An estate plan can become a family’s most important set of instructions long before anyone expects to use it. A Youngstown homeowner may want the house to stay in the family. A parent may need to protect a child with a disability; a business owner may be preparing to retire. Without coordinated documents, loved ones can be left uncertain about property and who has authority to act.
Estate planning can bring together wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, and health care instructions. Youngstown residents can choose established practices downtown and in nearby Boardman and Canfield, each with a different emphasis. Now let’s check out the top 5 estate planning attorneys serving Youngstown in 2026.
1. Roth, Blair, Roberts, Strasfeld & Lodge, LPA
RothBlair is a long-established Youngstown law firm with a downtown office on East Federal Street. Its estate planning, trust, and probate practice addresses wealth transfers, wills, trusts, estate administration, and the legal issues surrounding family-owned businesses. The firm also handles related corporate and commercial matters, which can be useful when personal and business assets overlap.
Thomas James Lodge, an attorney of counsel, concentrates on estate planning and probate, with particular experience involving income and estate tax considerations. His published practice includes the transfer of closely held businesses through trusts and other ownership arrangements. Families with business interests may need to consider not only who inherits shares, but how management and control will pass to the next generation.
- What Sets It Apart: Estate planning can be coordinated with business succession and tax-sensitive ownership decisions.
- Office: 100 East Federal Street, Suite 600, Youngstown, OH 44503.
- Phone: (330) 744-5211.
2. DiLoreto Law
DiLoreto Law is an estate planning and elder law practice based in Boardman. Attorney Megan L. DiLoreto works on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, probate, and trust administration. The firm also provides planning for special needs, long-term care, and business succession, giving clients several ways to address family needs that extend beyond a simple distribution of property.
A practical concern in trust planning is whether the assets have actually been placed under the trust’s control. DiLoreto’s practice includes work with the people responsible for administering trusts after a death, as well as drafting them. Its estate and probate focus may appeal to families who want guidance on both the initial plan and the responsibilities their chosen trustee or executor will eventually face.
- What Sets It Apart: The practice combines estate document preparation with trust administration and special-needs planning.
- Office: 848 Woodfield Court, Boardman, OH 44512 (Youngstown area).
- Phone: (330) 953-3066.
3. Friedman & Rummell Co., L.P.A.
Friedman & Rummell serves the Mahoning Valley from its Canfield office, handling estate planning, trusts, probate, real estate, and business matters. Its attorneys include James B. “Jamie” Dietz, Anthony Siciliano, and Joseph D.W. Johnson, whose published practices include estate or probate work.
Dietz is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law, as confirmed by its 2026 specialist list. His background includes business and real estate matters. That combination can be relevant for an estate with rental property, partnership interests, or a family business where succession instructions must match ownership records.
- What Sets It Apart: A board-certified estate planning specialist works within a firm experienced in property and business law.
- Office: 3801 Starrs Centre Drive, Canfield, OH 44406 (Mahoning County).
- Phone: (330) 744-4137.
4. Piccirillo Law, Ltd.
Piccirillo Law is a Boardman practice founded by attorney Michael R. Piccirillo in 1998. Its principal areas include estate planning, elder law, Medicaid and asset protection planning, probate, guardianships, and trust administration. The firm’s current team includes Michael Piccirillo, Louis Garland, Nicole Britton, and Nick Piccirillo, with services directed toward older adults and their families.
The firm discusses revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, and the practical steps needed to coordinate an estate plan with real property and other assets. It also handles veterans’ pension planning and questions that arise when residential care becomes necessary. For an aging parent, legal decisions about inheritance may need to be considered alongside the cost of care and eligibility for public benefits.
- What Sets It Apart: Its estate planning work is closely connected to Medicaid, nursing-home, and veterans’ benefits planning.
- Office: 7301 West Boulevard, Unit C-2, Boardman, OH 44512.
- Phone: (330) 965-7501.
5. W. David Keast, Attorney at Law
David Keast maintains an office on Market Street in Youngstown and focuses on elder law and estate planning. His services include wills and trusts, financial and medical decision-making arrangements, Medicaid planning, long-term care strategies, and asset protection. He has practiced law in Ohio since 2007 and began a private practice focused on elder law in 2011.
Before becoming an attorney, Keast worked as a nursing home administrator. That experience adds a distinct perspective to discussions about what happens when a person can no longer live independently or pay for extended care without assistance. Families may need to review powers of attorney, available resources, and care arrangements together rather than waiting until a hospitalization or a move into residential care creates urgent decisions.
- What Sets It Apart: His former nursing-home administration experience informs planning for incapacity and long-term care.
- Office: 4411 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44512.
- Phone: (330) 788-2800.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. If my will divides everything equally, will a bank account with a named beneficiary also be divided?
Not necessarily. An Ohio payable-on-death account generally passes to its designated beneficiary under the account agreement, rather than through the will. Review those designations alongside the will to avoid an unexpected difference between the plan and the actual distribution.
Q. Can I leave my house to two children if only one wants to live there?
Yes, but simply naming both children can leave them sharing ownership without an agreed plan for living expenses, a buyout, or a sale. An attorney can discuss instructions that reduce the risk of a dispute while reflecting whether one child should have an opportunity to keep the home.
Q. What happens if my financial power-of-attorney agent dies or cannot serve?
Ohio Revised Code Section 1337.31 permits naming successor agents. If no replacement can act, the authority may end, and family members may need another legal route to manage finances. Review the document before a problem arises and make sure the backups are willing to serve.
Q. Can an executor distribute the inheritance as soon as the funeral is over?
Usually not. When probate administration is required, the executor must address the court process, identify assets, provide required notices, and handle valid debts and expenses before making final distributions. The timing depends on the estate and whether any issues are disputed.