M. Elizabeth Monihan

Biography

Lisa Monihan's practice is focused on wealth transfer planning for individuals and fiduciaries, including income, gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, trust and estate administration, multi-generational family issues, retirement planning, succession planning for closely-held businesses and charitable planning.

Lisa was once told by a new client that the decision to hire her was made because “you really listened to what I had to say; the other lawyers I interviewed were too busy trying to impress me with how smart they were.” Lisa establishes personal, long term relationships with her clients, and guides them through the legal, tax, financial and family issues in their unique situations with empathy and compassion.

Lisa is a frequent speaker to professional and community groups on estate planning and related topics.

Education

• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1984, J.D.
• John Carroll University, 1979, B.S. in Economics

Admissions & Associations

• State of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. Supreme Court
• American Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
  • Chair, Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Section Council, 2021-2023
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Former Chair, Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Section, 2008-2009
• Ohio Women’s Bar Association
• Fellow, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC); State Laws Committee, Technology in the Practice Committee
• Member, Planning Committee, Marvin R. Pliskin Advanced Probate and Estate Planning Seminar
• Probate Law Journal of Ohio, Editorial Advisory Board, 2015-current
• Member and Former President 1994-1995, The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland

Awards & Honors

• Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2018 for Practice Areas:
  
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates
  • Tax Law
  • Trusts and Estates

• Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers^® for:
  • Trusts and Estates, Cleveland 2023

• Chambers High Net Worth 2018-present

• Ohio Super Lawyers® 2006-present

• Certified as an Accredited Estate Planner® by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
• Distinguished Estate Planner; awarded in 2013 by The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland

Community Activities

• Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Development Committee, 2016-present
• Union Club Foundation Board, Secretary 2017–current
• Catholic Charities Corporation Board of Trustees, 2003–2014
• Volunteer Council of The Cleveland Orchestra-President, 1998-2001
• The Junior Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra-President, 1997-1999
• The Women’s Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra-Board of Trustees, 2000-2003
• Cleveland Museum of Art Planned Giving Committee
• Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
• Hathaway Brown Parent Association-President 2013-2014
• University Hospitals, Diamond Advisory Group
• Case Western Reserve University, Professional Advisory Group

Articles & Presentations

• Summary of Written Testimony before Ohio House of Representatives Civil Justice Committee in opposition to H.B. 339, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, November/December 2021
• Opposition Testimony on behalf of the Ohio State Bar Association concerning Proposed Electronic Wills Legislation, Ohio House of Representatives Civil Justice Committee, October 12, 2021
• Making a Difference - The Ohio Legislative Process and Recent Developments for Estates and Trusts, Boy Scout Estate Planning Seminar, September 14, 2021
• Ohio Enacts a Legal Malpractice Statute of Repose, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, May/June 2021
• Starting Out: The Initial Client Interview, Fiduciary Responsibilities, Conflicts of Interest and Fees, Ohio State Bar Association, June 7, 2021, June 4, 2020, and July 20, 2019
• The Inside Scoop on Choosing an Estate Planning Lawyer, Crain’s Cleveland Business-Estate Planning, November 2020
• Planning for Elderly Clients Below the Exemption Amount, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, July/August 2020
• Dilemma for Executors and Survivors: Should Cares Act Economic Impact Payments to Decedents be Returned? Probate Law Journal of Ohio, July/August 2020
• Estate Planning for Clients Below the Exemption Amount, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Ohio Regional Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, May 4, 2019
• The Art of Inheritance - Planning for Children of Assisted Reproductive Technology following Enactment of Substitute Senate Bill 232, West Shore Bar Assn., July 20, 2018
• To Be an "Heir" or Not to Be an Heir" - That is the Question, Ohio State Bar Association, April 2017
• Increase in Value and Number of Vehicles Which May be Selected by Surviving Spouse, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, January/February 2017
• Assisted Reproductive Technology (Art) and Inheritance Rights, Akron Tax and Estate Planning Council, January 2017