At Jarvis Law Office, P.C., we help Ohio families protect what they have built through revocable living trusts. Since May 2003, our team has spent more than two decades guiding clients through the estate planning process with a one-time flat fee and clear education.
A revocable trust allows you to stay in control of your assets during your lifetime while naming a successor trustee to step in if you pass away or become incapacitated. For Ohio families, a properly funded revocable trust can help avoid probate, reduce delays, and provide clearer instructions for how and when loved ones receive assets.
As an active member firm of the Ohio State Bar Association with 35+ professionals on staff, we focus on making the process understandable from the first meeting through funding each account into the trust. Our team helps build a plan that fits your situation and works when your family needs it.
Our Revocable Trust Services in Ohio
- Revocable living trust creation
- Trust amendment and restatement
- Trust funding guidance
- Probate avoidance planning
- Successor trustee planning
- Incapacity planning
- Asset transfer into trust
- Real estate deed transfers
- Beneficiary planning
- Blended family trust planning
- Pour-over will preparation
- Powers of attorney
- Healthcare directives
- Trust review and updates
- Trust administration guidance
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
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Why Choose Jarvis Law Office For Your Trust
Hands-On Asset Funding
Our team helps you retitle accounts, deeds, and beneficiary designations so your trust is fully funded, not left half-finished in a binder.
One-Time Flat Fee
You pay a clear, upfront price. No recurring insurance-style charges, no monthly maintenance fees, no surprise bills later.
Education-First Planning
We give you clear tools and written instructions so you understand your plan and can manage it with confidence.
Long-Term Support
Your plan should grow with your life. We stay available for updates, questions, and guidance as laws and family circumstances change.
Collaborative With Your Advisors
We work alongside your existing CPA, financial advisor, and insurance agent instead of pushing them out of the picture.
Ohio-Licensed and Active in the Bar
Our attorneys are licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio and active members of the Ohio State Bar Association, with deep knowledge of Ohio probate and trust law.
Revocable Trust vs. Irrevocable Trust in Ohio
A revocable trust gives flexibility and control. You can change the trust, move assets in or out, update beneficiaries, or cancel it entirely during your lifetime. When properly funded, a revocable trust can help your family avoid probate, keep asset transfers private, and make it easier for a successor trustee to step.
An irrevocable trust is more permanent. Once assets are transferred into the trust, you generally give up direct control and cannot easily change the terms without meeting specific legal requirements. In exchange, an irrevocable trust may offer stronger asset protection, tax planning, Medicaid planning, or creditor protection benefits depending on how it is structured.
For many Ohio families, a revocable trust is the better fit when the main goals are probate avoidance, privacy, incapacity planning, and flexibility. An irrevocable trust may be appropriate when protection from long-term care costs, creditors, or certain tax concerns is a larger priority.
When You Should Set Up a Revocable Trust
Here are the situations where it makes the most sense.
Retirees planning ahead
If you own a home, retirement accounts, or investment property, a trust keeps those assets out of the Fairfield County probate docket and speeds up transfer to your heirs.
Families with young children
A trust lets you name who manages money for your kids and at what ages they receive it, instead of handing a lump sum to an 18-year-old.
Blended families
When you have children from a prior marriage, a trust spells out exactly who gets what, preventing disputes between a current spouse and biological children.
Owners of out-of-state property
Ohio residents with a condo in Florida or land in another state can avoid ancillary probate in each state by titling the property in the trust.
Anyone wanting privacy
Probate records are public in Ohio. A trust keeps your assets, beneficiaries, and family matters private.
How a Revocable Trust Helps You Avoid Probate
In Ohio, probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will, paying debts, and distributing assets. Even a straightforward estate can take six months to a year in county probate court, and the fees, filings, and public records add stress at the worst possible time.
A revocable trust sidesteps that process entirely. Assets titled in the name of the trust pass directly to your named beneficiaries under the terms you set, without court involvement, public filings, or probate delays.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.1% of Ohio residents were 65 or older, which helps explain why many families begin revocable trust planning before health or capacity concerns arise.
The key word is funded. A trust only avoids probate for assets actually retitled into it, which is why our team walks clients through every transfer instead of handing over paperwork and hoping it gets done.
Get to Know Jarvis Law Office
Jarvis Law Office, P.C. has helped Ohio families protect what matters for more than 20 years. Timothy Jarvis founded the firm in 2003, and today the practice operates from three Ohio offices in Lancaster, Dublin, and St. Clairsville.
Our team of 35+ professionals focuses on probate avoidance and strategic trust planning, with a hands-on approach to funding trusts so nothing is left half-finished. We are licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio and active members of the Ohio State Bar Association.
Clients choose us for clear education, a one-time flat fee, and long-term support without recurring insurance-style charges. We also work alongside your existing financial advisor rather than replacing the relationships you already trust.
Our Process For Ohio Clients
- Free Consultation
We start with a no-cost meeting to learn about your family, assets, and goals in Ohio.
- Custom Plan Design
Our attorneys build a revocable trust tailored to your situation, with clear explanations at every step.
- Document Review and Signing
You review drafts, ask questions, and sign once everything makes sense. No rushed paperwork.
- Hands-On Asset Funding
This is where most firms stop. Our team actively helps retitle real estate, bank accounts, and other assets into the trust so it actually works.
- Education and Handoff
You leave with written instructions, tools, and a clear understanding of how to manage your plan.
- Long-Term Support
We stay available for updates as your life changes, with no recurring monthly fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revocable Trusts
If I put my house into a revocable trust in Ohio, do I lose my homestead exemption or mortgage protection?
No, transferring your Ohio home into your own revocable trust does not cost you the homestead exemption or trigger your mortgage’s due-on-sale clause. Federal law under the Garn-St. Germain Act specifically protects transfers into a revocable trust where you remain a beneficiary and occupant.
Do I still need a will if I already have a revocable living trust?
Yes, you still need what is called a pour-over will alongside your trust. The pour-over will acts as a safety net that catches any assets you forgot to title in the trust and directs them into it at your death. It also names guardians for minor children, which a trust cannot do.
Can I be my own trustee, or do I have to hire a bank or professional?
You can absolutely serve as your own trustee while you are alive and competent, and most people do exactly that. You keep full control of your assets, file taxes the same way, and manage everything as you always have. The key is naming a successor trustee you trust to step in if you become incapacitated or pass away.
Will a revocable trust protect my assets from nursing home costs or Medicaid spend-down in Ohio?
No, and this is one of the biggest misconceptions people bring to our office. A revocable trust does not shield assets from creditors, lawsuits, or Medicaid because you still control everything inside it. Ohio Medicaid treats revocable trust assets as fully available resources during the five-year lookback.
How much does it actually cost to set up a revocable trust, and are there ongoing fees?
Costs vary based on complexity, but a properly drafted revocable trust package in Ohio typically runs from a flat fee in the low thousands for a straightforward plan. Be cautious of firms that push recurring insurance products or monthly maintenance fees as part of the plan.
Can I change or cancel my revocable trust later if my life situation changes?
Yes, that is the whole point of the word revocable. You can amend, restate, or completely revoke the trust at any time while you are mentally competent. Common reasons clients update their trusts include divorce, remarriage, the birth of a grandchild, moving to a new state, or a major change in assets.
Does a revocable trust help with estate taxes in Ohio?
Ohio repealed its state estate tax in 2013, so most Ohio residents do not owe any state-level estate tax regardless of their planning. The federal estate tax only applies to estates above roughly 13.6 million dollars per person in 2024, so it affects very few families. A basic revocable trust is primarily a probate-avoidance and incapacity-planning tool, not a tax-reduction strategy.
What Customers Say About Jarvis Law Office
“My husband and I just got our planning in place and it was a very informative and painless process.” – Courtney Patesel
This reflects our commitment to making trust planning feel straightforward, even for couples tackling it for the first time.
“He took the time to explain every detail clearly, which made a complicated situation much easier to understand.” – Luke Beard
Clear guidance is a core part of how we work, so clients walk away confident in every decision.
“He’s had over 20 years experience… makes me feel better about choosing his firm.” – MaryEllen Gainer
Two decades of Ohio trust and estate experience gives clients peace of mind that their plan is built on solid ground.
“From intake to years down the road when you need to just refresh your memory on how things work.” – Courtney Patesel
Our relationship does not end when the documents are signed. We stay available as life changes and questions come up.
“Everyone in the office is a pleasure to work with, and I never hesitate to call or send an email.” – Laura Palko
Our 35-plus person team is responsive and approachable, so clients always have someone to turn to.
Ohio Statewide Resources for Revocable Trust Clients
- Supreme Court of Ohio Probate Forms
- Ohio Probate Courts
- Ohio Legal Help
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Ohio Secretary of State Business Search
- Ohio Secretary of State Business Services Division
- Ohio Recorders’ Association
- Ohio County Recorders
- Ohio County Auditors
- Ohio Department of Medicaid Estate Recovery Program
- Ohio Department of Taxation
- Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- Ohio Department of Insurance
- Ohio Department of Aging
- Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Section
Get Started with a Revocable Trust
Protecting your family’s future starts with one conversation. Our team will walk you through your options, answer your questions, and build a plan that keeps your assets out of probate and in the right hands.
Call Jarvis Law Office to schedule your consultation. We serve clients across Ohio with flat-fee pricing, hands-on asset funding, and the long-term support your plan deserves.
