Smith, Csilla E.

Biography

You are more than a client. Csilla is sensitive to more than your legal needs. She approaches your issues as an advocate and walks alongside those going through the process of administering a loved one’s estate. Csilla enjoys getting to know clients’ estate planning goals, and then advising clients regarding their specific and unique circumstances. Upon listening and hearing clients’ concerns, she advises and explains in detail all the options of revocable and irrevocable trusts and how asset protection trusts work. Csilla has experienced firsthand the unexpected loss of loved ones, intestate estate administration, long-term care needs, and lack of estate planning. She has assisted clients in establishing trusts in line with clients’ goals and guided trustees in trust administration.

Csilla knows and has managed all sizes of probate administration estates in over 20 Ohio counties. Her experience includes real estate transactions, real estate agent and real estate broker law, customer service and quality assurance manager, member of a core management team, familiarity with in-home non-medical care giving, and public speaking.

Away from the office, Csilla enjoys rooting for OSU football, mentoring young adults, leading women’s groups, mission trips, hiking, dogs, travel, and exploring new places. Csilla is married and has lived in Broadview Heights since 1994 and has four adult children and two grandchildren.

Csilla actively handles:

• Estate Planning
• Powers of Attorney
• Estate Administration
• Asset Protection Planning
• Guardianships and Guardian Administration
• Trust creation including Revocable, Irrevocable, and Asset Protection Trusts
• Trust Administration
• Medicaid (or Long-Term Care) Planning and Medicaid Qualification

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to the Ohio Bar (1988)

Education

• Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio  J.D. – 1987
• The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
  • Bachelor of Arts – German – 1984
  • Bachelor of Science – International Business Administration – 1984
  • Four-year Varsity Scholar Athlete – Fencing
  • Language – Hungarian

Professional Associations

• Ohio State Bar Association
  • Estate Planning, Trust, & Probate Section
  • Elder and Special Needs Section
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
• BNI member of Independence Chapter
• Toastmasters International
  • Distinguished Toastmaster – 2021

License

•  Life and Health Insurance Agent – Ohio 1999-present

Pro Bono/ Leadership Activities

• Independently Speaking Toastmasters Club 2017 to present
  • Club President 2021-2023
  •  Club Secretary 2017-2018, 2025-2026
  •  Club Treasurer 2018-2020
  •  VP of Membership 2023-2025
• Toastmasters Area Director and Club Coach 2019-2020
• Recovering Our Warrior’s Heart 2024-2026 – Leading women to discover their true selves