Planning ahead
Estate planning
- Wills and living trusts
- Powers of attorney and health care directives
- Special needs and irrevocable trusts
- Flat-fee plans, explained before any work starts
Mason estate planning and probate lawyers
Wills, trusts and probate for Mason families. Mason is in Warren County, so Mason estates go to the Warren County Probate Court in Lebanon.
- Free first consultation
- Flat-fee estate plans
- Offices in Loveland and Blue Ash
Where an estate is filed
Warren County Probate Court
900 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036
Mason is in
Warren County
Not Hamilton County
How we meet
In person, phone or Zoom
First consultation is free
How we help Mason families
Whether you are planning ahead or handling things after a loss, you work directly with an attorney who explains every step in plain language.
After a loss
Probate and trust administration
- Guidance for executors, start to finish
- Estates with or without a will
- Settling a trust after a loved one passes
- Will and estate disputes
Warren County, not Hamilton County
Your estate goes to Lebanon
An estate for someone who lived in Mason is opened at the Warren County Probate Court, 900 Memorial Drive in Lebanon, not at the court in downtown Cincinnati.
We handle the Warren County filings
We prepare and file the paperwork with the Warren County court and keep you updated on every date, so you are not tracking deadlines on your own.
No Ohio estate tax
Ohio repealed its estate tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2013, so most Mason plans focus on avoiding probate and planning for incapacity.
Probate in Mason
Ohio sets the steps: open the estate, file the inventory within three months of appointment, allow six months from the date of death for creditor claims, then distribute and close.
Smaller estates, $35,000 or less, or $100,000 or less when a surviving spouse inherits everything, may qualify for a shorter release from administration.
Sources: Ohio Revised Code 2115.02, 2117.06 and 2113.03.
Visiting the court
Warren County Probate Court
- 900 Memorial Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036
- (513) 695-1180 · warrencountyohio.gov
We prepare and file the forms for you, and keep you updated on every court date.
You meet with an attorney, every time
Every consultation is with one of our estate planning and probate attorneys, backed by a team that keeps you updated between meetings.
“Most families don’t need the most complicated plan. They need the right one, explained in plain English.”
Steve R. Wolterman
Founding Attorney
Wills, trusts and probate for Ohio families since founding the firm in 2008.
- Admitted to the Ohio bar in 2007
- J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law
- B.S. Finance, Clemson University
- Certified Exchange Specialist (CES)
“Probate is a lot to handle after a loss. My job is to make sure you always know what happens next.”
Cassidy Carstens
Attorney
Focuses on probate administration for estates of all sizes, and on estate planning.
- With the firm since 2015, from secretary to attorney
- J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law
- Admitted to the Ohio bar in 2023
- B.S. Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati
And the team behind them
Emily Ames
Office Manager
Scheduling, documents and updates between meetings.
Alex Brammer
Client Services Coordinator
Document signings and help getting everything finalized.
Henrietta Heywood
Client Care Coordinator
Answers your calls, schedules meetings and checks in with clients.
“Two weeks later I have everything in place, filed, and feel like I have checked a major box off my to do list.”
Mason questions
Where is the Warren County Probate Court?
At 900 Memorial Drive in Lebanon, Ohio 45036. The phone number is (513) 695-1180. Every estate for a Mason resident is opened there.
Does Ohio have an estate tax?
No. Ohio repealed its estate tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2013. Most families plan around probate, incapacity and who inherits, not taxes.
Does a will avoid probate?
No. A will tells the court who inherits and who should serve as executor, but it is carried out through probate. A funded living trust is the usual way to avoid it.
How much does an estate plan cost?
Our estate plans are a flat fee, and we go over your exact cost at the free consultation before any work starts.
Can you help if probate is already open?
Yes. We can step in to help an executor finish an estate, catch up on court deadlines or answer a question from the court.
Communities we serve nearby
Families across Greater Cincinnati work with our Loveland and Blue Ash offices.
Talk with an attorney for free
Tell us what is going on and we will explain your options and the next step.