Overview

As statewide chair of Reminger's Estates and Trusts Practice Group, you can expect an incredibly broad working knowledge of the areas of law that touch upon the disputes he routinely handles, coupled with a rare ability to quickly capture the factual essence of your claim.  Adam has served as lead trial attorney in hundreds of successfully pursued/defended estate and trust disputes.  He has tried many high stakes cases to verdict: will and trust contests, executor and trustee removal actions, interpretation of wills and trusts and ambiguities, accountings, breaches of fiduciary duty, and claims seeking to void gifts and beneficiary designations.  Many of the cases he has handled are often cited in the courts throughout Ohio. 

Adam is active in academia. He has taught the wills, trusts, and estate class at Cleveland State University College of Law and has been invited to lecture to many prestigious organizations, including the Ohio Association of Probate Judges, the American Academy of Forensic Psychiatrists and the Law, the American Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and many bar associations.  He believes successful advocacy requires skills such as fact development through deposition and story telling though cross examination as well as the ability to educate clients, parties, and the court about the nature of the claim and supporting law.

Representative Experience

The breadth of Adam’s experience in matters related to the “World of Probate and Estates” is well known throughout the legal community.  Over the approximate 20 years of almost exclusively handling probate, trust, estate, and guardianship type disputes, he has literally pursued and defended hundreds of cases and problems falling within his niche.  His track record and client testimonials are demonstrative of his recognized skills in discovery, analysis, writing, and trial.

Honors & Recognitions

Rated AV® Preeminent™: Very Highly Rated in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review

Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Elder Law and Litigation - Trusts and Estates, since 2009

Selected as Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2015, 2018 – Litigation – Trusts and Estates – Cleveland

Selected as Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2019, 2021 – Elder Law – Cleveland

Recognized as a Rising Star and as a Super Lawyer by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, including special recognition as Top 50 Cleveland and Top 100 Ohio

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Community & Professional

Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Fellow, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation

Past President, William K. Thomas, American Inns of Court

Past Chair, the C3A (FKA the Consortium Against Adult Abuse)

Trustee, Heights Schools Foundation

Member, Probate Trust and Estate Section Council, Ohio State Bar Association

American Bar Association

Results

For a more complete list of trial results, please contact attorney.

News

News

Speaking Engagements

  • Solon Community Center, Feb 2, 2024
  • Amy H. Levin Learning and Conference Center, Dec 6, 2023
  • Columbus Bar Association, Oct 19, 2023
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Oct 18, 2023
  • Oct 6, 2023
  • National College of Probate Judges 2023 Spring Conference, May 9, 2023
  • Columbus Bar Association, Dec 15, 2022
  • Dec 9, 2022
  • Oct 7, 2022
  • Sep 21, 2022
  • Jun 14, 2022
  • Mar 23, 2022
  • May 12, 2021
  • Apr 20, 2021
  • Mar 30, 2021
  • Mar 12, 2021
  • Elder Abuse Law Update
    Oct 15, 2020
  • Webinar, Sep 16, 2020
  • Extrinsic Evidence in Fiduciary Litigation
    Cleveland, OH, Apr 24, 2020
  • Elder Abuse and Diminished Capacity issues
    Cleveland, OH, Nov 7, 2019
  • Guardianships and Preserving the Rights of Those Who May Need Decision Making Assistance
    Cleveland, OH, Oct 18, 2019
  • Appointing Appropriate Guardians in Veterans Administration Disability Patients
    Cleveland, OH, Sep 26, 2019
  • Guardianship and Less Restrictive Alternatives 
    Cleveland, OH, Sep 20, 2019
  • The Use of Extrinsic Evidence in Will and Trust Construction Cases
    Sandusky, OH, Jun 11, 2019
  • Ethics and Professionalism
    Cleveland, OH, Feb 13, 2019
  • The Intelligent Case Evaluation in Light of New Trends in Probate Litigation
    Lorain, OH, Nov 9, 2018
  • Intelligent Evaluation of Probate and Trust Controversies in Light of New Trends in Probate Litigation
    Columbus, OH, Sep 14, 2018
  • Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney Client Privilege
    Cleveland, OH, Jun 26, 2018
  • Trustees Beware: The Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney Client Privilege and the Duty of Impartiality
    Cleveland, OH, Jun 6, 2018
  • Erosion of Attorney-Client Privilege: Fiduciary Exception  
    Dayton, OH, Mar 9, 2018
  • Trust and Probate Challenges: Minimizing and Litigating Claims of Undue Influence, Fraud, Capacity and Mistakes
    CLE Webinar, Jan 17, 2018
  • Webinar, Dec 13, 2017
  • Denver, CO, Oct 26, 2017
  • The Insidious Operation of Adult Financial Exploitation: Lessons From the Case Involving the Exploitation of Dr. Charles Sifford
    Cleveland, OH, Jun 6, 2017
  • Instructive Examples in Trust and Estate Litigation
    Cleveland, OH, May 25, 2017
  • Estate Planning, Guardianships and Post Mortem Estate Challenges When Client Is Declining in Mental Capacity
    Cleveland, OH, Apr 22, 2017
  • Cleveland, OH, Dec 9, 2016
  • The Prevention and/or Prosecution of Undue Influence Cases in Adult Exploitation Matters
    Lorain, OH, Nov 11, 2016
  • Capacity and Undo Influence in Wills and Estate Planning Effecting Charitable Institutions
    Dayton, OH, Oct 28, 2016
  • Wright State University Foundation Building, Dayton, OH, Oct 20, 2016
  • Corporate College East, 4400 Richmond Road, Warrensville Heights, OH, Jun 10, 2016
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL, Oct 23, 2015
  • Fiduciary Litigation
    Stark County Bar Assn. Estate Planning & Litigation Symposium, Canton, OH, May 28, 2015
  • Probate Jurisdiction and Intentional Interference of Expectancy of Inheritance Claims
    Ohio Association of Magistrates Spring Conference, Columbus, OH, May 1, 2015
  • Conflicts of Interest, Confidentiality and the Intersection with the Need to Protect the Client
    Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Assn. Estate Planning Institute, Cleveland, OH, Nov 3, 2014
  • Complexity of Probate Jurisdiction and Interrelationship with General Jurisdiction Division.
    Pliskin Advanced Probate Seminar - Columbus, OH, Sep 19, 2014
  • Preventing Elder Abuse and Signs to Look For
    Cuyahoga County Senior and Adult Services Agency & Cuyahoga County Probate Court, Cleveland, OH, Jun 30, 2014
  • Preventing ElderAbuse and Signs to Watch
    Cuyahoga County Division of Senior & Adult Services Panel Discussion - Cleveland, OH, Jun 30, 2014
  • Beachwood Community Center-25325 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio 44122, Jun 27, 2014
  • Corporate College East, Jun 13, 2014
  • Jan 10, 2014
  • Fiduciary Litigation Update
    Web Credenza Broadcast - New York, NY, Dec 3, 2013
  • Ethical Obligations When Representing a Fiduciary
    Ohio State Bar Association Guardianship Seminar - Cleveland, OH, Sep 19, 2013
  • End of Life Decisions
    Montefiore Annual Financial Professionals Seminar - Cleveland, OH, Sep 13, 2013
  • Financial Exploitation of the Elderly
    Consortium Against Aging Abuse Conference - Cleveland, OH, Jun 14, 2013
  • Elder Exploitation and Multi-Disciplinary Approaches and Awareness
    Ohio Coalition for Adult Protective Services - Columbus, OH, Mar 25, 2013
  • Annual Estate Planning and Probate Update
    Lorain County Bar Association CLE - Elyria, OH, Nov 15, 2012
  • Claims of Undue Influence – A Melding Legal and Psychiatric Issues in Estate Planning and Probate Litigation
    American Academy of Psychiatry and Law Annual Meeting - Montreal, Quebec - Canada, Oct 29, 2012
  • An Overview of a Probate Lawyers Profession
    Cleveland Marshall College of Law Estates and Trusts Department - Cleveland, OH, Oct 19, 2012
  • The Nuts and Bolts of Probate Litigation and Will Contest Actions
    Jewish Federation Annual Tax Seminar - Cleveland, OH, Jun 7, 2012
  • Ethics in End of Life Issues and Representing the Mentally Diminished Client
    National Business Institute - Cleveland, OH, Mar 26, 2012
  • Elder Exploitation and Attorney’s Responsibility to the Client
    Dayton Bar Association Annual Estate Planning Probate & Trust Law Seminar - Dayton, OH, Mar 9, 2012
  • The Law of Ohio Probate Court Jurisdiction Over Guardianships and the Impact of H.B. 27
    Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Assn. - Cleveland, OH, Feb 21, 2012
  • Bulletproofing the Estate Plan: A Litigator’s Point of View
    Cincinnati Bar Association Advanced Estate Planning Institute - Cincinnati, OH, Feb 14, 2012
  • Cincinnati Bar Association-Cincinnati, OH, Feb 10, 2012
  • Issues Surrounding Guardianships and End of Life Decision Making
    Ohio State Bar Assn. CLE - Cleveland, OH, Sep 20, 2011
  • Tips to Minimize and Protect Against Challenges in Estate Planning
    Pliskan Advanced Probate and Estate Planning Seminar - Columbus, OH, Sep 16, 2011
  • Mechanisms by which Estate Plans are Successfully Contested
    Estate Planning & Probate Law Section, CMBA - Cleveland, OH, Jun 21, 2011
  • Legal Principles Behind Undue Influence and What Attorneys Look - Midwest Section of American Academy of Forensic Psychiatrists and the Law
    Cleveland, OH, Mar 25, 2011
  • Ethical Principals in Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity in Estate Matters and the Prevention of Financial Abuse - Cleveland Marshall Law Alumnae Association
    Cleveland, OH, Feb 26, 2011
  • You and Your Client: First Line of Defense to Prevent Elder Exploitation and Methods to Bulletproof Your Estate Plan
    Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Estate Planning and Trust Seminar - Cleveland, OH, Feb 16, 2011
  • Ethical Issues Dealing with Relationships between Attorneys and Clients on subject of Diminished Capacity - Gilbride Insurance Consultants CLE Seminar
    Independence, OH, Nov 11, 2010
  • "Developments in Ohio Trust Code and the Codes impact on the Elderly Client"- Cleveland Marshall College of Law Alumni Assn. CLE.
    Cleveland,OH, Mar 13, 2010
  • Estate Planners in Representing Our Senior Citizens
    Dec 15, 2009
  • End of Life Legal Issues and Ethics in Representation of Diminished Capacity Clients
    Oct 16, 2009
  • Guardianship and complications in fiduciary relationships
    Oct 1, 2009
  • Model Rule 1.14 Representation of Persons of Diminished Mental Capacity
    Sep 22, 2009
  • Ethical Issues in Representing a Mentally Impaired Client
    Feb 28, 2009
  • Ethical Issues in Representing a Mentally Impaired Client
    Feb 24, 2009
  • Undue Influence in Estate Administration
    Lake County Bar Association CLE, Nov 11, 2008
  • "Undue Influence" and the Factual Analysis Needed to Win the Case, National Business Institute Probate and Estate Administration
    Akron, Ohio, Sep 22, 2008
  • "Guardians, Caregivers, and Friends: Who's Minding Mom", Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association CLE Seminar
    Cleveland, Ohio, Jun 3, 2008
  • Estate and Trust Litigation and the Pursuit of Claims of Undue Influence, McQuillin Financial Services and Northern Trust Co.
    Cleveland, Ohio, Apr 29, 2008
  • Undue Influence and Gratuitous Transfers, Cleveland Marshall Law Alumni Association Annual Elder Law Seminar
    Cleveland, Ohio, Dec 15, 2007
  • Common Issues in Probate From a Litigation Perspective, National Business Institute CLE
    Cleveland, Ohio, Jul 9, 2007
  • Common Probate Issues from a Litigation Perspective, National Business Institute CLE
    Cleveland, Ohio, May 10, 2007
  • The New Ohio Model Rules-Ethical Issues Faced by the Estate Practitioner, National Business Institute CLE
    Cleveland, Ohio, May 10, 2007

Insights

Publications

Blog Posts

Education

B.A., The Ohio State University, 1992

J.D., Case Western Reserve School of Law, 1995

Admissions

  • State of Ohio, 1995

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 1996

    U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2000
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