Anthony Rifici, a North Olmsted resident, opened his Westlake office in November. (West Life photo by Larry Benett)

Local attorney provides guidance
on estate planning, elder law
Published Sept. 16, 2009

What sets Rifici Law Office apart from other law offices is the in-depth attention and responsiveness attorney Anthony Rifici gives his clients. Rifici, who has been practicing law for 12 years, is interested in getting to know his clients.

“It’s essential to doing a quality job for clients,” Rifici said. “You have to really understand their situation, goals and wishes before you can give the best advice.”

Rifici finds that clients usually have general ideas of what they want or need, but they may not have considered certain issues that can interfere with those goals.

“My job is to recognize all the variables, ask questions, learn about the client and their family and ultimately to explain legal issues and options in ways which they can understand and then act upon,” he said.

Rifici, along with paralegal Jason Gillis, limits his practice to estate planning, elder law and probate matters. Typical services include preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, deeds and other planning documents; administration of probate estates, guardianship estates and various types of trusts; and helping clients with nursing home and Medicaid planning issues, including contract reviews, asset preservation and Medicaid applications and appeals. Rifici also handles litigation cases in Probate Court.

In addition, he does pro bono work for Cleveland Clinic Hospice once or twice a month.

Rifici received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice studies with a pre-law minor from Kent State University, and then graduated with honors from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He worked as an associate attorney for two Cleveland-area law firms before establishing his own practice in the Brecksville/Broadview Heights area in mid-2003.

A 1987 graduate of North Olmsted High School, Rifici relocated his practice to Westlake, 30400 Detroit Road, in the Atrium Building, in November.

“Our formula is pretty simple — concentrate on a few areas of law, provide high quality legal work at fair rates with prompt service and you get happy clients. Happy clients tell their family and friends. Happy clients send thank you cards … yes, even to their lawyer!” he said.

Rifici hangs thank you cards on the refrigerator in the office kitchenette and believes they are a telltale sign that his level of service is where it should be.

While many of Rifici’s clients are of the 50+ crowd, he points out that the need for his services are not exclusively a function of age. The need for proper estate planning can be triggered by many common life events, such as getting married or remarried, having children or grandchildren, purchasing a home, rental or investment property, starting a business, retiring or experiencing changes in one’s health or asset levels.

Rifici also recommends clients have their existing estate plan reviewed about every two or three years to keep up with possible changes in the law and to ensure the plan still reflects their goals.

“I encourage people to be proactive and to get their plan in place. After all, we are talking about a plan to manage and transfer the assets and property which you have worked your whole life to accumulate — it’s super important and deserves special attention.”

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