David Cusack began his legal career in the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office — a criminal law background that precedes decades of estate planning and probate practice in Beavercreek, Ohio. That earlier experience in a prosecutorial setting, which requires understanding court procedure, evidence standards, and advocacy under judicial scrutiny, provides a different foundation than attorneys who begin their careers in private estate planning practice. Cusack Law Office LLC now focuses exclusively on estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration for clients in the Dayton and Miami Valley area.
Overview
Cusack Law Office LLC is a solo estate planning and probate practice in Beavercreek, Ohio, operated by David John Cusack. Located conveniently to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University, the firm serves the Beavercreek and greater Dayton area with estate planning documents and probate administration services.
David Cusack earned his J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 1994 and was admitted to practice in Ohio that same year. He was subsequently admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in 1999. Before entering private practice, he worked in the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, building litigation and advocacy experience that informs his courtroom confidence in probate proceedings.
The firm operates with a client education philosophy: Cusack describes his approach as guiding clients to be well-informed legal consumers. This reflects a service model where clients understand what they are signing and why, rather than simply executing documents. The firm offers both hourly and flat fee billing arrangements depending on services, and provides a free initial consultation.
Practice Areas
Wills: Preparation of last wills and testaments for Ohio residents. A will directs the distribution of assets at death and designates a personal representative to manage the estate through probate. For clients with straightforward estates, a will is often the foundational document. For those with more complex situations — minor children, blended families, business interests, or specific distribution conditions — a will must be carefully drafted to address those circumstances.
Trusts: Living trusts and other trust arrangements allow assets to pass outside the probate process, which can simplify administration and maintain privacy. The firm drafts revocable living trusts and related pour-over wills, as well as other trust structures suited to particular client circumstances.
Living Wills: Also called advance healthcare directives or healthcare declarations, living wills express a person’s wishes regarding life-sustaining medical treatment in the event they cannot communicate those wishes. Ohio law provides for this document as part of comprehensive end-of-life planning.
Deeds: Preparation of deeds transferring real property as part of estate planning or other property transfers. Proper deed preparation is essential to ensure that real estate is legally transferred as intended, whether during lifetime or at death.
Powers of Attorney: Both financial powers of attorney — authorizing a trusted person to manage financial matters — and healthcare powers of attorney — authorizing a healthcare agent to make medical decisions — are standard components of Ohio estate planning. Durable powers of attorney remain effective if the principal becomes incapacitated, which is typically the circumstance where they are most needed.
Probate Administration: When a decedent’s estate passes through the Ohio probate court system, an attorney guides the personal representative through the administrative process: filing the will with the court, inventorying assets, notifying creditors, resolving claims, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. David Cusack’s earlier work in the Prosecutor’s Office and subsequent decades of probate practice give him practical court familiarity that serves clients through this process.
Trust Administration: When trust assets must be distributed or managed following the death of the trust’s creator, the trustee has administrative duties and fiduciary obligations. The firm provides guidance through trust administration, including accounting, distribution planning, and any court reporting that may be required.
Attorney Profiles
David John Cusack is the owner and sole practitioner of Cusack Law Office LLC. He earned a B.A. from Wright State University in 1990 and a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in 1994. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1994 and to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio in 1999. Early in his career, he worked in the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office before transitioning to private practice. He is a member of the Greene County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Association. He is also listed in the Catholic Attorneys directory. His practice is located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University.
Location and Service Area
1195D Meadow Bridge Drive, Beavercreek, OH 45434
Phone: (937) 912-9252
Website: https://www.cusacklawoffice.com/
Free initial consultation available. Billing options include hourly and flat fee arrangements. The firm serves Beavercreek, Ohio and the broader Dayton and Miami Valley area.
Client Focus
Cusack Law Office serves individuals and families in the Beavercreek and greater Dayton area who need estate planning documents — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives — and who need legal guidance through the probate process when a family member dies. The firm’s proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base means it serves military personnel and families, who have specific estate planning considerations due to the nature of military service.
Wright State University’s proximity also means the firm may serve university community members, including faculty, staff, and local residents in Beavercreek’s university-adjacent neighborhoods. The free initial consultation makes it accessible for clients who are uncertain whether they need an attorney or what kind of planning their situation requires.
David Cusack’s stated philosophy of guiding clients to be well-informed legal consumers distinguishes the practice from attorneys who view document execution as the primary service. Understanding what documents do and why they matter is itself a service, and one that clients are better positioned to appreciate once they realize that estate planning documents are only as valuable as the client’s understanding of when and how they will operate.
FAQ
What is the difference between a will and a living trust, and how do I know which I need?
A will controls distribution of assets after death but requires probate court administration. A revocable living trust can control assets during your lifetime and at death, often without probate. The appropriate choice depends on the types and values of your assets, your family situation, and your goals regarding privacy and administrative simplicity. A free initial consultation with David Cusack can help you understand which approach or combination fits your circumstances.
What does the firm charge for estate planning services?
Cusack Law Office uses both hourly and flat fee billing arrangements, depending on the service. The appropriate fee structure is discussed at the initial consultation. A free initial consultation is available to evaluate your situation before you commit to any services.
What is the probate process in Ohio and how long does it take?
Ohio probate is administered through the Probate Division of the Court of Common Pleas in the county where the decedent resided. The timeline depends on the complexity of the estate, the presence of creditor claims, and whether any disputes arise. A simple estate may be administered in several months; more complex estates can take longer. The personal representative is responsible for collecting assets, paying creditors, and distributing the remainder — all under court supervision, with an attorney guiding the process.
Does the firm serve military families near Wright-Patterson?
The firm is located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and serves military personnel and families in the area. Military service members have specific estate planning considerations, including the potential for deployment, survivor benefits, and federal law provisions that interact with Ohio state estate planning.
What is the significance of listing with the Catholic Attorneys directory?
The Catholic Attorneys directory is a referral resource connecting clients seeking Catholic attorneys with practitioners who have registered through the network. It is a professional affiliation that provides an additional avenue for clients with a preference for working with an attorney who shares their faith background.
Closing
More than two decades of estate planning and probate work in Beavercreek — preceded by prosecutorial experience in Greene County courts — gives David Cusack a courtroom grounding in the Ohio probate system that purely transactional estate planning attorneys often lack. For families in the Dayton and Miami Valley area who need comprehensive estate planning documents or probate administration handled by an attorney who will explain the process rather than just process the paperwork, Cusack Law Office LLC offers accessible, experienced solo practitioner service with a free initial consultation and flexible fee arrangements.