Business Details
Your Trusted Partner for Estate Planning & Elder Law Solutions
Middleton Law Offices has served families in northwestern Ohio since the 1890s, providing comprehensive legal guidance for estate planning, elder law, and probate matters. Our approach emphasizes understanding each client's unique needs through in-depth consultations, creating tailored Life Plans that go beyond standard document preparation. With over a century of collective experience, we combine multi-generational expertise with a commitment to community service.Our team works closely with trusted financial and healthcare advisors to ensure holistic protection of clients' legacies. We maintain ongoing relationships to adapt plans as life circumstances evolve, ensuring long-term effectiveness and client peace of mind.
Services
Estate Planning
Elder Law
Living Wills
Probate Avoidance
Medical Planning
Nursing Home Planning
Special Needs Trust
Wills and Trusts
Asset Protection
Business Succession
Highlights and features
- We offer over 100 years of combined legal experience in estate planning and elder law
- Our multi-generational approach creates customized Life Plans for each family's needs
- Community-rooted attorneys deeply familiar with local legal requirements
- Accessible office with handicap-friendly facilities in downtown Bowling Green
- Ongoing client relationships ensure plans evolve with changing circumstances
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create comprehensive strategies for property distribution and healthcare directives. We develop personalized Life Plans that adapt to life changes, protecting assets while ensuring clients' wishes are honored. With over a century of experience, we combine legal expertise with compassionate guidance to preserve family legacies through wills, trusts, and advanced directives.
Elder Law
We provide specialized elder law counsel covering long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, and guardianship matters. Our attorneys help clients navigate complex healthcare regulations while protecting financial assets. We offer compassionate guidance for senior healthcare decisions and nursing home planning, ensuring clients maintain control over their medical and financial futures.
Probate Avoidance
Our probate avoidance services help clients structure their estates to bypass lengthy court proceedings. We implement trust-based planning, joint tenancies, and beneficiary designations that maintain privacy while ensuring smooth asset transfers. These strategies preserve wealth and reduce administrative burdens for surviving family members through legally sound estate structuring.
Living Wills
We create enforceable living wills that clearly communicate medical preferences for end-of-life care. Our documents address life-sustaining treatments, pain management, and organ donation instructions while ensuring legal compliance. Attorneys work closely with clients to clarify healthcare preferences, creating legally binding directives that relieve family decision-making burdens during difficult times.
Special Needs Trusts
Our firm establishes special needs trusts that preserve government benefits while providing additional financial support for loved ones with disabilities. We ensure trusts comply with complex regulations while offering flexibility for supplemental care. These customized plans protect beneficiaries' eligibility for assistance programs while maintaining quality of life through carefully structured financial provisions.
People
Staten T. Middleton
Attorney
Born and raised in Bowling Green, Staten earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School after graduating from Bowling Green State University.
Tyler R. Wittenmyer
Attorney
A Bowling Green native, Tyler graduated from Bowling Green State University before continuing his legal education with advanced degrees from Pontifical institutions.
Thomas S. Middleton
Senior Attorney
With an LLB from Ohio Northern University, Thomas served the community as a dedicated legal professional for decades before his passing in 2019.
Lelan S. Middleton
Founding Attorney
The firm's founder graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1925 with both bachelor's and law degrees, establishing our long-standing community commitment.
Harry G. Roebke
Former Partner
Harry practiced law for over six decades after earning his degrees from Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan Law School.
Questions
What estate planning documents are essential for every family?
Every comprehensive estate plan should include a will, durable power of attorney, healthcare directives, and appropriate trusts tailored to individual family needs.
How can nursing home costs affect Medicaid eligibility?
Medicaid requires limited assets and income. Strategic planning must occur five years before potential nursing home admission to maintain eligibility while protecting assets.
What happens if I don't create a living will?
Without a living will, family members or courts must make medical decisions during incapacitation, which may conflict with your personal healthcare preferences.
How do transfer-on-death accounts work?
These accounts automatically transfer to designated beneficiaries upon death without probate, but require formal documentation to ensure legal validity.
What protections exist for elderly clients needing guardianship?
Ohio law establishes formal guardianship procedures that balance protection with individual rights, requiring court oversight while respecting personal autonomy.
