Veronica Garofoli focuses her practice in the areas of probate and trust litigation, probate and trust administration, and estate planning. She provides representation to clients in all aspects of probate, trust and estate disputes. She prosecutes and defends cases for families and fiduciaries, including will and trust contests involving charges of undue influence and lack of mental capacity, declaratory judgments involving wills and trusts and fiduciary duty related actions. She also advises individuals and corporations in estate, trust and guardianship administrations.

Veronica is experienced in reviewing, designing, and implementing tailored estate plans for clients. Additionally, she counsels clients on corporate matters, entity structure and formation, real estate issues, and contract negotiations. Her experience as a law clerk at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Probate Division, and the Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, has given her a unique insight into the judicial system, allowing her to better advocate for her clients.

Veronica received her J.D. from the Cleveland State University College of Law in 2015. She is licensed to practice in the state of Ohio and the U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts.

Practice Areas

  • Litigation
  • Business/Commercial Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Trusts & Estates
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate and Estate Administration
  • Trust, Estate, and Probate Litigation

Education

  • Cleveland Marshall College of Law, J.D., 2015
  • Elmhurst University, B.S., 2010

Admissions & Associations

  • State of Ohio
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  • Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Member
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member 
    • Board of Directors, Director
  • The William K. Thomas American Inn of Court, Member
    • Executive Committee (2023)

Awards & Honors

  • Recognized in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America since 2023 for Practice Areas:
    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Litigation – Trusts and Estates
    • Trusts and Estates
  • Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list: 2023-present
  • Professor Stephen Werber Professionalism Award – The William K. Thomas American Inn of Court

Community Activities

  • Shaker Heights Municipal Court, Visiting Judge
  • CSU Law Alumni Association, Trustee
  • The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Associate Board, Board Member
  • Cleveland State University College of Law Mentor Program, Mentor
  • The Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Member
  • FDCC Ladder Down, Graduate
  • Rainbow Babies and Children’s Foundation, Associate Board - Past President

Articles & Presentations

  • Automating Legacy: AI’s Applications In Estate Planning, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, September/October 2024
  • Leveraging AI in Estate Planning, OSBA CLE Quick Webcast, October 2024
  • Artificial Intelligence Applications in Estate Planning, CMBA Hot Topics in Estate Planning 2024 CLE Event, June 2024
  • Estate Planning for Women to Thrive, "Lady Justice" Magazine by Primerus, April 2024
  • Automating Legacy: AI's Impact on Estate Planning, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal, December 2023
  • Automating Legacy: AI's Impact on Estate Planning, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 2023
  • Respecting Wills-The Aretha Franklin Estate Dispute, September 2023
  • A Closer Look at Creditor Claims and New Method of Trustee Release: Ohio Senate Bill 202 – OSBA Quick Webcast, September 2023
  • Lisa Marie Presley’s Amendment To “Promenade Trust” Challenged Under California Law—Lessons for Ohio Practitioners, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, Jul./Aug. 2023
  • Suspicious Minds: Lisa Marie Presley’s Trust Amendment Challenged; A Will Contest Case Study, CMBA Hot Topics in Estate Planning 2023, June 2023
  • The Probate Process from Start to Finish, National Business Institute Seminar, June 2021