Ava L. Hartney

Overview

Ava L. Hartney is a Paralegal at McCarthy Lebit, where she supports the Trusts & Estates group in estate planning and trust and estate administration matters. She assists in the development and customization of estate plans, helping to ensure legal documents reflect each client and their family’s intentions, circumstances, and long-term goals.  

Prior to graduating, Ava directly assisted clients with estate planning, probate, and elder law matters, gaining experience with the legal and clerical aspects of estate planning and estate administration. Her extensive administrative background informs her approach to client service, particularly when matters involve sensitive family and financial matters. By taking the time to understand clients’ concerns and priorities, she strives to ensure they feel supported throughout the process by her and her team.

Currently, the majority of Ava’s work focuses on estate planning for high-net-worth individuals and families. She contributes to the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, revocable trusts, and irrevocable trusts. She works closely with the firm’s Trusts & Estates attorneys to guide clients through the appropriate funding steps so that their estate plan is fully benefiting them, their family, and all of their assets, in the most tax-efficient way.  Ava is also able to assist with business succession planning for clients in conjunction with their base plan.

In addition to estate planning, Ava supports trust and estate administration matters, inside and outside the probate court. Her meticulous organization helps manage the legal and procedural requirements that arise following the death of a loved one or during the administration of a trust. Her work involves coordinating documentation and timely filings, and maintaining accurate records and accountings.

Ava earned her associate degree through the ABA-Approved Paralegal Program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C).