As a blind attorney, I bring a unique and deeply personal perspective to my work in helping individuals with disabilities and their families navigate a society that wasn’t designed with their needs in mind. Having lived these challenges firsthand, I am not only passionate about advocating for the rights of people with disabilities but also deeply empathetic to the struggles they face in accessing essential resources and support systems.
I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Psychology in May 2021, followed by earning my Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in May 2024. After passing the July 2024 Uniform Bar Examination with a score high enough to practice in any UBE jurisdiction, I was admitted to practice law in Ohio on November 12, 2024.
Throughout my own life, I've gained firsthand experience with programs like Medicaid waivers, Social Security, Individual Education Plans (IEPs), Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), and Developmental Disabilities Boards. This personal insight, combined with my legal training, empowers me to effectively assist clients with disabilities in overcoming barriers and securing the support they need to thrive.
I also have the privilege of working alongside my guide dog, Pepper, a compact black lab from Leader Dogs for the Blind. She’s committed to her work but knows how to relax with some popcorn, treats, and her favorite squeaky toy.
Kim Estess, Esq., is dually certified as a specialist in elder law by the National Elder Law Foundation and the Ohio State Bar Association and certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the OSBA.
Her practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, elder law, asset protection, Medicaid, special needs planning and guardianships.
"I firmly believe that providing outstanding service requires more than just excellent legal work — it also involves taking the time to establish a strong relationship with each client in order to truly understand their unique family situation and goals," she says.
Practice limited to persons needing help to prevent or solve problems relating to aging, disability, or special needs:
*Retirement & retirement housing planning.
*Nursing homes.
*Obtaining and paying for long-term care while maximizing quality of life.
*Medicaid.
*Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
*Medicare.
*Medigap & long-term care insurance.
*Wills.
*Living trusts & special needs trusts.
*Financial & health care powers of attorney.
*Living wills & end-of-life decision-making.
*Decision-making capacity.
*Guardianship.
*Elder abuse.
*Planning for child with disabilities turning 18.
*Planning for child with disabilities when parents no longer available.
*Ohio STABLE accounts.
*Personal injury settlements.
Statement on Practice by Attorney
My role is to prevent and solve the legal problems of older persons and persons with disabilities or special needs so as to maximize their independence and quality of life and to ensure that they receive any help or care they may need.
What I love about my practice is that it is intensely personal, a one-on-one relationship with my client and my client's family to maximize my client's independence and quality of life and to ensure that my client receives the help or care he or she needs. If you call my office, you talk with me and no one else.
My key accomplishment is meeting my client's needs. In addition, I chaired the Professionalism and Ethics Committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys during the drafting of both the First and the Second editions of the Aspirational Standards for the Practice of Elder Law and Special Needs Law.
I went to law school because I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. My practice has allowed me to do that in numerous areas of the law: long-term care, retirement planning, estate planning, special needs trusts, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, etc.
I am totally dedicated to meeting the needs of my clients. To do so, I in 1995 was certified as an Elder Law Attorney in the first class of 29 attorneys from across the country to be certified. I also became accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs, served as President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and chaired the Elder Law committees of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cincinnati Bar Association.
The biggest change in law during my 43 years as an attorney has been how complicated and specialized it has become. That is why I limit my practice to persons who need help to prevent or solve problems relating to aging, disability, or special needs and why I became certified by the Ohio State Bar Association and the National Elder Law Foundation to do so.
Brittany D. O'Diam, CELA, is a dually Certified Specialist in Elder Law by the OSBA and the National Elder Law Foundation, and she is also an OSBA Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law. Brittany concentrates her practice on estate planning, estate administration, guardianships, Medicaid, asset protection, special needs planning and elder law. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (Past-President, Ohio Chapter); ElderCounsel, LLC, a national network of elder law attorneys; WealthCounsel, LLC, a national organization of estate planning attorneys; Ohio State Bar Association (Vice Chair, Elder & Special Needs Law Section); Florida Bar Association, Dayton Bar Association (Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Committee; and Greene County Bar Association. Brittany also serves as an Ohio Department of Medicaid Stakeholder Liaison, the Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Disability Foundation, and a member of the Business Advisory Council for the Greene County Educational Services Center.
Brittany devotes much of her time to educating the public as well as professional advisors and service organizations about estate planning, as well as the options available to help the elderly and special needs population. She received her BS in Journalism cum laude from Ohio University, and her JD cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law. She is licensed to practice in both Ohio and Florida, and she lives in Beavercreek, Ohio with her husband and their two children.
About Port Legal
Port Legal was formed to provide highly professional, valuable, and skilled legal services to individuals, families, and businesses. Our focus areas include: real estate, probate, estate planning, Medicaid, and elder care. If you’re seeking guidance on issues in any of these areas of specialty, we have the knowledge and experience required to answer your questions.