Why You Need Estate Planning

Estate planning is the process whereby families develop a plan that ensures that the assets they have worked so hard accumulating during their lifetime are protected and distributed to those they love after their death.

Implementing an estate plan requires more than just properly crafted documents. How assets are owned is equally important. Careful selection of the primary and contingent beneficiaries for those assets that have their own beneficiaries, such as life insurance, IRA's, 401K's, and annuities, is also critical. Signing a will or trust without attending to these considerations will insure that the plan fails. We see serious failures like these regularly, only because a person did not understand some basic legal principles before he or she died.

Estate Planning Practice Areas

Our goal is to provide you with practical solutions to your estate planning concerns, with a strong emphasis on asset protection. A well-designed estate plan passes assets to those we love in a manner that best fits the life circumstances of our intended beneficiaries. And it reduces or eliminates the associated costs, such as estate and income taxes, probate court expense, and legal fees. Our office regularly represents people throughout Northeast Ohio with regard to revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, general durable powers-of-attorney, health care directives (living wills and health care powers of attorney) the federal and Ohio estate taxes ("inheritance tax" or "death tax"), income taxes, and the rules of the local probate courts, to accomplish the objectives of our clients.

A thoughtful estate plan takes into account not only the expected size of our net worth upon our demise, but also considers the unique needs our beneficiaries. Could an heir be too young to receive an inheritance? Should the inheritance be phased in at certain ages? Does an heir have a disability or any special needs? Is the intended beneficiary in a difficult marriage with the possibility of a later divorce? Do we have children from a prior marriage? Should we protect the inheritance from the heir's potential creditors? Are there any taxes that can be avoided? Do we wish to avoid the probate court rules, delays, and expenses? Every plan is different...every life is unique. We are committed to providing you with an estate plan so meet your specific goals.

Mr. Umbaugh is an active member of Wealthcounsel, and The National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, which are the two premier national groups of estate planning lawyers.  He also regularly speaks to the general public on estate planning topice, and also teaches courses to fellow lawyers, CPA's, and financial planners.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of Laurel Lake Retirement Community, a community of care in Hudson, Ohio.

Contact Us

With 32 years of practice in this area of law, we are able to provide you with experienced, knowledgeable legal representation. Contact us today for the handling of your estate planning needs.

From his office in Hudson, Ohio, David G. Umbaugh, Attorney at Law provides representation to clients located throughout Cuyahoga, Portage, Medina, Stark, and Summit counties, including the communities of Cleveland, Parma, Ravenna, Medina, Canton, Akron, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Twinsburg, Northfield, Bath, Montrose, Fairlong, Solon, Beachwood, Brecksville, and Macedonia.

David G. Umbaugh
Attorney at Law
110 W. Streetsboro Street, #3b
Hudson, Ohio 44236
Phone: (330) 650-6608
Fax: (330) 650-1185
du@davidumbaugh.net