花都影视

花都影视 Co., LPA is pleased to announce that Jessica Forrest has been named to the Notable Women in Law list published by Crain’s Cleveland Business. 

As co-chair of 花都影视's Estates, Trusts, and Probate Litigation Practice Group, Jessica focuses her practice on will and trust contests, beneficiary disputes, and fiduciary litigation. She also handles matters of trust and estate administration, guardianships, and estate planning. Prior to joining 花都影视, Jessica worked at a small general practice firm in Akron, Ohio, where she gained significant experience in real ... Read More ›

花都影视's statewide chair of 花都影视's Estates and Trusts Practice Group, Adam Fried, provided testimony in opposition to HB 172 before the Ohio House of Representatives. His opposition, presented on behalf of the Ohio State Bar Association, focused concerns surrounding the insidious and rampant societal problem of the exploitation of at risk, older adults. Read More ›

花都影视 Co., LPA is pleased to announce the addition of Michael Brody to our Cleveland office.

Michael focuses his practice primarily on estate, trust, and probate litigation, as well as trust and estate administration. He first joined the firm as a law clerk in 2022.

Michael earned his J.D. from Cleveland State University College of Law, where was a member of the CSU Law Moot Court Team, a contributing writer for “The Gavel,” and the CALI ‘High A’ Award for Appellate Practice Clinic, Advanced Brief Writing.

Please join us in welcoming Michael to 花都影视!Read More ›

We have previously covered that our senior citizens are at risk for identity theft, financial exploitation, and scams. As a result of increasing identity theft concerns for citizens of all ages, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has responded by requiring identity verification for all changes of address. This applies to both online and in-person Change of Address Requests. While it may seem like a good idea, both procedures present unique challenges to persons who are older, less mobile, unable to act on their own behalf or those who do not have access to the required ... Read More ›

What do the following have in common? Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Michael Jackson and Jerry Garcia.

If you guessed musicians, you shouldn’t have thought this exercise would be so easy.

The correct answer is: Celebrities whose estates created massive, news-making disputes among their respective families.

Adam Fried, Statewide Chair of 花都影视's Estates and Trusts Practice Group, recently discussed how family disputes can wreak havoc on estate planning efforts. Read More ›

花都影视 Co., LPA is pleased to announce that 13 of our Trusts and Estates lawyers have been included in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America® list are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.  

Best Lawyers

• Adam M. Fried - Elder Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
• Allison M. McMeechan - Elder Law, Trusts and Estates
• Barbara Bellin Janovitz - Elder Law, Trusts and Estates
• Jessica Forrest ...

Ohio’s Rules of Civil Procedure govern how civil cases are run from the initial filing and service to discovery to final judgment. The Rules are updated annually with an effective date of July 1. And, most importantly for 花都影视’s Estates, Trusts, and Probate Litigation Practice Group, the Rules govern most probate litigation including trusts contests, beneficiary disputes, and declaratory judgments. So, let’s take a look at some key updates for 2023.

1. Remote Presence and Email Service. Consistent with last year’s changes to the Rules of Superintendence, the Civil ...

The mixing of financial issues with the emotion of losing a loved one is a big reason probate litigation occurs, and demographics support that estate and trust disputes only will increase in the coming years.

According to the Population Reference Bureau and Census Bureau, there are roughly 76.4 million Baby Boomers in the United States. The youngest members of this generation will turn 65 in 2029, and Fortune.com estimates that Baby Boomers should transfer roughly $53 trillion to their heirs and beneficiaries through 2045. To put that $53 trillion in perspective, the United ... Read More ›

Jessica Forrest authored "Confidentiality and Privilege in Post-Death Disputes: Is it Time to Tweak R.C. 2317.02?" for the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.

Reprinted from Probate Law Journal of Ohio available in print and on Westlaw with permission from Thomson Reuters. Copyright © 2023. Further use without permission of Thomson Reuters is prohibited. For further information about this publication, please visit  .Read More ›

Adriann McGee and Mary Kraft represented a Plaintiff, the Executor of an Estate in a claim for breach of fiduciary duty. Plaintiff’s claim included that the power of attorney for the decedent breached her duties by adding herself as the co-owner on the decedent’s bank account, then gifting herself funds that belonged solely to the decedent.

Adriann and Mary presented their case over a 4 day trial in front of the jury. The jury also awarded attorney fees and costs to the Plaintiff estate. This was the first jury trial to be held in the Delaware County Probate Court in 25 years. Read More ›