Estate planning attorney in Akron, OH
Protect the life you’ve built… and the people you love through estate planning.
At Spatz Law Group, you talk directly with your attorney and get answers in plain English. We help families in Akron and across Northeast Ohio put their wishes in writing, so the people you love never have to guess.
- Licensed in Ohio since 2008
- We keep your plan up to date
Someday, your family will have to figure it out without you.
Without a plan, those decisions can end up with a judge, a stranger or an argument.
Without a plan
- A court decides who raises your children
- Your estate may go through a long, public and costly court process
- Your family has to guess what you wanted, and may argue about it
- Your stories and values are lost with you
With a plan
- The people you chose care for your kids
- Your family avoids unnecessary court and conflict
- Everyone knows exactly what you wanted
- Your family inherits your stories, not just your stuff
60-second family protection survey
If something happened tomorrow, would your family know what to do?
A few quick questions, one at a time. At the end, you’ll see where your plan stands and whether we’re the right people to help. Your answers stay private unless you choose to send them to us.
Question 1
What brings you here today?
Your result
Thank you.
We got your answers and will be in touch soon. If it’s urgent, call us at (330) 470-6722.
This one’s outside what we do.
Estate planning that’s about your life, not just your death.
“Let me help you protect the people and things you love, so they stay out of court and out of conflict.”
With Debra, you can call or email with questions anytime, and you'll never be left wondering where your plan stands.
A mom of five who lives in Akron, Debra helps families in her own community protect the people they love.
Your plan covers the legal documents your family needs, like wills, trusts and healthcare directives. It also captures what most plans leave out: your values, beliefs and life stories, written down for the people you love.
Three steps to a plan your family can actually use.
Start with step oneHave a conversation
Before we meet, you fill out a short Estate Planning Questionnaire that puts everything you own in one place. Then, in your Estate Planning Session, we explain what would happen to your family today and walk you through your options in plain English.
Design your plan
We put together the documents your family needs, like guardians for your kids, healthcare decisions, a will or a trust.
Rest easy, and keep it current
Once you sign, we don’t disappear. As your family grows and your life changes, we help you keep your plan up to date.
Our services
Everything your family will need, written down before they need it.
Estate Planning
One plan that keeps your family out of court and out of conflict, kept up to date as your life changes.
Learn more about Estate Planning
Advanced Trust Planning
Specialized trusts for families who want to protect more, pass on more and plan further ahead.
Learn more about Advanced Trust Planning
Probate & Estate Administration
Calm, step-by-step guidance for families settling the estate or trust of someone they’ve lost, and you’ll always know where things stand.
Learn more about Probate & Estate Administration
Business Law
Protect what you’re building and plan for who takes over when you step away.
Learn more about Business LawIncluded in every estate plan: your values and stories
Write down the beliefs, lessons and memories you want your family to keep. It’s the part most estate plans leave out.
Free community workshops
Learn the basics before you decide anything.
Join Debra for a free, no-pressure workshop on protecting your family and keeping them out of court. Bring your questions.
Presented byDebra Spatz, Estate Planning Attorney
New workshop dates coming soon
Call (330) 526-1717 to be the first to know.
Prefer to call? 24/7 registration: (330) 526-1717
Attorney advertising. Attending a workshop does not create an attorney-client relationship. Spatz Law Group is an independent law firm and a member of the Oath Collective.
FAQ
Questions families ask us
Do I need a will or a trust in Ohio?
It depends on what you own and who you want to protect. A will names guardians and says who inherits, but in Ohio a home passed by a will usually still goes through probate court, which is public and can take months. A revocable living trust lets your home pass to your family privately, without court. In your Estate Planning Session, we walk through what would happen to your family today and which option fits.
Is estate planning only for people with a lot of money?
No. If you own a home, have children under 18, or want someone you trust making medical decisions if you can't, you need a plan. Many people assume their estate is too simple to matter, but a single house can send your family to probate court. And no amount of money names a guardian for your kids. Only your plan does.
What happens if I die without a will in Ohio?
Ohio law decides who inherits, and the probate court appoints someone to manage your estate. That may not match what you would have chosen, especially in blended families, where a spouse and children from a prior relationship split things by a state formula. If you have minor children, a judge decides who raises them, and a court supervises any money they inherit until they turn 18.
How does the estate planning process work?
First, you fill out an Estate Planning Questionnaire that puts everything you own in one place. Then, in your Estate Planning Session, we explain what would happen to your family today and walk you through your options in plain English. If you decide to move forward, we design your plan and you sign it. After that, we help keep it current as your family and the law change.
Get started
Give your family the gift of knowing what to do.
Start with a conversation. We’ll listen, answer your questions and show you what a plan for your family looks like.
Or send us a message and we’ll get back to you.