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Attorney Derek L. Graham

Derek L. Graham
Principal

P: 614.760.1801

F: 614.889.5250

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I genuinely enjoy helping people avoid and fix problems that arise in their lives. Whether you are the parent of a child with special needs trying to figure out Medicaid, a small business owner trying to understand the confusing letter you received in the mail or just an individual wanting to know what will happen to your assets at your death, I enjoy teaming up with you to solve the problem. 

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Early in my career I was fortunate to get experience in civil litigation, business transactions and estate planning. Then in 2009, my wife and I had our first daughter who was born with Down syndrome.

Like many of my clients today, we were inundated with information and felt overwhelmed. Thirteen years later, I spend the majority of my days helping similarly situated families understand the various resources that exist for families like mine. I find it very rewarding to meet with families of all varieties and help them understand how to effectively and practically plan their estate. More than that though, I enjoy helping families understand the resources available to them and how to get the most out of those resources. 

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My practice areas are Estate Planning, Special Needs Estate Planning, Developmental Disabilities Law, Guardianship, Probate, Probate Litigation and Business (organizational, transactional and succession).  I earn my clients' trust by working hard to accomplish their goals, being accessible and giving advice based upon experience. 

Derek Graham with his family

Education

  • University of Kentucky (B.B.A.) – Double Major in Finance and Decision Science and Information Systems

  • Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University (J.D.)

​Professional Associations and Community Involvement

  • Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio (DSACO), Past Board Member - Chair, Vice Chair, Past President

  • Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College – Faculty Member

  • Ohio SIBS (adult siblings of people with disabilities) – Board Member

  • The Arc of Ohio - Board Member

  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Family 2 Family Parenting Task Force – Member

  • Columbus Bar Association Professional Ethics Committee – Member

  • Columbus Bar Association Admissions Committee – Member

  • Ohio Guardianship Association-Member

  • City of Dublin, Community Services Advisory Commission – Past Member

  • Ohio Supreme Court Subcommittee on Adult Guardianship – Past Member

  • Ohio State University Faculty Member - College of Education and Human Ecology, Lecturer of Estate Planning for Individuals and Families

​Awards and Recognition

  • 2016 Distinguished Service Award Winner - Ohio Guardianship Association

  • Ohio Super Lawyers – Rising Star in Estate Planning 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

  • Columbus Business First - 2019 40 Under 40 Honoree

Published Works​

Representative Payee Handbook

Co-Authored with Logan K. Philipps on behalf of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, 2022

Click here for the PDF version of this book or request a copy.

 

Co-Author of Guardianship of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Toolkit for Judicial Use, The Supreme Court of Ohio

 

Author of Adult Fundamentals of Guardianship Handbook

 

Developer and Instructor for 6-Hour Fundamentals of Guardianship Course

 

Author of Developmental Disabilities Law Guidebook

 

Developer and Instructor for 3-Hour Developmental Disabilities Course

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