Jonathan Dever, Esq brings a breadth of knowledge to the table for his clients. As a respected litigator, entrepreneur, and an accomplished legislator, he brings more than 20 years of combined experience and perspective handling a vast array of matters, from complex debt restructuring cases, family law and family business matters, to representing various interests in negotiation and advocacy before various bodies. As a strong advocate of individual rights in the legislature, he is able to draw upon his deep understanding of the issues while maintaining a big picture perspective on the desired outcome.

Jonathan is the founding and Managing Member of The Dever Law Firm located in West Chester, Ohio. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati, his Master's Degree in Industrial Labor Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studied International Comparative Labor Relations at Adam Mischevich University, attended Oxford University St. Anne’s College, and received his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law where he received a Certificate of Concentration in Employment and Labor law and was a Member of the Law Review Staff.

While serving in his first term in the Ohio House of Representatives, he was appointed to serve as the Chairman of the Financial Institutions Housing and Urban Development Committee. As Chair, he is charged with overseeing the reform of all Ohio’s financial institutions’ laws, laying out an aggressive agenda of reorganizing and rewriting its foreclosure, lending, real estate, and banking statutes. He continues to serve in this capacity.

In the 131st General Assembly, Mr. Dever wrote and passed comprehensive foreclosure reform, helping families stay in their homes while improving the legal processes of expediting cases of vacancy and abandonment. He also authored a first-of-its-kind lender modification program known as the “D.O.L.L.A.R. Deed” wherein a homeowner who does not qualify for a loan modification may stay in their home as a renter. He has been an outspoken advocate for reforms in lending and housing issues, always finding balance between creditor and debtor rights. Indeed, his foreclosure reform omnibus legislation, HB 463, contained balanced, yet comprehensive solutions for debtors, creditors, and local governments. It is now serving as a model for other states.

Mr. Dever has been a strong voice of the disabled, authoring and shepherding the Ohio Able Act, establishing the first active program in the country to effectively give individuals with disabilities the power to save and invest for their future. He continues to advocate for changes in federal and state law as it relates to housing for the disabled in an ABLE world. In his law practice, Mr. Dever has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star by Law and Politics. He has also been recognized by Strathmore's Who's Who. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio, before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Southern District Court of Ohio. Mr. Dever’s areas of practice include general litigation, foreclosure law, housing litigation, consumer protection, loan workouts, debt restructuring, real estate litigation, debtor-creditor rights, and asset protection.

The Differences Between Medicare and Medicaid

Understanding the differences between Medicare and Medicaid is essential in planning for retirement and wealth transfer planning. While often used in tandem, Medicare and Medicaid are two separate and distinct programs that affect millions of Americans. Without knowing the differences, you may be cutting off an important resource for care when you need it.

 Medicare is an insurance program for Americans over the age of 65 or with certain disabilities. Individuals become eligible for Medicare from their time in the workforce. Because Medicare is an insurance program, benefits come with copays and deductibles. There are four Medicare parts. Medicare Part A involves inpatient care, short-term nursing home facilities, hospice, and some in-home services. Medicare Part B covers traditional medical expenses for outpatient treatment. Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is private insurance that provides benefits as an alternative to Part A and B. Finally, Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage.

 Medicaid, on the other hand, is not an insurance program, but rather a need-based welfare program. Medicaid covers individuals over the age of 65, the blind, and the disabled. Medicaid services covers long-term care including nursing home facilities and in-home care. Since Medicaid is need-based, eligibility is tied to income, age, and disability. Medicaid programs are administered by each state and each state has different eligibility guidelines. Each state is reimbursed in part by the federal government for these services as there are no co-pays or deductibles to pay for its recipients.

 While their names may be similar, Medicare and Medicaid share little in common other than their administration as government programs. Because of this, each program should be taken into consideration when developing your family wealth plan. You may not qualify for Medicaid coverage and your employer’s benefits may be wider than Medicare, but knowing what triggers each program is important in order to protect generational wealth.