J. Paul Fidler

Paul Fidler joined the firm in 1996 and became a Partner in 2003. He works with individuals, businesses, and foundations, and his practice emphasizes estate planning and administration; trust administration; income taxation of estates, trusts, and individuals; planning for charitable gifts and foundations; and business succession planning.

Paul is a frequent speaker and author on a wide range of estate planning topics. In particular, he has a strong expertise in qualified retirement plans and IRAs, which are often a client’s most valuable asset. In 2012, while he was Chair of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law Section, Paul had the opportunity to coordinate and host the “Hot Topics for Estate Planners” seminar. His presentation at the CMBA Estate Planning Institute—"Spendthrift Provisions: Wouldn’t You Like to be a Spendthrift Too?”—was also published in the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.

Paul is an active member of the Broadview Road Church of Christ, where he currently serves as Treasurer, a Trustee, and on various service-oriented committees. He enjoys playing in adult soccer leagues and lives in Olmsted Falls with his wife, Katie, and their two children.

• Business Succession Planning
• Charitable Planning
• Estate Administration
• Estate Planning and Probate
• Family Foundations
• Probate Litigation
• Retirement Distribution Planning
• Taxation
• Trust Administration
• Wealth Transfer

Education

• Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1996, Order of the Coif with honors
• The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 1993, With honors and high distinction

Admissions & Associations

• State of Ohio
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. Tax Court
• American Bar Association, Member
• Ohio State Bar Association, Member
  • Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law Section Council
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
  • Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Section, Former Chairman, 2011-2012
• Estate Planning Council of Cleveland, Member

Awards & Honors

• Accredited Estate Planner®
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2016 for Practice Areas:
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates 
  • Trusts & Estates

Community Activities

• Broadview Road Church of Christ, Member, Treasurer and a Trustee
• West Haven Foundation (Supporting Organization of Welcome House), Board Member, President of the Board
• Circle Health Service (Formerly The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland), Advisory Board

Articles & Presentations

• Enhancing American Retirement Now Act (SECURE 2.0)
• Who Cares About Being Secure? Estate Planning with Retirement Plan Assets in A Rapidly Changing Legal Environment, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, May/June 2020
• The Impact of the New SECURE Act, and Other IRA Ideas, Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners, February 2020
• Effectively Using Beneficiary Designations on Retirement Accounts, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, May/June 2019
• Guest Lecturer at Case Western Reserve University School of Law:
  • There’s No Place Like Home…Ohio Becomes One of the Nation’s Top Destinations for Asset Protection Planning
  • Spendthrift Provisions: Wouldn’t You Like to be a Spendthrift Too?
• Paul has spoken to various continuing legal education, professional, and consumer-oriented groups regarding estate planning, estate and trust administration, and tax topics:
  • The Grapes of Roth: Conversion to a Roth IRA in 2010 and Beyond — Sweet Nectar or Sour Grapes
  • Roth Conversion: Wealth Transfer, Taxes and Timing