Estate Planning for Austintown Families

Planning for the future isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about making sure the people you love are protected and your wishes are clear. At DiLoreto Law, we help families in Austintown and the surrounding area create practical estate plans that address real-life concerns: protecting a home, providing for children, and making sure someone you trust can step in if you become ill or injured. Our office in Boardman serves clients throughout the area with straightforward guidance and personalized planning.

A good estate plan does more than decide who inherits property. It gives your family a clear roadmap for handling financial matters, healthcare decisions, and legal responsibilities if something unexpected happens. Our goal is to make the process understandable and stress-free while creating documents that truly reflect your wishes.

Schedule a consultation with DiLoreto Law today and take the first step toward creating a clear, legally sound estate plan that protects you and the people you love.

What Documents Are Usually Included in an Estate Plan?

A complete estate plan is typically made up of several documents that work together. While every plan is a little different, most Ohio families include a mix of tools designed to protect them during life and guide their family after death—often reducing confusion for loved ones and simplifying matters in the local court system, including the Mahoning County Probate Court.

Common estate planning documents include:

• Last Will and Testament – Names who will receive your assets, who will manage the estate, and guardians for minor children
• Revocable Living Trust – Sometimes used to avoid probate and give more control over how assets are managed or distributed
• Durable Power of Attorney – Allows someone you trust to handle financial matters if you cannot
• Healthcare Power of Attorney – Authorizes a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf
• Living Will / Advance Directive – States your wishes about life-sustaining medical care
• HIPAA Authorization – Allows chosen individuals to access medical information when needed

We also review how your assets are titled and how beneficiaries are listed on accounts, since those details often determine whether your family must go through probate in Mahoning County.

How Much Does Estate Planning Cost?

The cost of estate planning varies because every family’s situation is different. A simple will-based plan for one person may be relatively straightforward, while a couple with real estate, retirement accounts, and specific inheritance instructions may benefit from a more detailed trust-based plan.

Rather than focusing only on the number of documents, we look at the bigger picture—your assets, your family dynamics, and what you want to accomplish. The right plan can prevent delays, reduce the likelihood of family conflict, and make things far easier for loved ones during a difficult time.

• Some factors that influence cost include:
• Whether you want to avoid probate
• Real estate ownership or multiple properties
• Planning for minor children
• Blended family considerations
• Coordinating beneficiary designations across accounts

During an initial consultation, we explain the available options and recommend a plan that fits your goals and budget.

Do You Need a Will or a Trust?

Many people ask whether they need a will or a trust. In reality, the answer often depends on what you own and how you want things handled after you’re gone.

A will is the foundation of most estate plans. It allows you to name an executor, direct how assets should be distributed, and appoint guardians for minor children. However, assets distributed through a will generally must go through probate.

A revocable living trust can help certain assets pass to beneficiaries without probate and may provide additional privacy and control. Trusts are often helpful when someone owns a home, wants to simplify things for family members, or prefers more detailed instructions for managing assets.

Many families choose a combination of both—a trust to manage assets and a “pour-over will” as a backup to ensure everything ultimately follows the plan.

What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will?

When a person dies without a will in Ohio, state law determines who inherits their property. This is known as dying intestate. In many cases, a spouse and children will inherit under a set formula, but that formula doesn’t always match what someone would have chosen.

Without a will, the court must also appoint someone to manage the estate. This process can add time, paperwork, and sometimes tension among family members. Important decisions—such as who should handle the estate or how property should be divided—are left to default legal rules rather than personal wishes.

Creating even a simple estate plan can prevent these uncertainties and give your family clear guidance.

How Can You Avoid Probate?

Probate is the court process used to settle an estate after someone passes away. While it is sometimes necessary, many people prefer to reduce or avoid it when possible because it can take months and involves public filings.

Depending on your situation, probate may be minimized through strategies such as:

• A revocable living trust that holds major assets
• Transfer-on-death (TOD) designations where allowed
• Updated beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance
• Careful asset titling and ownership structure

Planning ahead can make estate administration significantly easier for your family and reduce delays.

Why Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Documents Matter

Estate planning isn’t only about what happens after death—it’s also about protecting you during life. A durable power of attorney allows someone you trust to handle financial matters if you become incapacitated. Without it, family members may need to seek court-appointed guardianship just to manage basic responsibilities like paying bills.

Healthcare documents are equally important. A healthcare power of attorney lets someone make medical decisions on your behalf, while a living will communicates your wishes about life-sustaining treatment in certain medical situations. Together, these documents give doctors and family members clear guidance during stressful moments.

Planning for Real Families and Real Situations

Every family is different. Some people want to protect children from a prior relationship, while others want to make sure a surviving spouse remains financially secure. Blended families, home ownership, and retirement assets all shape how an estate plan should be structured.

Our role is to help you create a plan that reflects your family’s reality—not just a set of generic forms. We also encourage regular updates whenever life changes, such as marriage, divorce, new children, or major purchases.

Schedule an Estate Planning Consultation

If you’ve been thinking about creating a will, setting up a trust, or simply getting your affairs organized, the next step is a conversation. DiLoreto Law works with individuals and families throughout the Austintown area to build clear, practical estate plans that protect what matters most.

A consultation will help you understand your options, outline the right documents for your situation, and give you a clear path toward completing your estate plan with confidence. Contact us today to get started.