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Client reviews
4.8
★★★★★ Google Rating
Read client feedback and review the firm’s current Google profile.
Serving Central Ohio Since 1991
Columbus Estate Planning, Wills & Probate Attorney
Clear legal guidance for protecting your family, preserving what you have built, and handling life’s most important transitions. Dennis Rathburn brings decades of legal experience, an accounting background, and a practical, personal approach.
Attorney & Accountant Columbus Since 1991 Personal Guidance
Serving Central Ohio since 1991 Attorney & accountant In-person & virtual consultations Read client reviews ↗
Call the office
(614) 497-9918 Talk with a real local law office. Visit us
3163 S High St Columbus, Ohio 43207 Meet your way
Flexible consultations Office, virtual and select at-home options. Planning should feel understandable
Straight Answers. Thoughtful Planning. Personal Attention.
Estate planning is personal. Rathburn & Associates is built around conversations, clear explanations, and practical legal work tailored to the people sitting across the table.
Dennis has practiced law in Central Ohio since 1991. The firm’s long-standing approach is simple: understand the family, understand the assets and goals, explain the legal options in plain English, and help clients make informed decisions without turning every conversation into legal theater.
Why families choose Rathburn
Since 1991 Decades serving Columbus and
Central Ohio.
Attorney & Accountant A practical perspective on legal
and financial decisions.
Direct Attention Clients are treated as people,
not file numbers.
Flexible Access Office, virtual and select at-home
consultation options.
Focused legal guidance
Plan for what matters. Handle what comes next.
Clear, practical guidance for estate planning, wills, trusts and probate — helping Central Ohio families prepare thoughtfully and move forward with confidence.
01
Planning
Estate Planning
Build a clear plan for your family, property, healthcare decisions and future.
Explore service →
02
Protection
Wills & Trusts
Put your wishes in writing and create a structure that fits your family and assets.
Explore service →
03
Administration
Probate & Estate Administration
Get experienced guidance after a death, from opening an estate through administration.
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04
Preparedness
Powers of Attorney & Incapacity Planning
Prepare for important financial and healthcare decisions before a crisis occurs.
Explore service → Additional legal services
A simpler client experience
Clear Guidance From the First Conversation Forward.
Start with a call to Vicky to arrange your appointment. Dennis will discuss your goals, explain the available options and help you understand the next steps. You will have a local office to return to when your family, property or planning needs change.
1
Start here
Talk With Us
Start with a real conversation about your family, situation and goals.
2
Get clarity
Understand Your Options
Get practical explanations without unnecessary legal jargon.
3
Move forward
Build the Right Plan
Move forward with documents or legal steps tailored to the matter.
4
Ongoing guidance
Stay Supported
Return when life, family, property or planning needs change.
Clear guidance at every stage
Rathburn & Associates Dennis A. Rathburn Attorney & Accountant
Serving Central Ohio Since 1991
Meet Dennis Rathburn
An Attorney and Accountant Who Believes in Simplicity.
Dennis A. Rathburn has practiced law since 1991 and brings an accounting background to estate planning, probate, business and real-estate matters.
✓ Practicing law since 1991
✓ Capital University Law School
✓ Franklin University accounting background
✓ Long-standing Central Ohio practice
✓ Plain-English explanations
✓ Flexible consultation options
Important decisions deserve a real conversation. Dennis brings legal experience and an accounting perspective to your questions, with clear explanations and personal attention from a long-standing Columbus practice.
A Familiar Voice at the Office
Meet Vicky.
Vicky handles calls and appointment scheduling. She’ll help you arrange a conversation with Dennis and find a time to meet.
Call Vicky (614) 497-9918
Email Vicky People and situations we help
Legal planning for real life transitions.
Different stages of life bring different legal questions. Rathburn & Associates helps families, individuals and business owners understand what matters now and prepare for what comes next.
01
Build a foundation
Families Creating a Plan
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare planning.
02
Navigate change
Surviving Spouses
Review an existing plan and understand what comes next after a loss.
03
Carry out a plan
Executors & Administrators
Guidance through probate and estate administration responsibilities.
04
Protect continuity
Business Owners
Planning for ownership, assets and future transitions.
05
Prepare with care
Aging Parents & Caregivers
Planning for decision-making, incapacity and family responsibilities.
06
Coordinate property
Families With Real Estate
Coordinate planning decisions with property and real-estate concerns.
Practical guidance shaped around real circumstances
Local by design
Serving Columbus and Central Ohio.
Rathburn & Associates has served people on the south side, throughout Greater Columbus and across Central Ohio for decades.
From established Columbus neighborhoods to surrounding communities, the firm provides practical, personal legal guidance close to home.
View All Areas We Serve →
Local since 1991 Columbus roots
Communities we serve Greater Columbus
Reputation & trust
Local experience clients can verify.
Independent profiles and a long-standing Central Ohio presence give clients additional ways to learn about the firm before starting a conversation.
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Independent profile
A+
BBB Accredited Business
An established Better Business Bureau presence provides another independent source for learning about the firm.
03
Local continuity
1991
Since Serving Central Ohio
A long-standing Columbus legal practice built around personal service and practical guidance.
Independent profiles. Local history. Personal service.
Helpful Ohio legal resources
Answers before the first appointment.
Start with clear, practical information about common Ohio estate planning and probate questions, so you can better understand the issues before speaking with an attorney.
01
Probate
Read the Guide → Guide to the Probate Process in Ohio
A plain-language starting point for families and executors dealing with estate administration.
02
Life transition
Read the Article → Estate Planning for Surviving Spouses
What to review after a spouse dies, from beneficiary designations to core planning documents.
03
Planning basics
Explore FAQs → Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning FAQs
Common questions about planning documents and how they fit together.
Practical information for informed conversations
Frequently Asked Questions
Estate planning and probate in Columbus, Ohio.
Clear answers to common questions about estate planning, probate and related legal needs in Ohio. Every family and estate is different, but these answers can help you understand where to begin.
Common Questions Planning & probate
01 Who needs an estate plan in Ohio?
Estate planning is useful for many people, not only the wealthy. A plan can address property, beneficiaries, decision-making during incapacity, healthcare wishes and who should handle affairs after death.
02 What is the difference between a will and a trust?
A will generally directs how certain property should pass at death and can name fiduciaries and guardians. A trust can hold and manage assets under its terms during life and after death. Which tools make sense depends on the family and assets involved.
03 Can a trust help avoid probate?
Properly funded trusts can help keep certain assets outside probate, but not every asset or situation is the same. Beneficiary designations, joint ownership and other planning choices can also matter.
04 What happens if someone dies without a will in Ohio?
Ohio intestacy law determines who receives probate assets when there is no valid will. The result may not match what the person would have chosen, which is one reason families plan in advance.
05 When should an estate plan be updated?
Major life events such as marriage, divorce, a death, new children or grandchildren, significant asset changes, a move, or changes in chosen fiduciaries are all good reasons to review a plan.
06 What does a power of attorney do?
A financial power of attorney can authorize another person to handle defined financial matters. Healthcare planning documents address medical decision-making and treatment preferences. The documents should be tailored to the client's wishes and Ohio law.
07 How does probate generally work in Franklin County?
Probate administration can involve opening the estate, identifying and valuing assets, addressing valid debts and claims, completing required filings, and distributing property under the will or Ohio law. The exact process depends on the estate.
08 Can Rathburn & Associates help business owners?
Rathburn & Associates works with business owners on estate planning, contracts, business planning and asset-related legal needs. The appropriate scope of representation can be discussed during a consultation.
09 Are virtual or at-home consultations available?
The firm offers flexible consultation options, including virtual meetings and select at-home visits when appropriate. Availability depends on the legal matter, location and individual circumstances.
10 Does the firm also handle real estate and Social Security Disability?
Yes. Real Estate Law and Social Security Disability are additional practice areas available through Rathburn & Associates, alongside the firm's estate planning and probate work.
General information. Individual circumstances may vary.
South High Street office
Easy to find. Easy to reach.
Conveniently located on South High Street in Columbus, Rathburn & Associates provides a local place to discuss estate planning, probate and other important legal matters.
Columbus office
Rathburn & Associates
Visit the office 3163 S High St
Columbus, OH 43207
Columbus, OH 43207
Call the office (614) 497-9918 → Email the office vicki@rathburnassociates.com →
Office hours Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Flexible ways to meet Office, virtual and select at-home
consultation options.
Get Directions ↗ South High Street • Columbus
Find us South High Street
Columbus, OH A local Columbus office for personal, practical legal guidance
Start with a conversation
Tell us what you need help with.
Whether you are planning ahead, handling an estate or facing another important legal matter, start with a conversation about your situation and the next steps that may make sense.
Personal attention Start with a real conversation about
your circumstances and goals.
Clear next steps Understand your options without
unnecessary legal jargon.
Flexible consultations Office, virtual and select at-home
meeting options.
Prefer to call? Speak with the Columbus office
Serving Columbus & Central Ohio since 1991
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Serving Central Ohio Since 1991
Protect What Matters. Plan With Clarity.
Start with a straightforward conversation with a Columbus law office that has served Central Ohio families since 1991.
Personal attention Practical guidance Columbus, Ohio