. Amber serves as a co-chairman for the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division’s Estate and Elder Law committee, which hosts First Responders Wills Clinics, providing pro-bono estate planning documents to First Responders and their spouses all across the state.