Washington County Elder Law Lawyers

Matt founded MDSLaw Ohio in 2011. He and his team focus entirely on helping families and business owners to plan their futures. Working in close collaboration with a trusted network of financial advisers, accountants, bankers and real estate professionals, Matt delivers high-quality legal services in a no-nonsense fashion. He has prepared well over 2,000 estate plans, from simple to complex, for clients located throughout California and Ohio. Prior to law school, Matt received a Bachelor of Music degree with emphasis in Vocal Performance at Brigham Young University. He has sung in multiple countries and in a dozen languages, including an appearance...

Attorney Mitchell (Mitch) Adel is the managing partner of Cooper, Adel, Vu & Associates. Mitch’s close relationship with his extended family has given him a deep appreciation for the issues we all face as we age. He is passionate about finding solutions that protect and preserve the wealth of his extended client family and for those they leave behind. Mitch has a mission to educate seniors and their families about elder law issues which he does through weekly educational seminars throughout Ohio and by contributing to publications such as USA Today, Forbes Magazine, Consumer Reports, Yahoo Finance, the Cincinnati Enquirer...

• Board-Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
• 22 years' Estate Planning, Trust and Probate law experience
• Founding Member and frequent speaker, WealthCounsel, LLC
• Fellow, Esperti Peterson Institute for Advanced Wealth Strategies Planning
• Fellow, The Laureate Circle
• Member, Professional Advisory Committee, The Columbus Foundation
• Member, ePlanners Educational Alliance
• Board Member, Christian Legal Society of Central Ohio
• Accredited Attorney – U. S. Veterans Administration
• Honoree, Leave A Legacy Award – Central Ohio Planned Giving Council
• Rated AV “Pre-eminent” by Martindale-Hubbell / Lawyers.Com
• Rated “10.0 - Superb” by...

Currently the only Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) in Fairfield County, and one of only 30 CELAs in Ohio, Jennifer enjoys serving as President of the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, as the President of the AHA! Children's Museum, as the Vice President of the Fairfield County United Way, as the Secretary of the Fairfield County Republican Executive Committee, and as the Treasurer of the Fairfield County Bar Association. She founded Sitterley Law LLC to focus on Asset Protection, Probate, and Estate Planning services. Sitterley Law LLC is located on the second floor in...

My practice has transitioned over the last few years. The largest area of practice is Estate Planning (helping families prepare for a death and minimize legal work needed following a death in their family) and helping families with legal work necessary after a death in their family. It's referred to as "Probate" work. However, with proper planning, it should be referred to as Probate/non-Probate legal work. I have helped families in hundreds of cases from large, complex matters to small non-complex matters. The people that you plan for will likely be your family. We can help you make a plan...

Over thirty years ago, Thom Cooper created the law firm that would become Cooper, Adel, Vu & Associates with the goal of representing seniors in a way that maximized their independence and minimized the stress and burden placed on loved ones. Since then, Attorney Cooper has provided educational seminars throughout Ohio to spread the word about estate planning and elder law. He has helped thousands of seniors and their families find public benefits to protect and preserve their assets. Thom was among the first 19 attorneys in Ohio to become dually certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) as...

Jacintha Kraft Balch is an Ohio Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust, holds the highest Martindale Hubbell AV rating available to any lawyer, and has been named as one of Central Ohio's Top Lawyers in C.E.O. Magazine. She founded Balch Law in 1991. The firm's practice is dedicated to providing large firm experience with small firm attention. She is a member of The Columbus Foundation's Professional Advisory Board, has served on the Columbus Jewish Foundation's Professional Advisory Board and as a Board Member of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio. She is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education...

Tonya R. Coles, Esq. is a solo practitioner in Columbus, Ohio. She focuses her practice on elder law, estate planning, and probate law. Tonya is a graduate of Capital University Law School. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio.

Jerry founded his boutique law firm in 1981, in Canton, Ohio, continuing a 48-year career dedicated to helping individuals and small businesses accomplish their legal goals.

Paulette F. Balin has been practicing law since 1978. She was raised in Timberlake, OH and went to Laurel School in Shaker Heights. In 1975 she graduated magna cum laude from Case Western Reserve University and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She received her law degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1978, and passed the Ohio Bar in 1978 and Florida Bar in 1980. Paulette first opened her practice in Cleveland, Ohio in 1980. She has broad experience and success in handling Social Security Disability, SSI, and Long-Term Disability cases. Her legal experience covers cases addressing a large...

As a founding and managing partner of a women-owned law firm, attorney Abbie Obenour is particularly interested in efficient practice management, networking strategies for attorneys, women in the profession, and mentorship.

Areas of Practice
Elder Law
Estate Planning
Probate & Estate Administration
Adoption
Assisted Reproductive Technology
Guardian Ad Litem

Education
– Capital University Law School
Honors: Order of the Curia
Honors: Felicia Beth Nektirz Juvenile
Law Fellow with the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy
Honors: Dean’s Award for Public Service
Concentration: Family Law
– The Ohio State University
Master of Public Health
Honors: University FellowshipConcentration:
Health Behavior Health Promotion
– The Ohio State University

Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude
Honors: College of Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence...

Christopher is now an experienced trust & estate attorney, with expertise in estate planning, trust administration, and probate. But as a child, Christopher R. Orr was always known as the kid with his nose in a book. This passion for learning was due to Christopher’s parents answering his endless “why?” questions with “look it up and teach us!” The ability to make complicated information logical and then turn around and explain it to others became natural for him even at that young age.

It wasn’t until Christopher was in law school that he was faced with the reality that most attorneys...

Douglas R. Jackson is the founding firm member of Jackson & Curtin with office locations in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. He received a B. A. degree, cum laude, from Ohio University. Mr. Jackson received his M.B.A. degree from Western Kentucky University and his J.D. degree from Captial University. Mr. Jackson is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, former chairman of the American Cancer Planned Giving Council, and is a member of the Catholic Foundation Professional Advisory Group

Geoffrey Kunkler joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in 2014 and has been a Partner since 2018. His practice is centered around estate planning for individuals and business owners, as well as asset protection planning for retirees. He focuses primarily on the areas of estate planning, elder protection, estate administration, charitable and philanthropic planning and special needs planning. He also has extensive experience in conducting educational seminars on legal topics related to his expertise. Professional Accolades Education Geoff received his bachelor’s degree (B.A.) and master’s degree (M.A.) from Case Western Reserve University and his law degree (J.D.) from The Ohio State University...

John D. Clark is proud to help his clients in his solo law practice. John's law practice focuses in the areas of estate planning, trusts, probate, charitable planning, elder law, and business law. Previously, he was a director with Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co. LPA. He is a member of the American College of Trusts & Estates Counsel (ACTEC).

A Practice Focused on Business & Banking
Mr. Shonk represents businesses and banks with regard to financial, organizational and general business planning matters including:

Business, banking and credit rights disputes
Employment and labor law
Bankruptcy
Acquisitions
Mergers
Business reorganizations
Estate planning
Trusts
Probate
An Experienced and Trusted Advisor
Mr. Shonk’s focus on financial matters and business affairs has allowed him to be the trusted advisor to families and individuals who seek his services on estate planning, trusts and probate matters.

His articles on labor law have been published in law journals. Mr. Shonk has presented continuing legal education seminars on various bankruptcy and mechanic’s lien issues to both trade organizations and outside attorney...