Charles M. Elsea - a Lancaster, Ohio (OH) Trust, Estate, and Probate Litigation Lawyer

Lancaster Trust, Estate, and Probate Litigation Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Trust, Estate, and Probate Litigation
Estate and Probate Administration
Trusts
Institutional and Professional Fiduciaries
Closely-held Business Litigation
Real Property Litigation
Appellate Practice
Agriculture
Mediation

Attorney Information

Overview

Charles graduated from Concordia University Chicago in 2006, magna cum laude, with a double major in history and political science. In 2009, he earned his juris doctorate from the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University, and he was admitted to practice law in Ohio the same year. While at Ohio State, Charles served as a managing editor of the Ohio State Law Journal.

Charles focuses his practice on litigating disputes involving probate and trust matters, fiduciary issues, and contentious estates, in addition to general civil litigation matters. He also advises clients handling noncontentious probate and trust administration. Having briefed and argued appeals ranging from administrative appeals at governmental agencies to the Ohio Supreme Court, Charles is also a skilled appellate advocate for his clients.

Charles is a member of the Fairfield County Port Authority and the Board of Park Commissioners for the City of Lancaster. He is a past-president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield County and previously served as a member of the Lancaster City Schools Board of Education Policy Committee. For five years, Charles served as the legal advisor to the Lancaster High School Mock Trial Team. Charles resides in Lancaster with his wife, Rachel, and their children.

Education

Legal Education
- The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, Columbus, Ohio, 2009
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- Concordia University Chicago, 2006
  B.A.
  Major: Political Science & History

Current Employment Position(s)

```
Partner
```

Classes and Seminars

Should Attorneys “Like” #SocialMedia? Issues in Professionalism and Ethics in the Social Media Age, 2014, Fairfield County Bar Association, 2014
Basics of Labor Law, Fairfield County Bar Association, 2010
2018 Ethics and Professionalism Review, Fairfield County Bar Association, 2018
Trust, Estate, and Probate Litigation, Central Ohio Estate Planning Council, 2019

Bar Admissions

Ohio, 2009
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2010
U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio, 2015
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2016
United States Supreme Court, 2020

Other Affiliations

Fairfield County Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Columbus Bar Association

Be the first to write a review!

There are currently no reviews for Charles M. Elsea. Be the first to share your experience.

Write a Review

Contact

Lancaster, OH

109 North Broad Street
Suite 200
P. O. Box 130
Lancaster, OH 43130

Directions

Phone: 740-654-4141

Fax: 740-654-2521

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.stebelton.com

Hours: 8:30 - 5:30 Weekdays, Saturday Mornings, and After-Hours or Off-Site by Appointment

Credit Cards Accepted

Disclaimer

Your Profile? Update Now

When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.

How do I choose a lawyer?

Consider the following:

Comfort Level – Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
Credentials – How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
Cost – How are the lawyer's fees structured — hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
City – Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?

Not sure what questions to ask a lawyer?

Here are a few to get you started:

How long have you been in practice?
How many cases like mine have you handled?
How often do you settle cases out of court?
What are your fees and costs?
What are the next steps?

Want to check lawyer discipline?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:

Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.

Charles M. Elsea - Lancaster, OH