Timothy Resor, EA, MFP, RP
OSBA Certified Paralegal
Tim is a Paralegal and an Enrolled Agent. When the Ohio State Bar Association began certifying
paralegals, Tim was of the charter members that passed their exam and earned the designation of "OSBA Certified Paralegal." He has also passed the Advanced Paralegal Competency Exam (P.A.C.E) earning the designation of RP®, Registered Paralegal. In his capacity as Paralegal, Tim assists the attorneys at the firm in estate and trust administration. He is currently finishing an advanced certification in debtor creditor law which will give him a designation of Debtor Creditor Law Specialist. In that capacity he will be able to also assist the attorneys in the debtor creditor law area as well.
Working in taxes began with Tim, as with many, through H & R Block. He worked for them on a seasonal part-time basis for over ten years in a number of positions, including Office Manager, Tax School Instructor, as well as a Tax Preparer. Tim then decided to go on his own and ran his own tax practice for over ten years, and then sold it to H & R Block, and began working more in the law firm area. In this area, he saw a need to become an enrolled agent. An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of practicing, which is, representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service. Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can practice before. In his capacity as enrolled agent, Tim has assisted in setting up non-profit organizations, and practices in the areas of Individual and Fiduciary income tax preparation and Federal and State Estate Tax preparation.
Along with his Associates degree in Paralegal Studies, summa cum laude, Tim also earned his Bachelors degree in Business Administration, summa cum laude, specializing in Financial Planning and his Masters degree, with honors, in Financial Planning.
Tim is a Trustee and Treasurer on the Helen Moss Cancer Research Foundation's board of trustees and the current President of the Enrolled Agents of Greater Cleveland, the local chapter of Ohio State Society of Enrolled Agents. Tim is also a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, National Association of Tax Professionals, Ohio State Bar Association, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Bar Association and the Cleveland Association of Paralegals.
Margaret Mendenahall, RN
Client Care: A Link to Services
When 91-year old Mrs. Nancy Smith began misplacing her pocketbook and car keys and had two fender benders in six months, it became apparent she could no longer care for herself. So her 60-year old son Jack faced a 300-mile commute in order to become the weekend caregiver with responsibility for her physical and emotional health as well as for her finances.
How does Jack arrive at the conclusion that his mother is no longer safe living alone? Or driving a car? What medical professionals should be involved? Who determines the level of care his mother needs? How are reputable services selected to provide care and then monitored? Can she afford them? How is Mrs. Smith included in these decisions? How can Jack be empowered to help?
Fortunately, after calling his mother's attorney, Jack does find someone who can assess and address the multiple issues relating to his mother's well being, a Client Care Manager. Margaret E. Mendenhall, a registered nurse who is on staff at the law firm where Mrs. Smith's lawyer practices, is an experienced professional in this field. Her responsibilities include conducting a comprehensive assessment to identify current and potential needs. Medical professionals, such as Mrs. Smith's physician, will be contacted to give advice and guidance. After speaking with Mrs. Smith and her son, Ms. Mendenhall will develop a plan that addresses their concerns. Jack's role is defined and empowered legally as his mother decides. Her daily activities may have changed because of illness or functional decline, but the objective of maximizing her quality of life has not and should not change.
The Client Care Manager's role concentrates on linking attorneys and their clients with a broad range of healthcare professionals and institutions as well as with caregivers and other service providers. Accordingly, this work takes place in multiple settings such as physicians' offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities and, of course, clients' homes. The Client Care Manager is employed under direct supervision of the client's attorney.
Without exception, the use of a Client Care Manager within the law firm setting has provided clients such as Mrs. Smith and her son with the assurance that medical and wellness needs are being addressed. The end result is a deepened client relationship that continually maximizes independence and dignity.
Sarah B. Harris
Sarah Harris provides paralegal services for Ziegler Metzger. With an undergraduate degree in Film and Television from UCLA, Sarah spent 10 years in the film business working with a writer/producer/director in development and production which took her on location to Vancouver and Toronto. Following a family move to Cleveland, Sarah focused on a career in the legal field, gaining a Post-Degree Certificate from Ursuline through their ABA-approved Legal Studies program. Sarah has spent the past six years in estate planning and probate with an emphasis on probate, trust administration and client contact. While meeting clients often at a particularly difficult time in their lives, Sarah appreciates helping clients transition after the loss of a loved one.
Sarah lives in Shaker Heights with her husband, Rem Harris, VP of Investments at JumpStart, and their two daughters, Katie, a senior in high school, who heads off to Miami University in the fall and Allie, a sophomore, who continues at Shaker Heights High School.
Sarah is a paralegal member of the OSBA, a notary and an original member of Shaker Heights CERT, a citizens' volunteer group trained to assist first responders.
