David G. Umbaugh continually has been engaged in the private practice of law in northeast Ohio for more than 46 years. He has represented clients throughout the Akron/Cleveland area for many years.
He limits his practice to estate planning and estate 'settlement'.
The planning process begins with thorough discussions with the client(s), to identify their particular needs. He then helps create a customized estate plan to meet these specific requirements. (This is not a standard 'form-based' process, but rather customized to the particular needs.) The resulting documents are then carefully reviewed with the client(s), perhaps several times, to confirm their accuracy, and to guarantee the client(s) thorough understanding of them.
David also commonly represents clients upon the death of a loved one, whose estate must be 'settled'. The settlement may involve activating or closing a trust of the decedent, and/or supervising a probate administration for those assets for which it is required. (Estate plans created by our firm make every effort to avoid the later necessity of a 'probate' proceeding.) Every effort is made to involve paralegals in the administration processes, to reduce legal fees.
Discussions with David generally take place by videoconference from the clients' home, which eliminates the need to come to the law office located in Fairlawn, Ohio, where approximately 30 lawyers practiced law. Draft documents usually are transferred back and forth by email, and supplemented by videoconferences, again simplifying the process. The documents themselves will be signed in the law office in front of David and a notary public. Clients can expect to participate in several videoconferences during this process.
Legal fees are established before the commencement of the effort, usually at the initial meeting. The fees are based upon the plan's complexity. Usually the initial 'get to know' meeting is at no charge. With rare exceptions, no fee is paid until the end of the process, and only when the client(s) are completely satisfied.
Should you require prior clients' references, they are readily supplied.
The estate planning process includes David's advice to our clients as to 'best practices' which relate to the 'titling' of assets, so as to confirm with the plan requirements. David will also recommend appropriate 'primary' and 'contingent' beneficiaries for those assets which necessitate such beneficiaries, such as life insurance, qualified retirement accounts, annuities, etc.
Court & Bar Associations
- The U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- Numerous state courts
- Ohio Bar Association
- Akron Bar Association
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1974
- winner: Moot Court competition
- Miami University, Bachelor of Arts, with honors, major in Economics 1971