Wills & Probate
Leatherman & Witzler has a reputation as a well-respected and professional law firm in Northwest Ohio that has been built on over 65 years of providing exceptional legal counsel that clients can trust.
Estate Planning / Wills / Trusts
- Estate planning is the act of preparing for the transfer of a person’s wealth and assets after his or her death. Assets, life insurance, pensions, real estate, cars, personal belongings, and debts are all part of one’s estate.
- A will is a document by which a person expresses their wishes as to how, and by whom, their property is to be distributed at death.
- A trust is a relationship, in which one or more persons hold an individual’s property subject to certain duties to use and protect it for the benefit of others.
Health Care Powers of Attorney
- HCPA is a legal form that allows an individual to empower another with decisions regarding his or her healthcare and medical treatment. HCPA becomes active when a person is unable to make decisions or consciously communicate intentions regarding treatments.
Living Will Declarations
- A living will is a document which sets out how a person should be cared for in a medical emergency or if otherwise incapacitated. A living will sets forth a person’s wishes on topics such as resuscitation, desired quality of life and end of life treatment including treatments one does not want to receive.
Real Estate / Landlord / Tenant
- Real estate law encompasses a vast array of issues which can include litigating real estate-related case, or handling the legal aspects of real estate transactions.
- It is important for landlords to understand their legal obligations with respect to their tenants with respect to fair housing laws, legal evictions, and state safety standards. Tenants must understand their rights to safe living spaces, return of security deposits, and whether they can sublet.
Probate Estate Administration
- Estate administration refers to management and settlement
of a person’s assets after they die without a will. An administrator of the
decedent’s estate is responsible for:
- The collection of decedent’s assets;
- Payment of debts and claims against the estate;
- Payment of estate taxes;
- Distribution of remainder of the estate among those entitled thereto.