ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY · AKRON, OH
Revocable Living Trusts in Akron, OH
Spatz Law Group creates revocable living trusts for families in Akron and across Northeast Ohio who want their home and savings to pass privately, without probate court, delays or a public record.
Keeping your house out of probate court
For many Ohio families, the house is the one thing that sends everyone to probate court. A revocable living trust changes that. Your home is held in the trust, and when you pass away, the person you chose as successor trustee transfers it to your family without a court case. No court case, no waiting on a judge, and no public inventory of everything you owned or who received it. Your family can grieve without also learning a court process.
Staying in control of everything while you're alive
A common worry is that a trust means giving up control. It doesn't. You are the trustee of your own revocable trust, so you can buy, sell, refinance and spend exactly as you do today, and you can change or cancel the trust whenever you like. The trust matters most if you can no longer manage things. Instead of your family asking a court for a guardianship, the successor trustee you chose steps in quietly and keeps your bills paid.
A trust nobody funded is just an expensive binder
A trust only controls what is actually titled in its name. Plenty of families sign a beautiful trust, put it on a shelf, and never move the house or accounts into it. When the time comes, everything goes through probate anyway. Debra explains exactly which assets need to be retitled, which can stay outside the trust with a beneficiary designation, and what to do when you buy something new, so your trust works the way you expect it to.
Trusts aren't only for the wealthy
Many people assume a trust is for families with millions. In practice, owning a home in Ohio is often reason enough to consider one. For some homeowners, a transfer on death designation affidavit keeps the house out of probate without a trust. A trust earns its place when you also want privacy, a plan for a possible illness, or a way to make sure young or vulnerable heirs don't receive everything at once. In your Estate Planning Session, you'll see what probate would look like for your family today, so you can decide whether a trust is worth it based on your real situation, not a sales pitch.
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 the deed to your home, recent account statements and any existing will or trust. If you own property outside Ohio, note where.
★★★★★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 sell my house if it's in a living trust?
Yes. As the trustee of your own revocable trust, you can sell, refinance or move just as you could before. When you refinance, some lenders ask for a copy of the trust or a shorter certification of trust, which Ohio law allows in place of the full document. It is a routine step.
Should a married couple have one trust or two?
Either can work. Many couples who share everything use one joint trust because it's simpler to set up and manage. Separate trusts can make more sense in a second marriage, when one spouse owns property from before the marriage, or when there's a reason to keep assets apart. In your Estate Planning Session, Debra explains which fits your family.
Does my living trust need its own tax return?
Not while you're alive. A revocable trust uses your Social Security number, and its income goes on your personal tax return as usual. After you pass away, the trust may need its own tax filings, and your successor trustee will be guided on what's required.
Does a living trust protect my assets from nursing home costs or creditors?
No. Because you keep full control of a revocable trust, its assets are still treated as yours for long-term care and creditor purposes. If protecting savings from nursing home costs is a priority, certain irrevocable trusts can help, and Debra explains what is realistic for your situation.
What happens to my trust if I can no longer manage my own affairs?
Your successor trustee steps in and manages the trust for you, paying bills and handling your accounts, without anyone going to probate court for a guardianship. Your trust document spells out how that handoff happens, so your family knows exactly what to do. That covers everything held in the trust. A durable financial power of attorney covers anything outside it, which is why the two are usually signed together.