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James M. Evans Law Office, LLC, 1580 King Avenue, Columbus, OH (2026)

08/13/2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **A 5-STAR REVIEW — AND A GOOD REMINDER THAT IN PROBATE, THE FACTS MATTER!**

I received this wonderful Google Review this afternoon from a prospective probate client who lives in Georgia and whose father recently passed away after having moved from Ohio to Texas to live with another family member.

> *“Thank you Jim for returning my phone call so quick. The information you provided allowed me to quickly determine the correct course of action for the passing of my father. Jim was responsive, easy to talk to, and didn't try to pressure me into any course of action.”*

📌 **Here’s what made this phone call particularly important:**

The caller initially wanted to know whether his father’s Will could be filed **“For Record Only” in Franklin County, Ohio.**

Rather than simply answering the question based upon where his father had previously lived, I took the time to ask about the **pertinent facts**:

🔹 His father had previously been an Ohio resident.
🔹 Approximately a year ago, his father moved to **Texas** to live near another family member.
🔹 His father had obtained documentation reflecting his **Texas residency**.
🔹 His father’s **Death Certificate will be issued in Texas**.

⚖️ **Those facts matter.**

Based upon the circumstances described to me, I was able to explain that the appropriate jurisdiction for any probate proceeding would be **Texas**, rather than Ohio.

And importantly, the caller was able to make that determination **before spending time and money pursuing a filing in the wrong jurisdiction.**

# # # 📞 WHY I RETURN PHONE CALLS

As a **true solo attorney**, I don't have:

❌ A secretary
❌ A legal assistant
❌ A paralegal
❌ An answering service

When you call my office, **you are calling me.**

And I understand that when someone is dealing with the death of a parent, spouse, or loved one, they often don't know where to begin.

That's why I make every effort to **promptly return calls from prospective clients** and spend a few minutes listening to the circumstances before determining whether—and how—I can help.

Sometimes the answer is that you need an attorney.

Sometimes the answer is that you need to take your matter somewhere else.

And sometimes, as in this situation, **a few questions and the right facts can save you considerable time, expense and frustration.**

📍 **The bottom line:**

**Don't assume that because someone lived in Ohio, Ohio is necessarily the place where probate should be handled.**

👉 **Ask questions.**
👉 **Get the facts.**
👉 **Then determine the proper jurisdiction.**

⭐️ **Read the full 5-Star Google Review here:**
[Google Maps — James M. Evans Law Office, LLC](https://maps.app.goo.gl/inpPBD4GwVKRmATi9?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

---

**James M. Evans Law Office, LLC**
⚖️ Estate Planning • Elder Law • Probate • Guardianship

🌐 [JME Law Office Website](https://tinyurl.com/JME-Law-Office-LLC?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
📧 **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])**
📱 **Mobile/Text: (614) 306-3982**

*Serving clients throughout Central Ohio.*
⚖️ Attorney Advertising. This post is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or financial advice. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult your own attorney, tax advisor, or financial advisor regarding your individual circumstances.

07/20/2026

📝 Estate Planning Tip: Don’t Leave Your Family Guessing!

💡 Consider Preparing a “Letter of Instruction”

A Letter of Instruction is a simple but powerful way to provide guidance to your loved ones after you are gone.

⚖️ Important Reminder:
A Letter of Instruction is NOT a legal document and does NOT replace your Will, Trust, or other estate planning documents. However, it can provide valuable information and peace of mind for your family and those handling your affairs.

📌 What Can You Include?

✅ Important people to contact:
• Family members and close friends
• Attorney
• Financial advisors
• Insurance agents
• Employer or business contacts
• Clergy or other trusted advisors

📂 Where to Find Important Documents:
• Will and estate planning documents
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Tax returns
• Insurance policies
• Deeds and real estate information
• Bank and investment account information
• Military records
• Important account statements

❤️ Share Your Personal Wishes:
• Funeral preferences and arrangements
• Burial location or pre-planning information
• Organ donation wishes
• Location of important personal items
• Instructions regarding sentimental belongings

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Avoid Family Conflicts Before They Begin

Some of the greatest disagreements after a loved one’s passing involve items with sentimental value — family heirlooms, photographs, jewelry, collections, and personal possessions.

Taking time now to communicate your wishes can help:
✅ Reduce confusion
✅ Prevent misunderstandings
✅ Preserve family relationships
✅ Make the estate administration process easier

📍 A good estate plan is not just about distributing assets — it is also about providing guidance, clarity, and compassion for those you leave behind.

📚 Source: The Ohio State University – College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
“Basic Estate Planning: Letter of Instruction” (Fact Sheet EP-5)

⚖️ James M. Evans Law Office, LLC
🌐 Website: https://tinyurl.com/JME-Law-Office-LLC
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Mobile/Text: (614) 306-3982

⚠️ Educational & Informational Purposes Only:
This post is intended to provide general educational information and is not legal advice. Every estate planning situation is unique. Consult with a qualified attorney regarding your specific circumstances.
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07/18/2026

🏡 Living Alone? Your Estate Plan Matters More Than Ever.

More Americans over age 50 are living alone than ever before. Independence is wonderful—but it also makes planning ahead even more important.

📊 Did You Know?
• 👤 Nearly 1 in 5 Americans age 50+ lives alone.
• 🚑 A medical emergency or accident can become much more serious when no one is there to help.
• ⚖️ Without the proper legal documents, a court—not you—may decide who handles your finances or medical care.

✅ Every solo ager should consider having:
• 📑 Financial Durable Power of Attorney
• 🏥 Health Care Power of Attorney
• ❤️ Living Will
• 📜 Last Will & Testament (or Revocable Living Trust)
• 🔑 A trusted person (and a backup!) to carry out your wishes
• 📂 An organized list of important documents, accounts, and contacts

• 🚔 Ohio Residents: Register your emergency contacts through the FREE Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) Next of Kin Registration Program, authorized by Ohio Revised Code § 4501.81. This confidential registry allows law enforcement to quickly notify your designated emergency contacts in the event of a serious accident or emergency. It is available whether or not you have a driver's license.

💡 Estate planning isn't just about what happens after you pass away—it's about protecting yourself while you're living.

Whether you're living alone by choice or circumstance, having the right plan in place can provide peace of mind, preserve your independence, and ensure your wishes—not the court's—are followed.

📞 Questions about planning for yourself or a loved one? I'd be happy to help.

James M. Evans Law Office, LLC
📧 [email protected]
📱 Mobile/Text: (614) 306-3982

📚 Source: This post is based on information contained in the July 2026 Estate Planning Newsletter published by the Grimaldi Yeung Law Group, 652 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11232, which is publicly available on their website.

💻 Learn more about Ohio's FREE Next of Kin Registration Program: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-other-living-will.aspx

Advertisement only. This post is for general educational information and is not legal advice.

; ; ; ; ; ; ;

07/16/2026

🏡 Do I Need a Trust? Or Is a Will-Based Estate Plan Enough?

One of the most common questions I receive from prospective estate planning clients is:

“Do I need a Trust?”

The answer is: it depends.

A Revocable Living Trust can be an excellent estate planning tool — especially for families with:

✅ Blended families
✅ Multiple beneficiaries with different needs
✅ Real estate in multiple states
✅ Special needs planning concerns
✅ More complex financial situations

However, a Trust is not automatically the best choice for everyone.

For many Ohio individuals and families with a simple estate — such as:

🏠 One home or parcel of real estate
💰 Modest financial assets
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Straightforward family circumstances

a properly prepared Will-Based Estate Plan combined with Ohio probate-avoidance tools may provide an effective and practical solution.

A complete estate plan may include:

✔ Last Will and Testament
✔ Financial Durable Power of Attorney
✔ Health Care Power of Attorney
✔ Living Will Declaration
✔ Transfer-on-Death Designations
✔ Updated Beneficiary Designations

Ohio law provides several ways to simplify the transfer of assets, including Transfer-on-Death Affidavits for real estate, Payable-on-Death accounts, and updated beneficiary designations.

The goal of estate planning is not to create the most complicated plan.

The goal is to create the right plan:

✅ Protect yourself if you become incapacitated
✅ Provide clear instructions for your loved ones
✅ Transfer your assets according to your wishes
✅ Avoid unnecessary expense and confusion

A Trust is a valuable tool — but like any tool, it should be used when it solves a specific problem.

The best estate plan is the one designed around your family, your assets, and your goals.

📞 If you have questions about whether a Will-Based Plan or Trust-Based Plan is right for you, I would be happy to discuss your options. Mobile/Text: (614) 306-3982; Email: [email protected].

James M. Evans Law Office, LLC
Estate Planning • Elder Law • Probate
Columbus, Ohio
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07/14/2026

🚗 Windshield Time!

At the Ohio Attorney General's Office, we used to call it "windshield time"—the many hours spent traveling Ohio's highways to represent the State of Ohio in courts across the state.

⚖️ During my 15+ years as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General, I had the privilege of appearing as attorney of record in approximately 55 of Ohio's 88 Courts of Common Pleas. I also appeared in both of Ohio's federal district courts—the Northern District of Ohio and the Southern District of Ohio.

📍 Interestingly, during my years as an Assistant Attorney General, I never had a hearing in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court in Bucyrus, Ohio (about 65 miles north of Columbus). On one of my recent trips, I stopped to photograph this beautiful and historic courthouse, originally constructed in 1854.

🏛️ Fast forward to this year...

Since the beginning of the year, I have made at least six trips to the Crawford County Probate Court representing a client in a probate matter involving allegations of significant estate asset mismanagement.

📚 Following my recent participation in the Ohio Attorney General's Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation Conference, I am now preparing additional probate litigation seeking the recovery of estate assets that my client believes were improperly handled by a former estate fiduciary.

💙 Protecting Ohio's Seniors Matters

Please help protect our elderly and vulnerable citizens by:

✅ Watching for signs of financial exploitation
✅ Reporting suspected elder abuse or financial misconduct to the appropriate local authorities
✅ Contacting the Ohio Attorney General's Office or Adult Protective Services when appropriate
✅ Speaking up—because protecting vulnerable adults is everyone's responsibility

Every dollar wrongfully taken from an elderly or vulnerable person represents more than a financial loss—it is often the loss of dignity, independence, and security.

Thank you to the Ohio Attorney General's Office for continuing to provide valuable education and training that helps attorneys, financial professionals, law enforcement, and caregivers recognize and combat elder abuse and financial exploitation.

⚖️ James M. Evans, Attorney at Law
James M. Evans Law Office, LLC

📧 [email protected]
📱 Mobile/Text: (614) 306-3982

07/11/2026

🟣 Committed to Protecting Ohio's Seniors Through Education, Advocacy & Action 🟣

I am pleased to share that I recently completed 5.75 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) at the Ohio Attorney General's Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference held on June 29, 2026.

The conference theme—"Prevent, Prosecute, Prevail"—brought together attorneys, law enforcement, Adult Protective Services professionals, victim advocates, financial institutions, and other professionals committed to protecting older adults from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

The Ohio Attorney General's Office reported that more than 200 professionals attended this year's conference to learn from experienced presenters on current issues involving elder abuse prevention, investigation, prosecution, and victim services.

As a solo attorney, I believe that continuing education is one of the most important investments I can make—not only in my legal practice, but in the clients and families I have the privilege of serving every day.

At James M. Evans Law Office, LLC, my practice includes:
✅ Estate Planning
✅ Elder Law
✅ Probate & Estate Administration
✅ Guardianships

Unfortunately, elder abuse and financial exploitation often go undetected until significant harm has already occurred. Through ongoing education and professional training, I remain committed to:

🔹 Helping identify the warning signs of elder abuse and financial exploitation.
🔹 Encouraging the reporting of suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities.
🔹 Assisting families in protecting vulnerable loved ones through thoughtful legal planning.
🔹 Promoting dignity, independence, and peace of mind for Ohio's seniors.

Protecting our aging population is a responsibility we all share. If this training helps me prevent even one family from experiencing the devastating effects of financial exploitation or elder abuse, it will have been well worth the investment of time.

Thank you to the Ohio Attorney General's Office for sponsoring this important educational program and for bringing together professionals dedicated to protecting Ohio's older adults.

📞 James M. Evans Law Office, LLC
⚖️ Estate Planning • Elder Law • Probate • Guardianships
📧 [email protected]
📱 Mobile/Text: (614) 306-3982

07/03/2026

🇺🇸 **AMERICA AT 250 YEARS — HONORING DEMOCRACY & THE RULE OF LAW** 🇺🇸

As our Nation approaches its 250th Birthday, we are reminded that democracy is not self-executing—it is protected every day by institutions, professionals, and citizens committed to the Rule of Law.

For **45 years of continuous law practice**, I have been honored to serve within that system as a steward of justice and constitutional order.

I am also proud to serve as a **Poll Worker for the Franklin County Board of Elections since 2014**, helping safeguard the integrity of our elections and the voice of every voter.

⚖️ Lawyers stand as vanguards of democracy.
🗳️ Poll workers stand as guardians of the vote.
🇺🇸 Together, they preserve the foundation of our Republic.

— James M. Evans Law Office, LLC

📞 Mobile: (614) 306-3982
📧 Email: [email protected]

06/30/2026

🟣 **Prevent. Prosecute. Prevail.** 🟣

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the **2026 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference** hosted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at **The Ohio State University Fawcett Center**.

As an Ohio attorney focusing on **estate planning, probate, guardianship, and elder-related legal services**, I found the program to be an important reminder that protecting older adults requires both **legal tools and community action**.

Some of my key takeaways included:

⚖️ **Prevention matters** — proactive planning and education can reduce opportunities for exploitation and financial abuse.

🛡️ **Protection requires collaboration** — attorneys, Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and families each play an important role.

📋 **Accountability matters** — identifying and responding to elder abuse remains an essential part of protecting vulnerable adults.

🤝 **Support and dignity matter** — helping older adults maintain independence and preserve their wishes should remain at the center of our work.

Thank you to the **Ohio Attorney General’s Office** and all presenters for organizing an informative and worthwhile event.

If you or a family member would like to discuss **estate planning, powers of attorney, probate, guardianship, or planning ahead to reduce future vulnerability**, feel free to contact me.

James M. Evans, Attorney at Law
Mobile/Text: (614) 306-3982; Email: [email protected]
James M. Evans Law Office, LLC

06/28/2026

**HOLETON v. CROUSE CARTAGE – 25th ANNIVERSARY REFLECTION** ⚖️📜
*[Columbus, Ohio – June 27, 2026]*

June 27, 2001 remains a defining milestone in my legal career—one that continues to shape how I view appellate practice, statutory construction, and the constitutional limits of legislative authority.

This week marks the **25th Anniversary** of the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision in *Holeton v. Crouse Cartage Co.* ⚖️, in which the Court held Ohio’s then-workers’ compensation subrogation statute unconstitutional.

On October 10, 2000, I had the high honor and privilege, as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General and attorney of record, to sit at counsel table during oral argument before the Ohio Supreme Court in a standing-room-only courtroom. The case arrived on certified questions from the U.S. District Court (Northern District of Ohio, Toledo), arising out of underlying personal injury litigation in which I was also counsel of record.

From August 1999 through June 27, 2001, the Attorney General’s Office was fully engaged in defending the statute across both state and federal forums. The effort included extensive briefing, legal research, and coordinated amicus curiae advocacy from stakeholders across the country 📚⚖️.

My assignment to this litigation was grounded in my prior experience in insurance defense and coverage work—more than a decade handling property and casualty litigation nationwide—along with professional certifications including CPCU and AIC, and prior service at Motorists Mutual Insurance Company (now Encova), where I worked closely with many Ohio defense counsel.

While the outcome was not the one the State advocated for, *Holeton* stands as a profound professional experience—both in the rigor of the legal issues presented and in the depth of advocacy required at every level of review.

It is, without question, one of the most formative matters of my career.

Today, I continue my practice in Columbus as a solo attorney focused on estate planning, probate, guardianships, and residential real estate transactions, along with mobile notary and notary signing services at the James M. Evans Law Office, LLC.

⚖️ A 25-year reminder that constitutional litigation is rarely just about statutes—it is about enduring principles, careful reasoning, and the long arc of the law.
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05/31/2026

🗳️🇺🇸 HONORED TO SERVE DEMOCRACY IN FRANKLIN COUNTY 🇺🇸🗳️

I recently received my **Certificate of Appreciation** for serving as a **Precinct Election Official ("PEO")** for the May 5, 2026 Primary Election with the Franklin County Board of Elections.

📌 **2026 marks my 12th year of service as a PEO**, having worked every Primary and General Election in Franklin County since November 2014.

Today, I serve as a **Voting Location Deputy ("VLD")**, working directly with the Voting Location Manager ("VLM") to help oversee and manage our assigned voting location and ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot.

🔹 Why do I continue to serve?

Because free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy, and PEOs serve on the front lines of protecting the integrity of the voting process.

📚 Many people do not realize the level of commitment required to serve:

✅ Three-hour in-person training class

✅ Review of a comprehensive 262-page training manual

✅ Four-hour online training program

✅ One-hour "Practice Makes Perfect" session

✅ Monday evening voting location setup

✅ Election Day service from approximately 5:30 AM until 7:30 PM

✅ Breakdown and security procedures after polls close

🚗 And for me, the day often concludes as the "ride-along" with the VLM, transporting electronic poll pads, ballot counter data, and paper/provisional ballots back to the Franklin County Board of Elections for a drop-off that rivals an F1 pit stop! 🏎️💨

🙋‍♂️ If you are a registered voter in Franklin County, Ohio, I strongly encourage you to consider becoming a Precinct Election Official.

Serving as a PEO is a meaningful way to:

⭐ Give back to your community

⭐ Support election integrity

⭐ Learn how elections really work

⭐ Help your fellow citizens exercise their right to vote

⚖️ Bonus for Ohio attorneys: Licensed and actively practicing Ohio attorneys may receive **three (3) hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit** approved by the Ohio Supreme Court for serving as a PEO.

📞 Interested in learning more?

Contact the Franklin County Board of Elections at (614) 525-5393 or visit their website for additional information and training opportunities at:
https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/poll-workers/training-materials
🇺🇸 Democracy works best when citizens get involved. Consider serving. Your community needs you.

— James M. Evans
Attorney at Law
James M. Evans Law Office, LLC

📧 [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
📱 (614) 306-3982
🌐 https://tinyurl.com/JME-Law-Office-LLC

James M. Evans Law Office, LLC

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