Michael L. Laribee

Michael Laribee is a lifelong resident of Medina, Ohio and is the third generation in the Laribee family to practice law. He follows in the path of his grandfather, Henry Laribee, who was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1936. His father Richard Laribee and his uncle Ray Laribee joined the family law firm in 1969 and 1967 respectively.  

Michael is engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on probate law, civil litigation, estate planning, real estate transactions, business matters, contracts, and real property.

Michael is committed to fostering deep and long-standing relationships with his clients. He works with individuals, families, business entities, banks, government agencies, and nonprofit corporations in connection with a broad range of objectives. His goal is to achieve a positive resolution for his clients in the most cost effective manner.

He represents fiduciaries, beneficiaries, creditors and other interested parties in estates, trusts and guardianship matter. In the estate administration process, he efficiently navigates the probate process to seek the orderly release of assets to a decedent’s heirs. He assists fiduciaries in connection with the management and distribution of property and the settlement of claims and tax liabilities. When there are disputes, he will aggressively defend the client in the fulfillment of her fiduciary duty. In conjunction with his probate work, Michael provides guidance on estate and trust administration as well as asset protection. He regularly represents Medina families in adoption proceedings and negotiates federal and state adoption subsidies on their behalf.

His experience also includes formation of closely held corporations and businesses. He assists clients through a wide variety of business sales and asset purchase agreements. In the area of real estate, he is involved with the transfer of commercial and residential properties as well as the negotiation and drafting of leases on behalf of both commercial and residential clients.  He regularly prepares purchase agreements deeds, promissory notes, mortgages, land contracts, and leases.  Michael has extensive experience in enforcing the rights of commercial and residential property owners in the prosecution and defense of real estate foreclosures, receivership proceedings, evictions, land contract disputes, and other leasehold litigation.  Additionally, he routinely represents land owners and others in litigation involving partition actions, mechanic’s liens, and zoning issues. He is well versed in the formation of homeowner and condominium associations and represents local associations in Medina County.

Michael has extensive experience in civil litigation, whether involving consumer or commercial claims, and has participated in a wide variety of arbitration and mediation procedures in an effort to efficiently resolve disputes. He also engages in appellate practice, successfully arguing cases before the Ohio Supreme Court. 

Outside of the firm, Michael is an Acting Judge for the Medina Municipal Court and has served in that capacity since 2006. He is active on several boards and committees for private companies and non-profit organizations. He serves as a Director of the A.I. Root Company, a positon he has held since 2002.  Michael also serves as a member of the Medina City Uptown Park Committee and the Medina County Juvenile Drug Court.  

Michael is a member of Leadership Medina County, graduating with the “Spirited Class of 2000.”  He served as a Trustee for several years and ultimately served as President of the Board.  He holds the position of Assistant Secretary of Chippewa Lake Properties, Inc.  

Michael is a member of Medina County Bar Association.  He is a member of the Probate Law Committee. He has served as Chairman of the Medina County Certified Grievance Committee and as a member of the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee.

He is a prior member of the Medina County Republican Party Executive Committee.  Michael also served on the board for Alternative Paths, a non-profit behavioral healthcare agency in Medina County, and is a graduate of the Medina County Citizen Police Academy administered by the Medina County Sheriff’s Department. 

Education

J.D., Cleveland Marshall College of Law - 1996

B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University – 1992 graduating Cum Laude

Bar Admissions

Ohio Supreme Court

Areas of Practice

Estates, Probate and Trust Administration

Real Estate

Contracts 

Estate Planning, Asset Protection, and Elder Law  

Civil Litigation

Business/Corporate  

Appellate Practice

Probate matters

Awards:

Medina County Gazette Readers’ Best of the Best

Martindale Hubbell Peer Review – Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards 

Martindale Hubbell - America’s Most Honored Lawyers Honoree, Top 5%  

Cleveland Marshall College of Law Trial Advocacy Award   

Medina Jaycee’s Volunteer of the Year

Phi Beta Kappa Society