Do I need a will or a trust in Ohio?
Almost every Ohio adult needs a will, a financial power of attorney, and healthcare directives. You should consider adding a revocable living trust if you own a home you want to keep out of probate, have minor children, own property in more than one state, or want your affairs kept private, because probate files are public records.
A will alone does not avoid probate; it instructs the probate court. Ohio softens this with transfer-on-death designations for homes, vehicles, and accounts, which pass those assets outside probate. For many families, a will plus complete TOD designations achieves most of what a trust would, for less money.
A trust earns its cost when there are minor children (it controls money until ages you choose), blended families, or an expectation of incapacity. We tell clients honestly which tier they need; most don't need the most expensive one.
Have this exact situation?
A consultation gets you an answer specific to your facts, usually the same week. Our estate planning & probate team handles this daily.