Bio

Esther Norton is a partner at Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker practicing primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust and estate administration, adoption, and general business matters. Since joining the firm in 2000, Esther has handled a wide variety of matters. She routinely works with individuals and families to advise them regarding general estate planning, as well as specific planning for long-term care and family members with special needs. Esther assists families with the adoption of stepchildren and other family members and has successfully handled several contested adoptions. She also enjoys helping clients who are starting their own business or growing their existing business. In her estate practice, Esther focuses on helping clients put together all of the documents necessary not only to manage their assets after death, but to transition individuals and families through the aging process. She has a wide range of experience in drafting wills, trusts, financial powers of attorney and health care documents, including living wills and health care powers of attorney. Esther takes the time to personally engage with her clients and works hard to ensure that they are comfortable with the estate planning process from start to finish. Esther also proudly serves on the Board of Trustees for ProSeniors, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting senior members of the community with resolving their legal and long-term care issues. In Esther’s adoption practice, she welcomes all prospective adoptive couples. She often represents stepparents throughout Southwest Ohio, counseling them through the process of adopting their stepchildren. Esther has also assisted families with private and interstate adoptions. In her business practice, Esther has counseled numerous small to mid-sized companies from their initial start-up through their succession planning. She advises and prepares operating agreements for different business entities and member/shareholder agreements where there are multiple business owners. Having grown up in one family business and marrying into another one, Esther understands the unique challenges involved in working with businesses that are run by the second- and even third-generation of family members. Esther’s approach to her practice is firmly rooted in a belief that the manner in which people are treated is at least as important as the quality of the legal advice their attorney can provide them. She respects the trust that her clients place in her to help them navigate through some of life’s best and worst times, and she embraces the opportunity to provide expertise and counsel to her clients through these myriad life experiences.