Attorney Franco is a long-time resident and business owner in Mansfield, Ohio and practices mainly in the areas of estate planning, probate, small business, taxation, and real estate law. Evening and weekend hours are available by appointment. 

Practice Areas Include:

Real Estate

Providing advice and representation to owners and renters of residential and commercial property.  Assistance available for buying, selling, or leasing real estate; boundary disputes; landlord-tenant disputes; mortgage modification negotiations; foreclosures; and many other issues related to real property.  The best time to seek legal advice is before you enter into a real estate transaction, but its never to late to discuss your situation with an attorney.

Foreclosures: Before you enter into a "work-out" plan with a lender, you should know that in most cases the lender has no duty to actually offer a permanent modification and should you be denied after completing the plan, you could find that you owe more than you did at the start and that you are in more danger of losing your home.  You should consult with your attorney before agreeing to a "work-out" plan. 

Eminent Domain: If your property is taking for "public use" you are constitutionally entitled to just compensation.  The law also provides protections with regard to surveys, geological studies, and appraisals.  You are also entitled to notice of the the appropriating agency's intent to acquire the property and an "good faith offer" to purchase the property before they commence with an appropriation case. The right time to discuss eminent domain issues with an attorney is upon your first contact with the appropriating agency. 

Estate Planning

Assisting clients with all aspects of estate planning, including wills, trusts, and guardianships, as well as health care and financial directives such as medical powers of attorney, durable powers of attorney, and living wills.  If you own property, have children, have recently been married or divorced, or wish to make a special bequest to a friend or relative, you should make or update your estate plan.  The goal is to make sure that your property is distributed in an efficient manner according to your wishes.

Probate

Probate administration entails ensuring that the decedents wished are honored, whether they pass with, or without a will.  The Probate Court will oversee the administration and personal representative, whether an executor appointed by will or an administer who applies to be appointed, needs to follow the proper procedures.  This includes securing assets, filing an inventory, paying debts and claims, and making distributions to heirs or beneficiaries.  Our office will assist you with all of this, and making sure that it is done according to law and local rules of the Probate Court.