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Our Attorneys

ATTORNEYS

Christopher Lavin

Elder Law Attorney

Chris LavinSince graduating from the University of Dayton College of Law in 1998, Attorney Lavin has focused his practice in the area of Elder Law serving the needs of senior citizens, including but not limited to, a dedication to the areas of estate planning, retirement planning and asset protection with a specific concentration towards nursing home qualification, comprehensive use of trusts, wills, probate issues and durable powers of attorney. Attorney Lavin previously worked for Pro Seniors, Inc. in Cincinnati, where he assisted seniors with diverse Elder Law issues, including nursing home planning. Attorney Lavin now serves as the managing partner of the Lavin Law Group LLC, which was founded on the idea that estate planning is for everyone, and that an educated client will make the best decision for themselves and their families. We all have options. In addition to his law degree, Attorney Lavin holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University. Attorney Lavin is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio as well as the State of Kentucky, and has been admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Cincinnati Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Wealth Counsel. He also serves on the Elder Law Committee of the Cincinnati Bar Association. Attorney Lavin is a frequent lecturer for various professional groups on legal issues affecting seniors including the Warren County Alzheimer’s Association, the Ohio Parkinson’s Association, The Dayton Chapter of the Ohio Tax Society, and the Wright-Patterson AFB Retiree Support Squadron. Attorney Lavin has also taught Medicaid to attorneys and other professionals for the National Business Institute, and co-authored 101 Questions about Living Estate Planning and Living Trusts.

Kyle Priest

Elder Law Attorney

Kyle Priest grew up in Columbus where he lived with his parents as well as his grandmother. From an early age, Kyle learned first-hand through family experiences that planning for the future and whatever life throws at you is an important step, especially for the elderly population. Kyle left Columbus to go to Bemidji State University in Minnesota where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. When it came time to decide the next step, he decided to return home and attend Capital University Law School, where he was a member of Capital’s Law Review and spent his last two years as an intern with the State of Ohio Department of Public Safety. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Capital University Law School in 2021, he has devoted his time to the practice of Elder Law, where he strives to ensure that your estate plan is one that fits your needs.

TEAM MEMBERS

Wesley Hensley, CES

Director of Operations
Public Relations

Wes is a Certified Estate and Trust Specialist and one of our most seasoned staff members. As Operations Manager for the firm he supervises our legal support team and manages the day to day operations. He also oversees Public Relations for the firm, which includes marketing, speaking engagements, events and social media. In addition, Wes is our Client Liaison and is in constant contact with various facilities and institutions, and is a member of professional clubs and organizations in the community.

Christine Lavin

Outreach Coordinator

Need assistance finding a senior-related facility or service? Christine has the answer. Her role as Outreach Coordinator is to introduce the Lavin Law Group to the community at every level. Christine meets with the staff and residents at care facilities across the area, gathers with community groups and networks with all other types of senior-related organizations. She represents our firm and our unique services to local senior organizations and regional and national meetings of attorneys from all over the U.S. Christine is also a Board Member for several different senior-care related networking/marketing groups, including Cin-Day Seniors and the Butler County Hospital Extended Care Council (BCHECC).

Sherry Gatrell

Trust Manager

Don’t let her title fool you, Sherry is truly the “utility player” of the office. With experience in Medicaid, wills, trusts, veteran’s benefits planning, and estate administration, Sherry is an extremely valuable resource who provides input in almost every area of the firm’s practice.

Rachel West

Trust Paralegal

Rachel West has been working in the legal field as a Paralegal since obtaining her Certificate in 2009, and despite her full time employment she found time to continue her education and received her Lexis Nexis Paralegal Certificate of Mastery in 2011. After growing up in a military family she settled in Lebanon to raise her family, and can be seen around town keeping stats at her boy’s baseball games, four wheeling, or walking the dog. She is a critical member of our Trust department, and her primary responsibility is to assist the team with the assembly and preparation of Trusts and all related documents. She prides herself on her organization skills and attention to detail.

Christie Doss

Case Manager

Christie is a Medicaid specialist with over thirteen years of experience with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. Her experience in assisting families with the Medicaid application process for the state has given her a unique inside perspective that is invaluable to our clients. Her knowledge helps to ease the stress of applying for government benefits. She has sweet and caring disposition but is not afraid of a motorcycle ride on a sunny afternoon.

Michelle Deatherage

Office Coordinator

Michelle is likely your first point of contact at Lavin Law Group, either by phone or in the Lebanon office. While her main focus is client interactions, scheduling, and correspondence, she also excels at organization, managing client files, seminars and outgoing documents. Michelle enjoys boating on the lake with friends and family, traveling, or hanging out with her four dogs.

Kathy Watterson

Legal Assistant

Kathy realized just how important elder care and estate planning are after going through crisis planning for her mother. This experience deepened her desire to help other families in similar situations, which ultimately led her here to the firm. She initially joined the team to assist with the daily responsibilities of the office, but her attention to detail and ability to learn quickly has allowed her to make a positive impact beyond her original position. She has now taken on the role of assisting clients with their legal documents and deeds. She is compassionate, friendly and eager to help our clients in any way she can!  

Ann West

Legal Drafting

Ann is the newest member of our team, and she is also new to Ohio! A native of Washington DC, Ann spent most of her life in California before landing in Dayton in the summer of 2023, with her husband Brian to be closer to family. She works with LLG attorneys to draft and manage many of our documents delivered, including deeds, trust, and ancillary documents. Writing, language, illustration, drawing, quick sketch, and graphic design are a few of Ann’s many skills.

Jennifer Morningstar

Case Manager

jennifer-morningstar-jpgWith more than fifteen years of assisting families with the Medicaid process, she is one of the best in the state. She prides herself on knowing every aspect of a client’s file and her organizational skills are mind-boggling. Jennifer’s ability to take a client’s crisis and make it a smooth transition for a family makes her extremely popular with the clients. Although she keeps most of her thoughts to herself, her quick wit keeps the rest of the staff on their toes.

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