Ohio Probate And Estate Dispute Lawyers
Ohio Probate Lawyers For Estate Administration, Will Contests, And Inheritance Disputes.
Heban, Murphree & Lewandowski, LLC helps families, fiduciaries, beneficiaries, heirs, trustees, and property owners navigate probate court, contested estates, estate planning, power of attorney concerns, and real estate issues connected to an estate.
About Heban, Murphree & Lewandowski, LLC
Legal Guidance For Probate, Property, And Family Disputes.
Probate matters often involve more than court paperwork. Wills, trusts, deeds, real estate, family disagreements, beneficiary designations, business interests, debt issues, and fiduciary responsibilities can all become part of the same legal problem.
100+ Years Combined
Experienced attorneys who understand probate, estate planning, litigation, and property issues.
Probate Litigation Focus
Representation for will contests, inheritance disputes, fiduciary conflicts, and contested estates.
Ohio And Michigan
Licensed attorneys serving clients in Ohio and Michigan, with deep roots in Northwest Ohio.
Client-Centered Counsel
Clear communication, careful strategy, and personal attention throughout difficult legal matters.
Probate, Estate, And Property Counsel
Complex Estate Matters Need Focused Counsel.
Heban, Murphree & Lewandowski, LLC represents executors, administrators, beneficiaries, heirs, trustees, families, and property owners in probate and estate matters. Our work includes estate administration, probate litigation, estate planning, will contests, inheritance disputes, power of attorney issues, deed matters, and real estate concerns connected to estates.
Because probate cases often involve personal loss, family tension, and important financial decisions, we focus on both the legal strategy and the practical path forward.
Probate And Estate Services
Legal Services For Ohio Families And Fiduciaries.
Families often need help quickly after a death, during an estate dispute, or when important legal documents need to be prepared, reviewed, corrected, or enforced.
Contest A Will
Challenge or defend a will when there are concerns about capacity, undue influence, fraud, forgery, or improper execution.
Inheritance Disputes
Protect your rights when beneficiaries, heirs, executors, trustees, or family members disagree over estate assets.
Estate Planning
Create a plan that helps protect your family, property, business interests, healthcare decisions, and legacy.
Power Of Attorney
Draft, review, or address concerns about power of attorney documents for financial, legal, and healthcare decisions.
Client Testimonials
Experience When The Stakes Are Personal.
Clients turn to HML for steady guidance, practical advice, and careful handling of sensitive legal matters.
“Mr. Heban is courteous, friendly, and very helpful. We would recommend him to anyone.”
Pat Lindner
“Kevin and his staff were wonderful, walking us through the estate process after my mother passed away.”
Laura Moon
“Kevin Heban is always available to answer your questions. Used him to create our wills and trust.”
Lisa Turco
What We Do
We help clients understand their rights, obligations, deadlines, and options in probate, estate, inheritance, fiduciary, and property-related matters. Our attorneys prepare filings, interpret estate documents, advise fiduciaries, protect beneficiaries, and advocate in disputed cases.
How We Approach Complex Cases
We combine probate knowledge with experience in real estate, litigation, and estate planning. That matters because estate disputes often involve deeds, title problems, beneficiary designations, family businesses, farmland, rental property, or contested asset transfers.
Why Families Hire HML
Families hire HML when they need clarity, strategy, and strong representation. We help clients file and administer estates, address creditor and beneficiary issues, resolve disputes, correct deed problems, review purchase agreements, and protect estate property.
We also assist with Transfer-On-Death Designations, Deed Drafting and Revisions, Purchase Agreement Review, and Lease Review.
Meet Our Attorneys
Meet The Ohio Probate And Litigation Team.
Our attorneys bring experience across probate, estate planning, litigation, real estate, business, and agricultural law.
Kevin Heban
Partner
Kent Murphree
Partner
John Lewandowski
Partner
Jon Balcerzak
Attorney
Gina Wasserman
Attorney
Will Contests
Need To Challenge Or Defend A Will?
Contesting a will is a sensitive legal matter. You may have questions about the testator’s capacity, pressure from another person, suspicious changes, missing documents, forged signatures, or whether the will was properly executed.
HML helps clients evaluate the facts, identify legal grounds, preserve deadlines, and pursue a strategy in probate court or settlement negotiations.
Lack Of Testamentary Capacity
A will may be disputed when there are concerns that the person signing it did not understand the nature of their property, family relationships, or the effect of the document.
Undue Influence Or Forgery
Undue influence may occur when someone pressures or manipulates the testator. Forgery concerns arise when a signature or document appears suspicious.
Fraud In Will Creation
Fraud may involve deception about the contents, purpose, or effect of a will. These claims require careful review of documents, witnesses, and surrounding facts.
Probate FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio Probate.
These answers are general information and are not a substitute for legal advice about your specific situation.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the court-supervised process for administering a deceased person’s estate, validating a will when one exists, paying debts, and transferring assets to heirs or beneficiaries.
What Should I Do When A Loved One Dies?
Start by securing important documents, arranging care for dependents or pets, locating the will or trust, identifying assets and debts, and speaking with a probate attorney before transferring or distributing property.
Do All Ohio Estates Need Probate?
No. Some assets pass outside probate through beneficiary designations, survivorship ownership, trusts, or transfer-on-death designations. Whether probate is required depends on how the assets are titled.
Where Should A Probate Case Be Filed?
A probate case is typically filed in the county where the deceased person lived at the time of death. Additional proceedings may be needed when real estate or other property is located in another state.
Am I Required To Serve As Executor?
No. Being named as executor does not require you to serve. A person may decline the role, and the probate court can appoint another eligible fiduciary when appropriate.
Areas We Serve
Serving Families Across Ohio.
Headquartered near Toledo, HML serves clients throughout Ohio in probate, estate, inheritance, fiduciary, and property-related matters.
Related Practice Area
When Estate Matters Involve Real Estate.
Estate matters frequently involve homes, farmland, rental properties, deeds, title problems, purchase agreements, leases, and property transfers. HML helps clients address real estate concerns connected to probate, estate planning, and litigation.
Residential Real Estate
Property transactions, lease agreements, deed issues, zoning concerns, and real estate disputes.
Farm Land
Farm succession planning, agricultural leases, farmland disputes, and property-transfer concerns.
Agricultural Law
Support for farmers, landowners, and agribusiness clients dealing with legal and regulatory issues.
Litigation
Representation for property disputes, business conflicts, commercial litigation, and related matters.
News And Articles
Recent Probate And Estate Law Resources.
Helpful updates for Ohio families, fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and property owners.
March 31, 2026
H.B. 55 Changes Estate Administration Costs
How a new Ohio law could affect certain estate administration costs when probate real estate is sold.
February 5, 2026
Why Ohio Probate Courts Require Bonds
What fiduciary bonds are and why courts may require them before estate assets are managed.
February 2, 2026
LLC Owner Dies In Ohio
What can happen when an Ohio LLC owner dies without a clear succession plan?
January 9, 2026
Inherited 401(k) And IRA Issues
Why beneficiary designations and retirement accounts can create probate complications.
Talk To An Ohio Probate Lawyer.
Whether you are administering an estate, disputing a will, protecting your inheritance, or dealing with estate property, HML can help you understand your next step.