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Cincinnati, Ohio

ATTORNEY AT LAW

Established in
1999

OFFICE LOCATION

6020 Cheviot Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45247

Saturday
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p,m.
(Appointment Only)

Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

OFFICE HOURS

Sensitive to Family Needs.    Mr. Bergmann and the firm's staff are sensitive to the loss which the decedent’s spouse and/or other family members has/have suffered and try to be as responsive as possible to their questions, concerns, and needs.

Competent and Ethical Service.   Mr. Bergmann has assisted clients with the administration of several hundred Probate estates of varying values, sizes, and complexities during nearly thirty years in practice.   Each estate has been handled competently, ethically, and to a successful conclusion.

Fee Estimate Provided; Reasonable Fees.  Mr. Bergmann provides all of the firm’s Probate clients with a good faith fee estimate before they engage the firm so that they can make an informed decision about hiring this firm.   Frequently, the legal fees charged by this firm are significantly less than fees charged by many other law firms for comparable legal services because those other firms firms charge their clients a percentage of the Probate and non-Probate assets, using certain Probate Court guidelines.  In contrast, Mr. Bergmann ordinarily charges his clients a legal fees which is calculated by multiplying the time expended by Mr. Bergmann and his staff by their respective hourly rates. (The only conditions under which the resulting figure is adjusted upward are if the the estate work involved has been extraordinary and the client and estate beneficiaries and/or the Court agree to the adjustment.)

Efficient and Economical Probate.  The firm uses every resource at its disposal to make the Probate administration of an estate as efficient and economical as possible. All Probate forms are prepared using state-of-the-art software (which partially automates their preparation) and a legal assistant who provides Probate support services under Mr. Bergmann's supervision. Routine Probate documents are filed at Probate Court and other government offices by a law firm "runner", also trained to perform those duties. Mr. Bergmann handles the preparation of all complex estate-related documents and Probate Court hearings which are adversarial or require the attendance of an attorney. Any savings which the firm is able to obtain through the use of the above described resources are passed on to the client and, though him or her, to the estate.                                                                                                                    

This firm would welcome the opportunity to assist any new or existing client with the administration of his or her loved one's Probate ot Trust matters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Trust Support.   Many people have used a Living Trust to avoid the Probate administration of their estates, minimize or eliminate the estate tax liability of their estates, and/or meet their other estate planning objectives. While their use of a Living Trust will likely accomplish those goals (if properly drafted and funded), there are still be many tasks which will remain to be done on their deaths, including, but not limited to: paying the decedent’s last debts, obtaining a Taxpayer Identification Number for his/her now-irrevocable Trust, determining the value of trust estate assets, allocating trust estate properties and income according to the Trust provisions, and making appropriate and timely distributions. This firm can provide the Trustee or Successor Trustee with the advice and assistance necessary to complete those tasks. For such Trust-related services, the firm charges an hourly rate for the time it expends in those regards.

Other Probate Matters.    The firm is also able to assist clients with Will Contests, Guardianships, Step-parent Adoptions, Name Changes, Wrongful Death Settlement Approvals, and other Probate matters.