Cincinnati’s Top Estate Planning & Probate Lawyer

Partner in the law firm of Barron Peck Bennie & Schlemmer, a law firm serving greater Cincinnati, Ohio and Southwest Ohio.

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David Lefton is very efficient, friendly, and helpful. We have done our wills with David several times, updating information as our kids get older. I've recommended David before to friends.

Connie Springer Avatar Connie Springer
March 26, 2024

Ratings & Accreditations

David proudly served as the 2021-2022 President of the Ohio State Bar Association & is a partner at the law firm of Barron Peck Bennie & Schlemmer.

2022 Winner of Make a Difference Award

David proudly recieved the 2022 Difference Maker Award from the American Bar Association. This award honors an attorney living or deceased who made a significant contribution to the legal profession through service to the profession (i.e. frequent activities in bar associations, committees and services).

I want you to know…

I devote the vast majority of my law practice to estate planning, probate, and trust administration. This focused commitment allows me to deliver the highest level of service possible. I help clients protect, and ultimately distribute, their hard-earned assets through estate planning.

How can I help you?

Wondering if you need an estate plan?
An estate plan will make things as easy as possible for your loved ones when you die. Estate plans include basics like a will, healthcare directives and appointments of executors. You may also want to include a trust. It all depends on your unique needs and wants.
Need help with probate?
First … probate is the legal process of administering a person’s estate after their death. The complexity of the probate process depends on whether the individual had a will and trust, or not.  Even when everything is in order, probate can still be challenging
Do you need a will?

Creating a will can be a loving act, giving you peace of mind that you are saving your heirs both time and trouble. If you do not have a will, the probate court will rely on the state’s intestate law to figure out how, and to whom, your assets should be distributed. There are many ways to protect your assets for your loved ones, having a will is the first step.

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Estate Planning

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Living Trust

Probate & Trust Admin

“David was outstanding to work with. He is smart, thorough and treated me with respect.”

Estate Planning Tips & News

6 Tips for Year-End Estate Planning

6 Tips for Year-End Estate Planning

As the end of the year approaches, I thought it would be an excellent time to provide a quick list of tips related to year-end estate planning. Tip #1 REVIEW & UPDATE Review and update your documents. First, confirm that your will and any trusts accurately reflect...

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R-E-S-P-E-C-T-ING WILLS: The Aretha Franklin Estate Dispute

R-E-S-P-E-C-T-ING WILLS: The Aretha Franklin Estate Dispute

Aretha Franklin passed away in 2018 and, sadly, is an excellent example of what happens when your estate plan is ambiguous. This article appeared on 11/3/23 on mondaq. The authors Veronica T. Garofoli and Ashton Bizzarri provide some insight. "Beyond the worldwide...

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Wills: Good Surprises and Not-So-Good Surprises

Wills: Good Surprises and Not-So-Good Surprises

We have all seen the movies where there is the "reading of the will" scene of the despicable but wealthy relative. Relatives and servants gather in the deceased's well-appointed library to learn who gets what. The deceased's attorney reads the will, often full of...

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