Latest Legal Insights

Probate is the legal process of administering a person’s estate after their death, ensuring assets are distributed to the next heir, and satisfying any liabilities. In my experience, everyone would like to avoid probate, where possible. It can be costly and time-consuming; an added difficulty for a family experiencing a loss.             Here is a quick summary of 3 steps that you can take to avoid Probate: If you’re married and own property, make sure it is owned with your s

It goes without saying the world has been challenging for most of us in the past year. Between the pandemic and the election, it often felt like every conversation was another opportunity to find a difference of opinion with someone. As most people in the legal field will tell you, dealing with a difference of opinion seems to go with the territory. However, many of these conversations felt different, less like the minor disagreements we have on a daily basis and more like an

In 2020, I had the privilege of sitting second chair during two jury trials in the Holmes County Court of Common Pleas. One was a civil jury trial involving a business dispute and the other was a criminal jury trial involving several charges. Sitting “second chair” during a jury trial essentially means:   a lawyer who helps the lead attorney in court. The services of the second chair may include examining some of the witnesses, arguing some of the points of law, handling part

One of the greatest aspects of being an attorney is conducting consultations with potential new clients. As someone who enjoys talking and meeting with people, I truly enjoy helping, educating, and empowering individuals who seek answers to some of the most difficult and challenging questions and experiences that they will go through in their life. It is extremely rewarding to assist and empower the potential new client to understand their legal options and advise them on how

One of the most common questions that I am asked during a divorce consultation is “How long will my divorce take to complete?”  This is a very difficult question to answer given that everyone’s marriage is unique and may have different circumstances that drive the overall amount of time one may have to invest in said divorce. I have litigated divorces that take a few months to complete, whereas I have litigated very complex divorces that take over 12 months to complete. There

2021 hit the ground running for many of us. Meanwhile, the challenges of 2020 still linger. This is my opportunity to reflect on where we have been and where we are going. And the first thing that comes to mind is this; we would not be where we are without our communities' support. Thank you to our clients, our supporters, our followers, and our strategic partners for your support, encouragement, and trust in one of the most challenging years of the past decade. In this State

On the surface, calculating child support in the state of Ohio seems fairly easy. The state has an official formula and an official worksheet, and there are numerous programs available online to calculate what should be the result. Yet, time and time again, the order from the court will not match this calculation and leave both parents scratching their heads.   What are the basics of child support in Ohio? The calculation of child support starts with a Child Support Computati

Last week, as I was getting my hair cut in a local barbershop, I overheard some fellow customers discussing their child support arrangement – “We don’t have anything formal, I see him on these weekends and those weekdays, and I pay her this much in support”. Every single alarm bell went off in my head. Too many times have I had clients walk through my door with the same exact thinking - everything was going fine, nothing was formal, but everybody was getting along and they bo

Relationships are not perfect. They have their majestic vistas, but they also have their difficult summits and perilous cliffs. Sometimes, through no fault of either party, it becomes clear that a relationship should reach its natural end. When this happens, in a marriage, there are two options – a Divorce or a Dissolution.    What is a Dissolution? We all know what the stereotypical divorce looks like – fighting, crying, and expensive legal bills. A dissolution is a lot clos

When I served as a judge, one of the most frequent contacts I had with the general public went something like this, “Hey Judge, I received a notice from the Sheriff that I have been selected for jury duty and I can’t serve because (insert excuse here.)” The request would lead to a discussion of civic duty, which did not often result in the retraction of the request. But one thing did, “What if you needed a jury? Would you appreciate someone with your reason being excused?” Th

Most of my career as a prosecutor, judge, and now an attorney in private practice has one common thread woven throughout working with juries. Sometimes thrilling, sometimes frustrating but always fascinating, the ways that juries hear the evidence, consider the law and make their decisions never lose my interest. Recently, I was asked on a radio interview “Why do juries have twelve members?” My initial urge was to say, “Not all do.” And go into a description of how in Ohio ci

EQUES Law Group rolled out flat fee dissolution packages for clients seeking to dissolve their marriage in a non-contentious, or non-argumentative, way.  We understand that one of the most stressful factors in retaining an attorney is not knowing the exact cost of what you will pay. While we cannot offer fixed pricing for all our services, we can offer fixed pricing for dissolutions. It is a way of offering peace of mind to those who are in one of the most troubling times of

As dine-in services for Ohio’s restaurants and bars re-open, here are some thoughts about the Ohio Department of Health guidelines for in-restaurant dining. For more information, please see coronavirus.ohio.gov or call your local health department. HEALTHY COOKS AND WAITERS. Increased employee monitoring and training are mandated. Bar and restaurant managers have the responsibility to assure on a daily basis that employees are healthy when they report to work and are monitor

Under Ohio law, Grandparents may pursue visitation rights with their grandchild(ren) in certain situations, such as when: Married parents terminate the marriage or separate A parent passes away; The child’s mother is unmarried; or, A child is deemed abused, neglected, or dependent. A Court will more than likely grant visitation time to a grandparent in a proceeding for divorce, dissolution, or legal separation if the grandparent files a motion in the appropriate court seeking

By now, you are likely familiar with the SBA’s loans for hard-hit businesses during this national pandemic. All organizations have been impacted in some way by the coronavirus, including non-profit organizations. It is of some relief to hear that non-profit organization can also apply for governmental relief that is available under the CARES Act, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (although it is currently out of funds and no longer taking new applications ) and the Econ