Wickens Herzer Panza Receives 2027 “Best Law Firms” Rankings
November 5, 2026
Our Trust, Estate, & Probate Litigation practice team counsels clients on all aspects of trust, estate, and probate disputes, including investigating potential claims, evaluating the merits of bringing a claim or defending a claim, and litigating a claim through trial or settlement.
Our Team possesses considerable experience and a comprehensive appreciation of the spectrum of issues concerning contested estates, trust and probate disputes, and other fiduciary-related litigation. Our Team takes pride in our ability to understand the client’s perspective, to formulate goals guided by that perspective, and to evaluate and resolve complex problems on behalf of beneficiaries and fiduciaries in contested matters.
Our areas of expertise include:
- Trust, estate, and probate disputes
- Representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries in mismanagement of asset and breach of trust matters
- Representation of parties in farm inheritance disputes and related family partnership disputes
- Will contests
- Beneficiary designation disputes
- Removal of trustees, executors, and other fiduciaries
- Claims of undue influence, lack of capacity, and incompetence
- Concealment of asset actions
- Investigation or defense of power-of-attorney abuse and related claims
- Investigation and prosecution of elder abuse and financial exploitation claims
Get to know us
- Our law firm was named a Tier 1 Metropolitan “Best Law Firm” in Litigation – Trusts & Estates by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in 2022.
- Our Trust, Estate, & Probate Litigation team has successfully handled cases for a wide range of clients, including trustees, beneficiaries, executors, administrators, and other fiduciaries, as well as sureties and family limited partnerships.
- We utilize our knowledge and expertise to advise both individual and corporate fiduciaries who are involved with will and trust contests, accounting actions, and other fiduciary-related litigation.
- We represent clients in trust, estate, and probate dispute matters, including enforcement or defense of fiduciary or beneficiary rights, charitable and exempt organization litigation, and reformation suits, among other actions.
- Our Team pairs the technical knowledge of our trust and estate practitioners with seasoned litigators to provide intelligent and attentive counsel and effective results.
Articles
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “When Private Settlement Agreements are Valid and Enforceable under Ohio Law.” October 2, 2026.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “Concurrent Representation of Trustees and Beneficiaries under Ohio Rule of Professional Conduct 1.7.” October 2, 2026.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “Ohio Business Succession Planning.” March 20, 2026.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “Common Issues in Estate Planning for Blended Families in Ohio.” March 20, 2026.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “Estate Planning to Prevent the Loss of Digital Assets.” October 17, 2025.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “Updated Guidance Regarding the Statute of Limitation for Breach of Fiduciary Duty.” October 17, 2025.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “A Simplified Procedure for Termination and Distribution of Inter Vivos Trusts.” March 14, 2025.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “Liability of a Trustee When a Settlor Possesses a Power to Direct.” March 14, 2025.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA, Parish DM. “A Primer on Claims Against a Probate Estate.” August 2, 2024.
- Alverson MA, Farrell WV. “A Collaborative Approach to Modifying Non-Charitable Irrevocable Trusts Under R.C. 5804.11(B)Part 1.” August 18, 2023.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA. “An Inherent Dilemma: Prospective Beneficiaries Confronted With In Terrorem Clauses.” August 19, 2022.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA. “Estate Planning Series – Undue Influence. Part 3: What Happens if You Would Like to Bring, or are Confronted with, an Undue Influence Claim?” May 19, 2021.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA. “Estate Planning Series – Undue Influence. Part 2: Practical Pitfalls to Avoid to Best Protect Against the Prospect of an Undue Influence Claim.” April 28, 2021.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA. “Estate Planning Series – Undue Influence. Part 1: What is Undue Influence – and How Much is too Much?” April 14, 2021.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA. “The Intersection of Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence.” July 14, 2020.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA. “Testimonial Privilege When the Competency of a Deceased Client is Placed at Issue.” July 14, 2020.
- Farrell WV, Alverson MA. “Abrogating Dueck v. The Clifton Colony Club: The Attorney-Client Privilege Revisited.” July 14, 2020.