In other practice areas, the firm seeks to assist and support clients as they plan for their futures; deal with the loss of loved ones; create new businesses or transition established ones using the best available legal research information to ensure favorable outcomes for our clients.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA was involved in the coal, oil and gas industry long before the advent of the Marcellus or Utica Shale oil & gas leasing.
With the growth of the Marcellus and Utica Shale leasing, Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA has assisted landowners and businesses in negotiating leases for tens of thousands of acres. The firm filed the most extensive Affidavit of Preservation of record in Belmont County. Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA has preserved landowners rights pursuant to the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act and the Marketable Title Act and have litigated matters evolving from this theory of law. The firm conducted mineral title searches throughout Eastern and Southern Ohio. The firm knows the oil and gas companies royalty statements often have errors. It provides review and audit services of the statements, and works with landowners in obtaining compensation for wrongful deductions.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA represents land owners in negotiating and enforcing their rights with pipeline and oil & gas companies. The firm works with our clients to prioritize their requirements. Whether an oil & gas company is asserting pipeline rights a company does not have, or a pipeline company threatens litigation to force its way onto a property, Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA can defend the issue.
Land owners should have no need to fear oil & gas and pipeline companies seeking to take their land without due compensation.
When a loved one dies, the attorneys at Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA are prepared to assist family members facing the challenge of administering the estate as compassionately as possible. The firm guides survivors through the probate process. From filing a Will to preparing the appropriate fiduciary and estate tax returns, appraising assets, and handling disputes which arise among heirs, the firm is experienced in resolving all the issues surrounding the death of a loved one.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA has experience in establishing Guardianships and Conservatorships in both Ohio and West Virginia. When a loved one becomes disabled and requires someone to provide care for them, the attorneys at Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA are prepared to assist and resolve the issues which may arise.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA has over fifty years of experience in wills, trusts, powers of attorney, pre-nuptial agreements, and estate planning. From preparing single wills to planning a multi-million dollar estate, clients are a testament to our estate planning practice. The lawyers meet individually with each client and design and prepare the estate planning documents that best suits their needs and desires. A complete set of estate planning documents for a husband and wife are cost competitive with online legal services. In addition, you can rest assured the estate planning documents meet with the requirements of Ohio and West Virginia law to be valid: and the cost includes the personal involvement of your own attorney. The lawyers also prepare trusts and other detailed estate planning documents to take advantage of the current and ever-changing federal and state estate tax laws and issues facing today’s clientele.
In the area of Elder Law, the firm does not manipulate clients to enter into Trusts or Medicaid planning they do not need. The attorneys explain all the options to their clients and will not prepare a document unless the client believes it is beneficial once they have a full understanding of the multitude of estate planning issues involved.
Recently, the firm has also added the preparation of “Gun Trusts” for our clients.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA has formed thousands of limited liability companies and corporations. The firm assists clients in selecting the correct legal entity and drafting the appropriate governing documents. Often the firm works with the owners’ accountants, insurance agents, and financial institutions to bring the new business into existence. Once the business is established, Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA continues to assist clients in drafting legal documents such as leases and contracts; and asserting and defending legal claims.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA provides support for businesses from start-up to dissolution, sale, or termination or business succession planning. The attorneys draft Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, Operating Agreements, By-Laws, Partnership Agreements, Corporate and Limited Liability Company Resolutions, as well as assisting the client with succession planning or sale. The firm additionally provides civil litigation services, in order to help clients address contract disputes, collection issues, or defend claims brought by employees or other companies. Professionals, especially physician groups, often call upon the firm as they seek to grow or manage the issues of operating an office or working within a highly regulated environment.
Whether individuals are starting a new business, selling a business, or terminating an existing business, or simply transitioning a business to their children or others, Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA works with its clients to navigate these difficult issues.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA is prepared to help clients select between establishing a limited liability company or a corporation. It handles both asset and stock purchases and sales and provides counsel when financing becomes an issue.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA provides a full-range of services in the real estate area. The attorneys have particular expertise in the area of Coal, Oil and Gas title work. We are recognized experts, especially as it pertains to coal title work, in Southeastern Ohio. The firm has repeatedly assisted coal mine operators and landowners in this area of law for over 100 years.
The lawyers of Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA have assisted both local landowners and multi-national corporations with a multitude of issues involving the Marcellus and Utica Shale Mineral Interests. The lawyers have expertise in conducting mineral interest title examinations and related Coal, Oil and Gas work in over twenty counties in Southeastern and Eastern Ohio for both individuals and corporations. These services have ranged from doing Oil & Gas Title Examinations and Reports (always going back over 100 years in the public indices) to Abandonment of Mineral Interests, Preservation of Mineral Rights, Forfeiture of Gas Leases; Litigation over Oil & Gas Leases; To acquisition of Oil & Gas and Surface Interests for the development of Oil & Gas industry complexes.
For commercial and residential transactions, the firm provides services in both Ohio and West Virginia and conducts title searches, prepares Deeds, Leases, Rights-of-Way with particular expertise regarding Abandonment of Railroad Right-of-Ways.
Navigating employment law issues is difficult for most businesses and individuals. Termination, FMLA, Disability, Discrimination, Workers’ Compensation and Black Lung claims are among the most litigated matters individuals and businesses face. Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA works with our business clients to solve them all. When litigations arises, the firm advocates for our clients to seek the most favorable result available.
In representing individuals, Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA is cognizant an adverse employment situation is deeply personal. The firm works with our clients to reach a favorable result.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA believes it is crucial businesses defend themselves when claims for work-related injuries or occupational disease are brought against them. Our firm strongly encourages companies to evaluate the claims and assists them to make an informed decision while aggressively defending the employer’s rights. For the Self-employed or State-Fund Employer, with a claim at the administrative or any court level, we are prepared to assist you. Our experience and skill has been demonstrated in numerous courts throughout the State of Ohio, including the Supreme Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In the Ohio Supreme Court case of Ward v. Kroger, the firm established the standard to be used by Courts of Common Pleas when determining whether or not an appeal in a workers’ compensation claim is properly before the Court of Common Pleas.
In the area of black lung defense, the firm recognizes the difficulty of prevailing in an environment which is often believed to be structured to the benefit of the Claimant. However, understanding the intricacies of this rather unique area of law and aggressive representation are the hallmark of our efforts to defend our clients.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA successfully represents individuals and businesses in a broad range of litigation matters. The firm defends business when they are sued or a claim has been made against it. Whether it is an employment law situation, a contract dispute, real estate issue, collection matter, or any other issue which may arise Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA is prepared to help.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA also assists individuals who are sued or need to file a lawsuit in order to enforce a land contract, oppose a right-of-way easement, settle or litigate an accident or injury, or enforce any other legal right. Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA is ready to take the case to trial when settlement does not resolve the matter. The attorneys of Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA are licensed in all Courts in Ohio and West Virginia. We routinely litigate cases before administrative agencies, arbitration panels, probate, common pleas, circuit and federal district courts.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA also handles appeals of lower court decisions before Federal and State Courts of Appeal and the Ohio Supreme Courts.
Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA assists individuals and businesses when the claims of creditors create difficult choices. The firm is experienced in all areas of bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. The firm works with clients to review operations and if ultimately a bankruptcy is the most appropriate option, Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPAassists clients in bringing about the best result legally available.
The lawyers at Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA deal with a myriad of taxation issues both on a Federal and a State level. They are experienced in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service in income, fiduciary, estate and payroll, FUTA taxes. They are able to prepare all applicable tax returns and negotiate with the Internal Revenue Service on reductions of interest and penalties and also have experience in Offers In Compromise in dealing with the Internal Revenue Service. They have also been successful in obtaining non-profit exempt taxation status for a number of local non-profits. They recently did so for the Prall Cemetery Association and the Ohio Valley Vipers Little League baseball team.
On a State level, the lawyers have experience dealing with all areas of state taxation including but not limited to income taxes, estate taxes, sales taxes and all payroll tax issues. The lawyers at Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co., LPA can work through your complicated tax situations to a successful conclusion.