Patricia J. Schraff

Attorney Patricia J. Schraff is a principal in Schraff Thomas Law in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, a firm providing legal services to clients with estate planning and administration needs, elder law concerns, guardianships, long term care and special needs planning and related litigation matters. With more than 40 years of legal experience, Ms. Schraff represents the needs and interests of clients throughout Lake County and the  greater Cleveland metropolitan region.

Ms. Schraff holds her certification as an Elder Law Attorney from the National Elder Law Foundation  and  is a Certified Elder Law Specialist by the Ohio State Bar Association Commission on Specialization for the Supreme Court of Ohio. Ms. Schraff developed the Geauga County Department on Aging legal services program supported by the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, and is a Licensed Independent Social Worker, integrating both skill sets in her  representation.

Drawing upon her  training and experience, Ms. Schraff delivers  counsel and support to clients across her region who seek to establish a lasting legacy for their heirs and loved ones, create a plan considering aging and special needs and assisting clients in accessing and planning with Medicaid and other benefit programs. She also represents clients her clients in protecting their rights and interests in disputed probate matters. 

Ms. Schraff received the Ruth A. Densmore Senior Advocate Award from the Lake County Council on Aging in 2017. She was also the recipient of the Katz Advocacy for the Elderly Award from the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, the Ford Award for Commitment to Quality of Life of Older Adults from the Long Term Care Ombudsman and the Jennifer B. Langston Community Service Award from the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cleveland among others.

A 1973 graduate of John Carroll University, Ms. Schraff earned her Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University in 1977. She then attended Cleveland State University's Marshall College of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor in 1980.

Ms. Schraff is a member of  the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Ohio State Bar Association's Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law  and Elder law Sections and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law Section.

She is a frequent speaker for continuing legal education programs and community education initiatives. Ms. Schraff is also a frequent writer and contributor to legal publications and aging community periodicals. Further, she volunteers her time and talents to local nonprofit organizations that seek to improve services, care and benefits for those addressing the challenges sometimes present aging and disability.