At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help Columbus families protect a parent’s home and savings when nursing home costs suddenly threaten to take everything. If a parent has just moved into a facility, or is about to, it is usually not too late to save something.
For more than 20 years, our team has guided Ohio families through Medicaid planning and asset protection, and Ohio law still offers real options even after care has started.
Estate planning and elder law means putting the right legal tools in place to protect what your family has built.
That includes a will or living trust, a power of attorney so someone can act on your parent’s behalf, a healthcare directive for medical decisions, and Medicaid planning to shield the home and savings from nursing home costs. A basic will alone does not protect assets from Medicaid, which surprises most families.
Timing matters, which is why acting now protects more than waiting does. Choose counsel with a focused background in estate planning and elder law, not a generalist.
What Goes Into a Complete Estate Plan in Ohio
An estate plan is a set of tools that work together to protect your family and keep your parent’s wishes in force. A typical Ohio plan includes:
- A revocable living trust, which holds assets and helps your family skip the delays of probate court
- A pour-over will, which directs anything left outside the trust into it
- A power of attorney, so a trusted person can handle finances if your parent cannot
- A healthcare power of attorney and HIPAA authorization, so someone can make medical decisions and access records
Building the plan starts with a full inventory of assets and a review of every beneficiary designation. We also weigh whether a trust or an Ohio Transfer on Death Designation Affidavit fits your parent’s situation.
We help move your assets into the plan, not just hand you paperwork, and our one-time flat fee covers this work with no upsell pressure at any step.
What Clients Say About Working With Jarvis Law Office
“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.” Courtney P.
For families racing against nursing home costs, a calm and clear process matters.
“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.” Luke B.
Ohio Medicaid rules can be confusing, and plain-language explanations remove the guesswork.
“She was friendly, professional, and went above and beyond to help me… someone who genuinely cares.” Nate T.
Compassion counts when you are overwhelmed and coordinating a parent’s care.
“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.” MaryEllen G.
Two decades of Ohio elder law experience means this is not a firm learning on your case.
“From intake to years down the road when you need to just refresh your memory on how things work.” Courtney P.
The support does not end when the paperwork is signed.
Estate Planning and Elder Law Services We Provide
- Elder Law
- Medicaid Planning
- Asset Protection
- Probate
- Powers of Attorney
- Trust & Will Lawyer
- Estate Planning
- Care Navigation
- Ohio Memory Care Planning
- Ohio Special Needs Estate Planning
- Estate Tax Planning
- Ohio Veterans Benefits
Where We Serve in Columbus
- Short North
- German Village
- Victorian Village
- Italian Village
- Clintonville
- Bexley
- Upper Arlington
- Worthington
- Dublin
- Westerville
- Hilliard
- Grove City
- Gahanna
- New Albany
- Reynoldsburg
WE WILL SPEAK FOR YOUR RIGHTS
Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your options. You may find that you are entitled to payment if your claim was denied or underpaid. Let Jarvis Law Office be your advocate
Book Consultation
Why Choose Jarvis Law Office, P.C. in Columbus
- We help move your assets into the plan. We do not just hand you paperwork.A trust only protects what is actually placed inside it. Our team handles the funding, transferring your parent’s home and accounts into the plan, so nothing is left half-done when it matters most.
- An education-first approach so you are never blindsided.We explain Ohio Medicaid rules, the five-year look-back, and what each document does. You leave knowing what is happening and why, with clear instructions to manage the plan going forward.
- One-time flat fee, no recurring costs.You pay a single flat fee, not monthly charges layered on top of an already expensive care situation. You know the cost before you commit.
- We work with your existing financial advisor, not around them.Our approach preserves the relationships you already trust rather than replacing them.
- 20+ years and a 35-person team ready to move quickly.Licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio and active in the Ohio State Bar Association, our team has the capacity and credentials to act fast on urgent Medicaid matters.
Understanding Revocable Living Trusts vs. Last Wills and Testaments in Ohio
A last will and testament explains how your assets should be distributed after your death, but it does not avoid probate. The will must be filed with the Franklin County Probate Court, where the estate administration becomes part of the public record and may involve court costs, delays, and ongoing oversight.
A revocable living trust works differently. Assets properly transferred into the trust can generally pass to beneficiaries without probate, allowing for a more private and efficient transfer.
| Last Will and Testament | Revocable Living Trust |
| Takes effect after death | Takes effect once created and funded |
| Usually requires probate | Funded assets generally avoid probate |
| Becomes part of the public record | Keeps asset distribution more private |
| May involve months of court administration | Can allow assets to transfer more quickly |
| Does not require assets to be retitled during life | Only controls assets transferred into the trust |
About Jarvis Law Office
Jarvis Law Office, P.C. has guided Ohio families through nursing home and Medicaid situations since May 2003, more than 20 years of working directly with Ohio Medicaid rules, the five-year review period, and asset protection as it actually plays out for local families.
We are licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio and an active member of the Ohio State Bar Association. This is Ohio-specific experience, not generic national advice.
With a team of 35 professionals, we have the capacity to move quickly when a parent is already in a facility and every month counts. You will not wait weeks for a return call.
A plan only protects your parent’s home if the assets are actually moved into it. We help move your assets into the plan and explain Medicaid planning, powers of attorney, and living trusts in plain language so you are never blindsided.
We work on a one-time flat fee with no recurring monthly costs layered on top of an already expensive situation. We stay a long-term partner, not a one-time transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elder Law and Estate Planning
How does Ohio Medicaid’s five-year look-back rule affect what I can still do after my parent is already in a nursing home?
Ohio Medicaid reviews the five years of financial records before your parent applies, called the five-year review period. Gifts or transfers made in that window can trigger a penalty that delays coverage. Even so, it is rarely too late.
Do I need an elder law attorney or an estate planning attorney, or both?
For a nursing home crisis, you need an elder law attorney who handles Medicaid planning, not just wills for healthy adults. The two areas overlap, so the same firm often handles both.
Can a revocable living trust protect my parent’s assets from Medicaid in Ohio?
No. A revocable living trust helps you avoid probate, but Medicaid still counts those assets because your parent keeps control. Protecting assets from nursing home costs requires an irrevocable trust, meaning the assets are placed beyond your parent’s direct control, or another Ohio-specific strategy.
What is probate and how can I avoid it in Franklin County?
Probate is the court process that transfers a person’s property after death, handled through Franklin County Probate Court. It can take months, cost money, and become public record. A properly funded living trust lets assets pass directly to your family without probate.
What happens if my parent dies without a will or trust in Ohio?
Ohio’s intestacy laws decide who inherits, in a fixed order set by the state, regardless of what your parent may have wanted. The estate still goes through Franklin County Probate Court, which adds time and cost.
How does Jarvis Law Office charge, flat fee or hourly?
Jarvis Law Office uses a one-time flat fee, so you know the cost up front. There are no recurring monthly charges or insurance-style fees layered on top of an already expensive care situation.
Is my parent’s power of attorney enough, or does it need updating before applying for Medicaid?
An outdated or narrow power of attorney can be rejected by banks and may not allow the gifting or transfers Medicaid planning requires. If the document is old or missing gifting authority, it should be reviewed right away.
When should we update the estate plan, and how quickly do we need to move?
Move sooner rather than later. Medicaid planning options narrow as time passes, so acting early genuinely protects more. Update the plan after any major change, including a move into care, a new diagnosis, or a change in assets.
Local Resources in Columbus, Ohio
- Franklin County Probate Court
Handles wills, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships for county residents. - Franklin County Recorder’s Office
Maintains official records of deeds and real property transfers. - Franklin County Auditor’s Office
Assesses property values and processes homestead exemption applications. - Franklin County Office on Aging
Coordinates services and support programs for older adults and their caregivers. - Columbus Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
Connects residents with vetted local attorneys across a range of legal needs. - Ohio Secretary of State
Registers business entities and maintains records relevant to business succession matters. - Social Security Administration, Columbus Field Office
Processes retirement, disability, and survivor benefit applications for local residents. - Legal Aid Society of Columbus
Offers free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals facing a variety of legal challenges.
Start Your Columbus Estate Plan With Jarvis Law Office, P.C.
If your parent just entered a nursing facility, you may be wondering if it is already too late to protect the family home and savings. It usually is not. Ohio law still offers real options after admission, but those options narrow as time passes, so acting now genuinely matters.
For more than 20 years, our team has guided Franklin County and central Ohio families through exactly this moment. With offices in St. Clarisville, Dublin, and Lancaster, we know Ohio Medicaid rules, the five-year review period, and the trust strategies that actually protect assets.
Your consultation is straightforward. We review your situation and tell you plainly what Ohio Medicaid allows, what can still be protected, and what it costs.
Call us to schedule your consultation and get clear answers today.
