Attorney
Area of Focus
Additional Services
Education
The University of Akron School of Law, JD, 1980
Kenyon College, BA, 1977, cum laude
Bar Admissions
Ohio Bar, 1980
Richard H. Harris, III Partner
Contact Information

- Area of Focus
- Education
The University of Akron School of Law, JD, 1980
Kenyon College, BA, 1977, cum laude
- Bar Admissions
Ohio Bar, 1980
Biography
Richard is Co-Chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group. He has significant experience counseling clients in the areas of business succession planning, trust and estate administration, estate planning and charitable gift planning. Richard’s practice includes Medicaid planning for the elderly and estate planning for individuals with disabilities. He has represented numerous fiduciaries in the probate administration of estates and in trust administration matters. Richard is an experienced preparer of estate and gift tax returns and fiduciary income tax returns. He has also been involved in probate litigation matters involving the construction of wills and/or trust documents, contested guardianships, and will contest actions.
Richard is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated through Martindale-Hubbell and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
- Biography
Richard is Co-Chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice Group. He has significant experience counseling clients in the areas of business succession planning, trust and estate administration, estate planning and charitable gift planning. Richard’s practice includes Medicaid planning for the elderly and estate planning for individuals with disabilities. He has represented numerous fiduciaries in the probate administration of estates and in trust administration matters. Richard is an experienced preparer of estate and gift tax returns and fiduciary income tax returns. He has also been involved in probate litigation matters involving the construction of wills and/or trust documents, contested guardianships, and will contest actions.
Richard is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated through Martindale-Hubbell and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
- Professional & Civic Activities
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Ohio State Bar Association, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section Council
- Akron Bar Association, Probate Section and Akron Tax and Estate Planning Council, Former President
- Greater Akron Musical Association (Akron Symphony), Advisory Trustee, Foundation Board
- Mary and Dr. George L. Demetros Charitable Trust, Trust Advisor
- Akron General Development Foundation, Former President
- Albrecht, Incorporated, Board of Directors
- Akron Art Museum, Member, Board of Directors and Treasurer
- Summa Health Care System, Home Health and Hospice , Professional Advisory Board Member
- Richard is a frequent author and speaker on estate planning and probate topics
- Articles & Presentations
- “Ohio Law Compliance - Signing Documents in the Midst of the Current Pandemic,” Co-Authors Lori R. Kilpeck and Julie E. Firestone, Estate, Succession Planning and Probate Administration, Brouse McDowell Client Alert (March 24, 2020)
- "Estate plans should be updated regularly," Cleveland Jewish News (March 15, 2019)
- "Client Alert: New Bright-Line Test For Ohio Income Tax Purposes," Brouse McDowell Client Advisory (November 2018)
- "2017 Tax Act: What you Need to Know and Do" Speaker, Brouse McDowell Seminar, Akron, Ohio (June 21, 2018)
- "New Ohio Asset Protection Statute," MD News (May/June 2013)
- "New Trust Law Can Shield Against Creditors," Speaker, Brouse McDowell's Asset Protection Seminar, Akron, Ohio (April 25, 2013)
- "Asset Protection - How a New Ohio Law Will Provide a Shield Against Creditors," Smart Business News (March 2013)
- "Ohio Legislative Update," Presenter, 2010 Ohio ACTEC Meeting (2010)
- “Key Provisions of the Ohio Trust Code from the Attorney’s Perspective,” Probate Law Journal of Ohio
- “The Ohio Trust Code: The Estate Planner’s Perspective,” Presenter, OSBA Pliskin Institute
- Distinctions
- Ohio Super Lawyers® through a peer- and achievement-based review conducted by the research team at Super Lawyers, a service of Thomson Reuters legal division — 2007-2023
- The Best Lawyers in America© through a peer-review survey as listed in the Trusts and Estates section — 2006-2023
- Named Best Lawyers® Trusts & Estates Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Akron — 2015 & 2017
- Top Rated Lawyer in General Practice, and Trusts and Estates by Cleveland’s Legal Leaders™ — 2013
- News
December 29, 202224 Brouse Attorneys Named 2023 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 18, 2022The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Recognizes 27 Brouse Attorneys in 32 Practice Areas and 5 Attorneys as "Ones to Watch"
December 30, 202130 Brouse Attorneys Named 2022 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 19, 2021The Best Lawyers in America 2022 Recognizes 28 Brouse Attorneys in 32 Practice Areas and 6 Attorneys as "Ones to Watch"
December 09, 202022 Brouse Attorneys Named 2021 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 20, 2020The Best Lawyers in America 2021 Recognizes 28 Brouse Attorneys in 33 Practice Areas and 4 Attorneys as "Ones to Watch"
December 09, 201927 Brouse McDowell Attorneys named 2020 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 15, 2019Twenty-eight Brouse McDowell Attorneys Recognized in 33 Practice Areas to The Best Lawyers in America© 2020
April 09, 2019Brouse Recognizes Attorneys And Staff For Their Years Of Service
December 05, 201833 Brouse McDowell Attorneys named 2019 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 15, 201825 Brouse McDowell Attorneys Recognized in 19 Practice Areas to The Best Lawyers in America© 2019
May 23, 2018Brouse Recognizes Attorneys And Staff For Their Years Of Service
December 08, 201726 Brouse McDowell Attorneys named 2018 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 15, 201723 Brouse McDowell Attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America© 2018
December 04, 2014Brouse McDowell Announces 2015 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
August 25, 2014Brouse McDowell Attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America© 2015
August 15, 2013Brouse McDowell Announces 2014 Best Lawyers in America®
- Seminars & Events
April 25, 2013Asset Protection Seminar
- Client Advisories
March 24, 2020Estate Planning Alert: Ohio Law Compliance - Signing Documents in the Midst of the Current Pandemic
November 08, 2018Client Alert: New Bright-Line Test for Ohio Income Tax Purposes
April 26, 2017Estate Planning Client Alert
November 02, 2012It's Not Too Late! Some Year End Estate Planning Strategies to Consider
- Articles
March 15, 2019Estate plans should be updated regularly
June 16, 2017Have You Had Your Estate Plan Recently Revisited?
May 02, 2013New Ohio Asset Protection Statute
March 05, 2013Asset Protection