Toledo Law Blog

Contrary to popular belief, you are never too old to establish an estate plan. It doesn't matter if you are 18 or 81, 25 or 95, 30 or 100; age does not matter one bit when creating an estate plan. In fact, if you have the opportunity to create your first estate plan at the age of 90, do so. Protecting yourself, your assets and your loved ones is important no matter your age.

One thing to keep in mind is your ability to make decisions. This ability might diminish as you get older because of various medical conditions. In order to create an estate plan, you need to be of sound mind, which means you must be coherent enough to make decisions on your own. This is why most estate plans are created at younger ages.

Divorce can be overwhelming, from the day of filing through the day an Ohio judge approves the dissolution. And once that final decree is issued, you might just want to take some time to yourself and begin the emotional process of moving on.

There still are some very important details to take care of, however.

1. Name change. If you are a woman who has told the court she wants to return to her maiden name, you will need a certified copy of the divorce judgment. That will be required to change your driver's license, Social Security records, credit cards and any official documents.
2. Retitling of property. If you were awarded the house, cars or other property that has a deed or title, you will need to have that document changed. For your house, that could require a "quit claim" deed, and your mortgage could have to be refinanced. Cars, boats and motorcycles can be retitled at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Don't forget to remove your ex from your vehicle insurance policies.
3. Medical insurance. If your spouse is on your medical insurance, be sure to take them off the policy by notifying your carrier. If your spouse carried you on their insurance, then you must secure your own through your employer or your state or the federal marketplace. A divorce is a qualifying event that will allow you to enroll outside of open enrollment.
4. Open individual bank accounts if you haven't done so already. Make sure all joint accounts are closed, including credit cards. You don't want your ex to pile up debts in your name.
5. Change your beneficiaries and update your estate plan. If you don't do so, your ex-spouse could gain the proceeds of your retirement accounts, life insurance and other accounts, and also could be the person who holds your power of attorney and medical directive. Also, be sure to appoint a new executor if that was your spouse.
6. Change your passwords, and don't reuse those your ex-spouse might now. Come up with something creative for your email, social media and such. Have fun with it and reflect your current mood. How about "freshstart2019"?

Ohio's director of agriculture is proposing new rules for amusement rides operators and manufacturers, nearly two years after a deadly accident at the Ohio State Fair.

In July 2017, the Fire Ball ride broke apart on the first day of the annual fair. An 18-year-old man was killed after his seat unhooked from the ride, and he was sent plummeting to the ground. A 19-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being thrown from the ride died a year after the accident of an illness she contracted in the facility where she lived.

Seven people suffered injuries recently during a motocross event at the Summit County Fairgrounds near Akron.

Two people were reported to have serious injuries they suffered when a motorbike went airborne and wound up in the stands at the fairground, police said.