ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY · AKRON, OH
Irrevocable Trusts in Akron, OH
Spatz Law Group designs irrevocable trusts for families in Akron and across Northeast Ohio who want to protect savings from nursing home costs or creditors, with every trade-off explained first.
Worried a nursing home stay will drain everything
Long-term care can consume a lifetime of savings. A properly designed irrevocable trust can move assets out of your name so they're protected for your family. Timing matters as much as the document. Ohio Medicaid reviews past transfers when you apply, so a trust set up early does far more than one set up in a crisis. That's why it pays to plan while you're healthy.
Giving up control of your own money
This is the honest trade-off. Once assets go into an irrevocable trust, you generally can't take them back, and someone else serves as trustee. That's exactly what makes the protection work. Depending on the design, you may still keep certain benefits, like living in a home the trust holds. In your Estate Planning Session, you'll see clearly what you'd give up and what you'd protect before deciding anything.
Choosing the right kind of irrevocable trust
Irrevocable trusts come in many forms, each built for a different job: protecting savings from nursing home costs, holding life insurance outside your estate, caring for a loved one with a disability, or shielding assets from future creditors. Debra's finance degree and years in transactional law help her match the trust to your goal, so you get the structure your situation calls for and nothing more.
Protecting the home you want to leave your children
Many families don't realize Ohio Medicaid can seek repayment from your estate after you pass away, and the family home is often the largest thing in it. Planning ahead with the right kind of trust can help keep your home for your children instead of using it to repay the state. The earlier it's done, the more it can protect.
Your attorney
Debra A. Spatz
Licensed in Ohio since 2008 · Ohio Supreme Court Reg. #0083356
Chicago-Kent College of Law · University of Illinois, Finance
Meet DebraBefore your first conversation
Bring a list of your assets and how each is titled, any long-term care insurance policy, and a note about your health and your spouse's. Timing matters, so share any care you expect to need.
★★★★★Google review
If you are looking for a local estate attorney in Bath, Ohio, Deb Spatz with Spatz Law Group is truly exceptional. I know several people who have worked with Deb, and they consistently share nothing but positive experiences. Deb takes the time to get to know you and your story, allowing her to create a plan that brings real peace of mind for you and your family. She even offers the option to record a legacy video for your loved ones, which is an incredibly meaningful and lasting gift. Do not wait until it is too late. I highly recommend calling Deb today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my house in an irrevocable trust and still live there?
Often, yes. Many irrevocable trusts are designed so you can keep living in your home while the trust owns it. The details matter, including who pays the taxes and upkeep, so your trust spells them out clearly before you sign.
What is the Medicaid lookback in Ohio?
When you apply for Medicaid to pay for long-term care, Ohio reviews transfers you made during a lookback period before you apply. Assets given away or moved into certain trusts during that window can delay your eligibility. Transfers made before the window generally aren't counted, which is why early planning matters.
What if my spouse needs nursing home care and I'm still at home?
Medicaid has rules that protect the spouse who stays home. You can generally keep the house and a portion of your savings and income, so one spouse's care doesn't leave the other with nothing. How much is protected depends on your situation, and planning ahead can protect more. Debra walks through what your family would keep before you decide anything.
Who should be the trustee of my irrevocable trust?
For most protective trusts, it shouldn't be you. Many families choose a trusted adult child, another relative or a professional trustee, and name a backup. Debra helps you weigh who can handle the responsibility and stay fair to everyone involved.
Is an irrevocable trust the same as an Ohio Legacy Trust?
An Ohio Legacy Trust is one type of irrevocable trust, built to protect assets from future creditors while you can still benefit from it. It isn't designed for Medicaid planning. Different goals call for different trusts, which is why the design starts with what you're trying to protect. If creditor protection is your main goal, see Asset Protection Trusts.
What if I need nursing home care soon after setting up a trust?
Transfers made within the lookback period can delay when Medicaid starts paying. A plan can still help, and keeping some resources outside the trust to cover care during that window is often part of the design. The earlier you plan, the more options you have.