Estate and Trust Dispute Center of Ohio

It goes without saying that COVID-19 has substantially disrupted our way of life. The attorneys in Reminger’s probate and trust litigation group are no different than anyone else, in that regard, and we sincerely appreciate your patience during these trying times. We hope that you are staying safe and we look forward to assisting you in person once again. 

Ohio probate courts, and indeed most courts in Ohio, have restricted court access to emergencies only, with rare exceptions on a case by case basis. We proactively engage with courts to understand and adapt to the ever-evolving local rules and procedures. To this end, our attorneys are part of task forces and ad hoc committees that are exploring ways to keep legal services – deemed essential by Governor DeWine – in motion. Multiple judges and courts have advised us, formally and informally, that Courts are reluctant to force any party or attorney into a situation where social distancing protocols are threatened. Practically speaking, this means depositions are unlikely absent unanimous consent of all parties. Similarly, statutes of limitations and statutory response deadlines, as well as most filing deadlines, have been tolled and/or relaxed.

Nevertheless, we are working diligently to minimize the disruption on our clients' matters by leveraging our resourcefulness to be effective and efficient advocates for our clients. Because we take this public health crisis seriously, you should know that we have implemented the following protocols in accordance with federal, state and local mandates:

• All attorneys are primarily working remotely
• Most secretaries and paralegals are working remotely
• When attorneys and staff are in the office, our department is rotating time so as to avoid exposure to other members of the practice group

None of this, however, has stopped us from continuing to pursue a client’s claims and defenses. This includes extensive use of technology. We are able to access most client documents remotely. We are continuing to open and pursue new matters for clients. We file electronically, via fax or otherwise. We have the option of a conference line to engage with multiple parties via telephone. We utilize Zoom and WebEx video conferencing technology to (a) engage with clients and opposing counsel, (b) virtually attend meetings and hearings, (c) mediate cases and (d) explore opportunities for depositions.

We will continue to keep you updated. Stay healthy and remember that we are here for you.