Biography
My practice has transitioned over the last few years. The largest area of practice is Estate Planning (helping families prepare for a death and minimize legal work needed following a death in their family) and helping families with legal work necessary after a death in their family. It is referred to as “Probate” work. However, with proper planning, it should be referred to as probate/non-probate legal work. I have helped families in hundreds of cases from large, complex matters to small non-complex matters. The people that you plan for will be your family. We can help you decide to help your family minimize necessary legal work or leave it to the Ohio statute of descent and distribution. We still represent clients in Domestic Relations matters (divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, shared parenting, contempt, spousal support), Real Estate matters (buy/sell real estate, lease – residential/commercial, land installment contracts both preparation and enforcement by forfeiture, mortgages, foreclosure), Probate, Probate avoidance, Estate Planning (Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, Living Wills, Trusts, Revocable Living Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Survivorship, Transfer on Death), Probate Court litigation, Will Contest, Elder Law, Medicaid planning, Guardianships, Business matters (business formation, LLC, Partnership, incorporation, operating agreements, collection, collection defense), Notary Public, Insurance, some criminal defense, traffic OVI / DUI defense, Social Security appeal, SSI appeal.
Rathburn & Associates | Education | Practice Areas |
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Ohio: Since 1991
U.S. Supreme Court: Since 1995
Professional Associations:
Ohio State Bar | Member: Current
Columbus Bar Association | Member: Current
Better Business Bureau | Member: Current
Credit Bureau of Central Ohio | Member: Current
Fees
Credit Cards Accepted: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Debit Cards
Contingent Fees: Social Security, Worker’s Compensation, Wrongful Death, Accidents, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Some Collections, and Some Civil Litigation cases, Inquire, please.
Rates, Retainers, and Additional Information: Reasonable rates and retainers. Payment Plans are available.
Columbus
Columbus is Ohio’s state capital. The city’s Scioto Mile is a string of parks on both sides of the Scioto River, with a huge interactive fountain and trails. On the west bank, the COSI science center offers hands-on exhibits and a planetarium. Downtown, the Columbus Museum of Art includes American and European paintings and a sculpture garden. The German Village area has restored brick houses built by 1800s settlers. Columbus is the capital of Ohio and the largest city in the United States. Ohio. It is home to 905,748 people, making it the 14th most populous U.S. city, second in the Midwest behind Chicago, and third in population.
Many Native American settlements were established on the banks of the Scioto River. Columbus was the first European to arrive in Columbus. Franklinton was the first settlement of whites, established in 1797. The confluence of the Scioto-Hyperlink rivers was where the city was established in 1812. Christopher Columbus was the city’s first explorer. In 1812, the city was established at the confluence of two rivers: the Scioto and Olentangy. In 1816, the city became the state capital. It also became a county seat in 1824. Despite years of steady growth and industrialization, the city has been through many floods and recessions. In the 1950s, Columbus experienced significant growth. It was the largest city in Ohio by land and population in the early 1990s. Many neighborhoods of the city saw redevelopment during the 1990s and 2000s, including downtown.
It has a diverse economy that includes education, government, and insurance. The Battelle Memorial Institute is the largest private research and development foundation in the world; Chemical Abstracts Service is the world’s biggest clearinghouse for chemical information, and Ohio State University is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. Six corporations from the U.S. Fortune 500 are in the Greater Columbus region as of 2021: Alliance Data, Nationwide Data, Alliance Health, L Brands, and Nationwide.
People often ask questions.
What is the cost of estate planning in Ohio? In Ohio, the statutory fee is 4% on the first $100,000 and 3% on the next $300,000. 2% of all probate assets above $400,000. There is also a 1% statutory fee for real estate that has not been sold and a 1% statutory fee for assets that have not passed through probate.
What is the current rate for estate planning?
$250-$350 an hour for more complex estate plans. Working with an experienced attorney could cost you several thousand dollars. You can also do your estate planning options, as with many other things. All Estate Plans Are Not Created Equal.
Your estate plan’s cost will vary depending on the documents that you require and how complex each document is. These documents are the tools of an estate planner. An estate planning attorney can recommend the use of a variety of these tools, and then help you to create a strategy that makes them work together.
Example 1: An estate plan for a young couple with average wealth and small children should be focused on guardianship as well as maximizing financial security in case the parents die young. This plan will require simple documents such as a will and appointment of guardianship.
Example 2: A wealthy person with multiple children will require a plan that addresses wealth management and legacy planning, while also considering family dynamics. This plan will require more skill in document drafting and strategic planning, possibly involving multiple trusts and powers of appointment.
Remember that estate planning fees are not only a function of the time your attorney spends writing documents. A good estate planning attorney will use his or her skills and knowledge to create a comprehensive plan that will help you achieve your estate planning goals. A more skilled estate planning attorney can create a more complex plan, which will cost you more. You do not need a complicated plan. Instead, you should look for an attorney who is focused on planning simpler estates.
How much do lawyers charge to administer an estate?
Probate lawyers typically charge between $250-$310 an hour for assistance with estate administration. They also bill hourly. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said that the estate paid a flat-rate fee for estate administration services.
What is the difference between an Ohio estate planning and probate attorney?
Probate attorneys are usually responsible for the administration of an estate after someone dies. An estate planning attorney works with clients who are still living to determine how they should handle their estates. An attorney could assist clients in preparing trusts, wills, and other pertinent documents.
RESOURCE INFO LINKS
1) Wikipedia: Columbus, Ohio
2) Justia Lawyers: Columbus Estate Planning Lawyers
3) Ohioline: Basic Estate Planning: Costs Involved in Transferring Property
4) NOLO: The Cost of Estate Planning: How Much Will You Pay?
5) FindLaw: What Is a Probate Lawyer?