Executive Legal Services

Executive Legal Services "Cleveland's Premier Paralegal Service" We offer extensive experience assisting attorneys in all aspects of probate administration and estate planning.

Executive Legal Services was established in 1985, and is a legal support service business that provides independent paralegal services to local attorneys specializing in the area of probate law and estate planning. To the general public, Executive Legal Services provides a Mobile Notary Service, Digital Documentation Service, Courier Service, Court Filings, Deed Recordings, Public Records Research

, and Coin, Stamp, Jewelry and Classic Car Appraisals. Through our involvement in Life Care Coaches we work with associates in the areas of Financial Planning, Insurance Planning, Medicaid Planning, Real Estate Services, Veterans Benefits and In-Home Health Care Services. Future Planning is a complicated process and individuals may need assistance to secure the preparation of a Last Will & Testament, Living Will, Healthcare POA, Durable POA, Revocable Living Trust, Life Insurance Trust, Irrevocable Trust, Irrevocable Funeral Trust, Medicaid Planning, Guardianship, or Analysis of Financial Portfolio. Executive Legal Services also provides services for the Preparation of an Ohio Estate Tax Return, Recording of Real Estate Transfers, and Acquisition of Resident Tax Release Forms.

We are happy to announce that Executive Legal Services has been selected as the Winner for the 2022 Best of Cleveland Aw...
03/18/2022

We are happy to announce that Executive Legal Services has been selected as the Winner for the 2022 Best of Cleveland Awards in the category of Paralegal Services Provider!

Our team is both honored and proud to receive this award and we look forward to providing our clients with continued excellence in the future.

For our annual holiday gift drive this year, we chose to work with Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and provide 2 ...
12/06/2017

For our annual holiday gift drive this year, we chose to work with Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and provide 2 tablets for children receiving treatment. Always willing to give back and help out whenever possible!

01/30/2017

State of Ohio
Estate Administration Explained

Estate administration is the process by which a person's assets are collected, maintained, and distributed among creditors, heirs and beneficiaries according to the person's will and the laws of Ohio.

When an individual dies, some of the person's assets may be transferred by trust, joint and survivorship property, payable on death accounts, transfer on death property, and beneficiaries named under life insurance and retirement benefits. These are non-probate assets. Other assets must be transferred through proceedings in probate court and these are called probate assets. Most people die owning both probate and non-probate assets.

Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Administration

How does the probate process begin?

After the death of an individual, the probate process begins by any interested person filing an application to administer the estate and an application to probate the Will in the county in which the decedent lived. The court will appoint an estate representative, called a fiduciary. The fiduciary is responsible for administering the decedent's estate and accounting to the court for that administration. If there is no Will, a bond will be required of the fiduciary to protect the beneficiaries and creditors of the estate and to insure proper administration of the estate's probate assets .

How are fiduciary fees determined?

Ohio law sets forth fees for a fiduciary of an estate as follows:

4% of the first $100,000 of personal property, income, and proceeds of real estate sold;
3% of the next $300,000;
2% of the balance;
1% of the value of real estate not sold; and
For dates of death after 2012, 1% of all property that is not subject to probate administration except joint and survivorship property.
The fiduciary may waive the fee. Additional fees can be awarded for extraordinary services.

How long should it take to administer an estate?

The time it takes to administer an estate depends on each estate's circumstances. Some estates are administered in nine months to a year. Other more complicated estates will take a longer time to complete.

What are the steps of an estate administration?

The basic steps of administration are as follows:

• filing of an application for authority to administer the estate and admit the will to probate, if one exists;
• appointment of fiduciary;
• gathering assets and obtaining appraisals as required;
• filing an inventory of assets;
• paying creditors;
• filing estate and income tax returns and paying taxes, if any;
• distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries;
• filing accounts; and
• closing the estate.

May items be removed from a safe deposit box?

Generally, an interested person may remove items from a safe deposit box and provide an inventory of its items to the court if necessary. However, not all financial institutions allow this and the court will appoint a person to retrieve the items in a safe deposit box.

What if there is no will?

If the decedent had no will, the decedent's probate property is distributed to the decedent's nearest surviving kin in the manner as set forth under the Ohio laws of descent and distribution.

What if the will is unclear?

If the Will is unclear, an action to construe the Will may be filed in the probate court. A hearing is held to determine the intent of the testator.

May I object to the Will?

Any interested party may contest the validity of a Will. A Will Contest must be filed within three months after the filing of a certificate that all interested persons were given or waived notice of the admission of the Will to probate.

Must a will be presented to the court?

A Will should be presented to the Probate Court as soon as practical after the death of an individual, even if there are no known probate assets. A person who withholds a Will intentionally, negligently, or without reasonable cause may lose the right to inherit.

What property must be appraised?

Property must be appraised if the value is not readily ascertainable. Examples include real estate and closely held business interests.

09/20/2016

We have had a higher volume of a specific document lately that I think could benefit more people if they were aware of it. This being an Educational Trust. This can be funded during a client's lifetime or after they have passed. An example of this would be to fund $200,000 for the benefit of a certain High School to offer to seniors going on to higher education. This can be specified to certain fields such as K-8 education, the medical field, or others by request of the person funding it. Typical amounts for the scholarship are around $20,000 per year and only one available per student per lifetime. All of this can be adjusted to accommodate whatever is desired! Contact us today to learn more.

09/15/2016

Hello All

Executive Legal Services, LLC has volunteered to collect gently used items for St. Malichi for the approaching Winter/Holiday season.

Items they are in need of include:

Coats
Sweaters
Sweatshirts
Blankets
Shoes
OF ANY SIZE

We can pickup these items or you can drop them off at our Independence office.

Deadline for pickup is 10/15/2016.

Please let us know if you have any donations!

Thanks

Ron & Judie

10/27/2015

At Executive Legal Services, we offer many services for attorneys, businesses, and individuals. Including: Mobile Notary Service, Digital Recording of Document Signings, Deed Recordings, Public Records Research/Retrieval, Probate Court, Common Pleas, and Bankruptcy Filings.

As well as: County Tax Release Forms, Ohio Estate Tax Preparation, Courier Services, Estate Liquidation Sales, and Appraisals of Classic Car, Coins, Stamps, and Jewelry.

02/20/2015

We received this note today after helping a family:

You made it easier for me to sleep at night. Thank you.
I will be certain to refer you to anyone I meet that needs this service. You are a blessing for any family in distress.

04/03/2013

ADVANCED CARE PLANNING

In order to ensure the highest quality of life for the longest time possible, it is crucial that elders and their loved ones being a dialogue to discuss the topic of aging. This process needs to focus on the elder’s hopes and desires, short and long term goals, and their needs and abilities.

1. The first step in this process is to talk with the elder person and learn their wishes and desires for their care. It is important to recognize their right to make their own decisions and choices.

2. Gather important information about the elder such as Social Security No., Medicare No., Medicaid No., VA information, birth certificate, doctors name, address and telephone number, medications and dosages, medical history, financial information, burial and funeral information and legal document information.

3. The best way to determine the medical and personal needs of an elder is by obtaining a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment which will evaluate the person’s medical, mental, physical, social, environmental and financial status. This process determines the elder’s capabilities, and will be used as a baseline for the development of the care plan.

4. Once the assessment is completed and the elder’s needs are outlined, it will be necessary to research family and community resources to meet those needs. At this point it is helpful to arrange a family meeting in order to discuss the situation and develop a plan to move forward.

5. If is most important to ensure that the elder has their important legal documents in order.

Address

1360 W 9th Street, Ste 310
Cleveland, OH
44113

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