Estate Planning, Built Around You.

At Pappas Gibson, we believe that every client deserves an estate plan that is clear, efficient, and thoughtfully designed.

No compromises.
No stripped-down packages.
No unnecessary complexity.

What varies is how we build your plan—based on your needs and the level of collaboration you want.

What Every Client Receives

Whether your needs are simple or complex, every estate planning client receives:

  • A thorough legal design appropriate to your family, assets, and goals

  • Guidance on how your estate documents actually work in real life

  • Strategies to avoid probate in Ohio whenever possible

  • Clear instructions for signing, storing, and implementing your plan

  • Beneficiary designation coordination

  • Access to Epilogue, a world-class secure document summary and organization platform

We do not sell “basic wills.” We design comprehensive estate plans tailored to you. Nothing unnecessary. Nothing overlooked.

Two Ways to Build Your Plan

Not sure which path is right for you? Don’t worry—we can chat and help figure out next steps.

Efficient Path (Streamlined Planning)

Designed for clients who:

  • Have a relatively straightforward situation

  • Prefer efficiency over multiple meetings

  • Want clear written explanations and structured guidance

Under our Efficient Path, we:

  • Gather information through a structured estate planning questionnaire or our Triad advisor model

  • Internally design your estate plan

  • Deliver complete documents with a detailed written summary

  • Provide signing and next-step instructions

  • Offer a 30-minute attorney review for clarification

This approach works well for busy professionals, growing families, and clients who work closely with a financial advisor.

You still get high-quality estate planning tailored to your situation and needs, but without unnecessary meetings.

Strategic Path (Guided Planning)

Designed for clients with:

  • Blended families

  • Closely-held businesses or real estate portfolios

  • Tax planning concerns

  • More complex family dynamics

  • A desire for in-depth discussion and modeling

Under our Strategic Path, we:

  • Begin with a strategy meeting (virtual or in-person) with one of our experienced estate planning attorneys

  • Analyze legal and tax considerations

  • Collaborate throughout the design process

  • Deliver drafts of documents with a detailed written summary

  • Discuss any changes or questions you have

  • Meet with you to sign the documents and discuss next steps

Even in complex engagements, we remain focused on clarity and cost-efficiency.

Ready to start a conversation?

Contact us

Advanced Estate Planning Services

In addition to foundational estate planning, we regularly design and implement advanced planning strategies, including:

High Net Worth Estate Planning

For families with significant wealth, we assist with:

  • Federal estate tax planning

  • Lifetime gifting strategies

  • Irrevocable trust structures

  • Grantor trusts and dynasty trusts

  • Business succession planning

  • Family limited liability companies (LLCs)

  • Coordination of closely-held business interests

We represent clients throughout Ohio and beyond who require sophisticated trust and tax planning.

Asset Protection Planning

For physicians, business owners, and high-liability professionals, we provide:

  • Ohio Legacy Trust planning

  • Irrevocable trust structures

  • Business entity design and restructuring

  • Strategic asset titling

  • Risk management coordination

Asset protection must be implemented carefully and proactively. We focus on lawful, strategic design—not gimmicks—to help ensure that the wealth you built can be protected and preserved.

Special Needs Planning

We help families protect loved ones with disabilities by:

  • Designing special needs trusts

  • Structuring inheritances to preserve benefits

  • Advising trustees on long-term administration

Special needs planning requires precision and care. We take that responsibility seriously.

Probate Avoidance and Implementation

An estate plan is not just about documents.

It’s about:

  • Avoiding probate

  • Reducing administrative costs for your family

  • Enduring trustees and executors understand their responsibilities

  • Preventing confusion at death or incapacity

We emphasize coordination of:

  • Beneficiary designations

  • Asset titling

  • Trust funding

  • Long-term document organization

Why Clients Choose Pappas Gibson

At Pappas Gibson, we:

  • Design plans tailored to real lives

  • Ensure drafts are sent within days

  • Prioritize clarity and organization

  • Offer both efficient and collaborative pathways

  • Coordinate with the client’s financial advisor

  • Handle both foundational and highly complex work

Meanwhile, all too often, other firms:

  • Design plans tailored to lengthy templates

  • Send drafts months after meetings

  • Make matters unnecessarily confusing

  • Offer a one-sized-fits-all approach for every client

  • Leave the client’s financial advisor in the dark

  • Are too expensive for foundational work or not knowledgeable enough for highly complex work

Who We Serve

We work with:

  • Families in Columbus and throughout Ohio

  • High net worth individuals

  • Business owners

  • Physicians and professionals

  • Parents of children with special needs

  • Blended families

  • Financial advisors and their clients

If you are looking for an estate planning attorney in Columbus, Ohio—or anywhere in the region—we would be honored to help you.

Get in Touch

If you’re ready to begin your estate plan—whether through our Efficient Path or Strategic Path—we invite you to contact our office to schedule your next steps.

Clarity now prevents confusion later.