Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys in Hilliard, Ohio

At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help families with estate planning and elder law in Hilliard, Ohio, with a focus on probate avoidance and strategic trust planning backed by real, hands-on support.

Since 2003, our team actively helps fund trusts, teaches you how your plan works, and uses a one-time flat-fee model so you are not locked into recurring, insurance-style fees. 

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted September 2–8, 2025, only 32% of U.S. adults say they’ve created a will, which is why many clients come to us unsure whether they need a will, a trust, or both. 

Many Hilliard clients come in after a life change like retirement, a new grandchild, or caring for a parent and realize their accounts, home, and beneficiary choices are not coordinated with their wishes. 

We make the process manageable by starting with your goals, translating legal options into clear choices, coordinating with your existing financial advisor, and then helping move assets into your trust so your plan is more than paperwork. 

What Estate Planning and Elder Law Covers in Hillard (and Why It Matters)

Estate planning and elder law both help protect your family, but they focus on different problems. 

Estate planning is about what happens if you pass away and what happens if you are alive but cannot make decisions. 

Elder law focuses on aging-related planning, especially long-term care, benefits, and preventing a crisis from turning into a financial and legal mess.

In Hilliard, this matters because people are planning for both growth and aging at the same time. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hilliard’s population was estimated at 38,832 in 2024, and 11.2% of residents are 65+, showing why elder law and long-term planning matter locally. Families often have adult children nearby, aging parents who need help, and a home that represents most of the household wealth.

Estate planning typically includes:

• Wills (guardians for minor children + directing assets not in a trust)
• Revocable living trusts (avoid probate + keep plans private)
• Financial power of attorney (someone can manage bills/accounts if you can’t)
• Health care directives (medical wishes + decision-makers)
• Trust funding (retitling assets so the trust actually works)
  

Elder law often overlaps when long-term care is a concern. With rising nursing home costs, Medicaid and asset-protection planning is common, along with capacity planning, and guardianship alternatives.

Our Estate Planning and Elder Law Services in Hillard

• Asset protection planning
• Care Navigation
• Memory Care Planning
• Special Needs
• Powers of attorney  
• Medicaid planning strategies  
• Estate Planning
• Estate Tax Planning
• Trust and Will
• Revocable living trusts  
• Powers of Attorney
• Veterans Benefits
• Charitable Planning
• Business Succession Planning

Why Families in Hillard Choose Us

Families come to Jarvis Law Office, P.C. when they want a plan that actually keeps their family out of probate when possible, protects what they have built, and is set up correctly from day one.

• Probate-avoidance focus, not just paperwork. We build estate plans around reducing court involvement where it fits your goals, using trusts and beneficiary strategies that match how you own assets in real life.
  
• Strategic trust planning tailored to your family. Whether your priority is protecting a spouse, providing for kids with different needs, or planning for long-term care, we design trust terms that work in Ohio.
  
• Hands-on trust funding help. A trust only works when assets are moved into it. Our team helps with funding steps like retitling accounts and coordinating updates so your plan isn’t left unfinished.
  
• Education-first guidance and clear instructions. We explain options in plain language and give practical next steps so you know what to do, what to avoid, and how to keep your plan current as life changes.
  
• One-time flat fee—no recurring “insurance-style” fees. You get a complete plan without being pushed into expensive ongoing products or monthly charges.
  
• Long-term availability and coordination. We stay available for questions and updates, and we work with your financial advisor and CPA so everyone stays aligned.
  
• Dignity and peace of mind. The goal is a plan your family can carry out smoothly, with less confusion and less conflict when it matters most.

Do You Need a Will, a Trust, or Both?

Many families in Hilliard ask this, and it’s normal. 

• A will is often enough if you need to name guardians for minor children and your assets are simple, and you’re okay with probate.
  
• A revocable living trust helps avoid probate and makes incapacity planning easier,but it only works if assets are properly funded into the trust.
  
• An irrevocable trust may be used for asset protection/Medicaid planning, especially with long-term care costs

Many people use both: a trust plus a pour-over will to catch anything left outside the trust. 

Planning for Long-Term Care: Medicaid & Asset Protection Basics

Long-term care costs are a key part of estate planning. In Ohio, Genworth/CareScout’s 2024 survey lists median annual nursing home costs at $108,405 (semi-private) and $120,450 (private), so Medicaid and asset-protection planning often matter.

Medicaid planning usually falls into:

• Crisis planning: care is needed now/soon
• Pre-planning: done earlier to structure assets and documents safely

Key basics for Hilliard families:

• Rules are strict and timing matters (some transfers can trigger penalties).
• Spousal protections may help, but strategy depends on finances and care needs.
• Asset protection is case-specific (what you own, how it’s titled, and your timeline).

Jarvis Law Office, P.C. helps families coordinate benefits, care decisions, and plan updates so everything

About Jarvis Law Office, P.C.

Jarvis Law Office, P.C. has helped Ohio families protect what they have built since 2003. We serve Hilliard and the surrounding Columbus and Franklin County area with a focus on estate planning, strategic trust planning, and elder law guidance that is practical and easy to follow. 

Clients often come to us after hearing conflicting advice, or after a loved one’s estate becomes more complicated than expected.

We do not hand you a stack of documents and send you on your way. Our team provides hands-on asset funding support, helping move the right assets into the trust so the plan works in real life, not just on paper. 

We also take an education-first approach, giving you clear instructions and tools so you understand your plan and can manage updates with confidence.

Our Process for Hillard Families 

A clear plan is only helpful if it actually gets finished and put into place. Here is what working with Jarvis Law Office, P.C. typically looks like, from first meeting through follow-through.

1. Discovery and goal setting

We start with a focused conversation about your family, your assets, and what you want to protect. You will tell us what worries you most, such as avoiding probate, planning for long-term care, or preventing conflict between loved ones.

2. Plan design and options

We recommend a plan built around your goals, often combining a trust, a will, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives as needed. You will get clear explanations in plain language, plus flat-fee options explained up front so you can decide without surprises.

3. Drafting and review

We prepare your documents and walk through them with you so you know what each part does. If you have a financial advisor or other professional, we coordinate rather than compete, so everyone stays aligned.

4. Hands-on trust funding guidance

This is where many plans fall apart, so our team helps you move assets into the trust correctly. That can include real estate, bank accounts, and beneficiary updates, with clear checklists and support.

5. Future support for updates

Life changes. We stay available for updates when you move, buy or sell property, experience a family change, or want to adjust your plan.

What Our Customers Say

“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.”

Clients value a process that feels organized and approachable. This reflects our education-first approach and step-by-step guidance so you can make decisions with confidence instead of stress.

“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.”

Clear explanations matter in trust planning, probate avoidance, and elder law decisions. This feedback shows our focus on plain-language answers so you understand what you are signing and why it fits your goals.

“She was friendly, professional, and went above and beyond to help me… someone who genuinely cares.”

Estate planning is personal, and clients want to feel heard. This highlights the compassion and follow-through our team brings, especially when families are juggling health issues, finances, and tough timelines.

“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.”

Clients often come to us because they want steady, proven guidance. Since May 2003, Jarvis Law Office has helped Ohio families build plans they can trust, with practical recommendations and long-term support.

“From intake to years down the road when you need to just refresh your memory on how things work.”

A good plan should not feel like a one-and-done transaction. This speaks to the ongoing clarity we provide, including refreshers, check-ins, and help keeping your trust properly funded as life changes.

Areas We Serve in Hillard

• Old Hilliard
• Downtown Hilliard
• Hilliard Station / Historical Village area
• Mill Run
• Avery Road corridor
• Cemetery Road corridor
• Scioto Darby Road corridor
• Britton Parkway / I-270 area
• Hayden Run / Hayden Run Falls area
• Darby Creek / Heritage Trail area
• Hoffman Farms area
• Lakewood / Hilliard Green area

Local Resources We Work With in Hilliard & Franklin County

• Franklin County Probate Court (estate and trust cases, e-filing portal and clerk information)
• Franklin County Probate Court Guardianship Services (guardianships and related court resources)
• Franklin County Clerk of Courts (court record lookups and general filing information)
• Franklin County Board of Elections (voter registration and polling information, often used for identity/residency checks)
• Ohio Department of Medicaid (eligibility, benefits, renewals, and consumer resources)
• Ohio Benefits (statewide online portal for Medicaid, SNAP, and other benefits)
• Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services (local benefits support, including Medicaid-related assistance)
• Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) (senior services, care coordination, caregiver support, and benefits counseling)
• City of Hilliard Senior Center (local programs, activities, and support for older adults)
• Veterans Service Commission of Franklin County (benefits help, claims support, and local veterans resources)

Get Started With Estate Planning in Hillard

If you are ready to protect your family and reduce stress later, the next step is a quick planning meeting. We will listen first, explain your options in plain language, and recommend a plan that fits your goals, your assets, and your timeline.

If you have questions like “What happens if I get sick?” “How do I keep my home out of probate?” or “Who should make decisions if I cannot?” We will walk through real examples and help you choose the right documents.

To schedule, call or use our online contact form.