I've been practicing law since November 1, 1983. Upon finishing law school at the University of Akron, I opened two offices in Portage County, Ohio. In 1984, I moved to Lancaster, Ohio, in Fairfield County, and worked as a branch office manager for a Columbus firm until 2005. In September 2005, I went back out on my own and intend to remain on my own. Although the Law Office of Lee A Thompson is a general practice firm, my primary emphasis has been and remains divorce, custody, family law, social security, workers' compensation, and estates.
In November 2022, I returned to my roots in Mantua, Ohio, to serve the folks of Portage County again but still maintain a presence in Fairfield County. My areas of practice remain the same, but I've changed my free structure to provide mostly flat services and more limited-scope representation. More info can be found on my website,
Attorneys often get a bad rap from the public; we only care about ourselves. I give my clients 100% and always try to be honest with them and, really, with myself. I love what I do and always hope I maintain the professionalism my clients deserve and the profession needs.
Throughout my life, mainly through the influence of my parents, I've spent a great deal of time in the mountains, primarily hiking throughout the United States. Rock climbing was a passion, but at my age, it is not something I'm actively involved in now. I'm married to Dawn, and between us, we have four children: Krystal, Arianna, Alex, and Anna. We have two cats, Flossie & Charlie.
Lee A Thompson
Sometimes
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Chat withState: Ohio
Acquired: 1983
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5417 Mennonite Road, remote Lancaster, Ohio, Mantua, OH, 44255
111 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 24 reviews | Child Custody
Posted by Sharon | October 20, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
The Bulldog
Lee handled a custody case for me. I remember he was walking down the hall in the courthouse. Two other lawyers said, "Here comes the bulldog." I asked what that meant, and they said, "He's a bulldog in the courtroom! You want him on your side." I decided to get him to help my son and me. The cas...
Sharon, I'm just seeing this review now. Notifications did not take so long before. I love this. I'm going to adopt it as a nickname-would love to know the names of the two attorneys. I'm glad things worked out for you and your son, and I'm pleased I was able to be a part of it. It works best when I represent good people, and that is the case here. Best to you and your son. Lee "Bulldog" Thompson ;)
Posted by Wendy | August 18, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
He is great
I was in a 12 year long custody battle. Once I hired Lee, I finally got my son back. He is great and worth every penny. There was never a lapse in communication. Anytime I sent a email day or night, he always responded to me right away. I highly recommend.
Wendy, So very kind of you. It went on much too long, but the important thing is your son is in the best place possible now. I sincerely wish you and him nothing but the very best. Lee
Posted by Tammy | May 24, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Wonderful Attorney
Lee did a fantastic job of representing me in a custody case for my beloved daughter. He went above and beyond and is very caring and understanding!
Tammy, Thank you so much. I enjoyed working with you and getting to know your parents as well. All of you are quality people. I wish you peace and happiness in the future. Lee
Posted by Loretta Zornes | May 06, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
L Zornes
Mr. Thompson was very professional and always goes the extra mile to help his clients. I was a young mother of three small children going through a not so pleasant divorce,with sole custody when I needed Mr. Thompsons help. He worked with me until I could get the money together to retain his service...
Loretta, Please accept my sincere thanks for the kind review. I remember your case well(under a different last name at the time). The divorce and custody cases were tough ones but, what I remember most is going with you to municipal court at your request to attend the violation of a CPO by your former husband. I remember encouraging you to attend on your own to save money and rely on the prosecutor to handle it but I'm glad I did attend it with you. By surprise to me, the judge saw us in the courtroom and questions came up where he encouraged the other attorney to address us in court and it gave us an opportunity to add one important element to the case that I hope made a more satisfactory outcome for you and the children. I do appreciate your willingness to recommend me to others in the future and I have to close by stating I hope that any future contact between us will be for a matter more pleasant. My thanks again for the kind words and allowing me to represent you. Lee
Posted by Naomi | September 05, 2017 | Child Custody
Emancipation
He helped me with deciding on if I wanted to go through with emancipating or not. I have not gone completely through with it yet, we are just getting hints started. He has helped me with my paperwork and talked me though some of it. He is a very kind person and I highly recommended him to anyone who ...
Thanks Naomi. This is an extremely difficult one to respond to and needs clarification. I appreciate your kind words about recommending me to anyone regarding custody or family matters. We did communicate extensively about emancipation in Ohio and the automatic emancipation that can exist and the various articles, one being from the Ohio State Bar Association. After reading it, because I became interested, I did some research on the topic which resulted in a far too long post on my facebook age: https://www.facebook.com/LeeAThompsonAttorneyAtLaw/photos/a.234290593352098.52227.202631526518005/1422966601151152/?type=3&theater But as far as helping with paperwork, I don't feel I've gone that far. I gave you two or three options that are not really emancipation, but close in a sense, and the paperwork from the court website to give it a try. In our communications, you have shown a great deal of maturity and perhaps filing a petition to emancipate is something you could do but my first thought is it would be turned down leaving you do the court of appeals. Whatever you do decide, I wish you well.
"I would highly recommend Attorney Thompson. I review his answers regularly and have gained some very helpful information."
"I fully endorse Attorney Lee Thompson. Among the many attorneys who are profiled on the Avvo website, Attorney Thompson is one of the few attorneys who provide the most thorough information in a compassionate manner."
"I endorse Attorney Lee Thompson. He is involved not only on Avvo, but also with providing advice through the Ohio State Bar Association in the Solo, Small Firms and General Practice section. His counsel is always thoughtful and useful. He is an eminently qualified and experienced attorney. I would not hesitate to recommend Attorney Thompson to anyone seeking legal counsel."
"Lee is a highly respected attorney in a very difficult field of practice. He is fierce when representing his clients--always ensuring excellent results under the circumstances."
"I endorse this lawyer. Lee is the sort of lawyer who puts others first. He's detail oriented, he gives accurate analysis, and he’s a true professional."
"Lee is highly respected and he clearly possess a great deal of knowledge in many practice areas. His responses on AVVO are both insightful and reliable."
"I highly endorse Mr. Thomson. Truly exceptional and caring attorney who achieves great results in representing clients! I really want all people to contact him for help."
"I endorse this lawyer. He provides valuable and logical information and always has the client's best interests at heart."
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2024
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2023
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2022
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2021
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2020
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2020
Platinum Client Award, Martindale-Hubbell
2020
Top Lawyers, Columbus C.E.O. Magazine
2019
Top Lawyers, Columbus C.E.O. Magazine
2019
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2019
Platinum Client Award, Martindale-Hubbell®
2018
Top Lawyers, Columbus C.E.O. Magazine
2018
Silver Client Champion, Martindale-Hubbell
2018
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Silver Client Champion Award, Martindale-Hubbell
2017
Fellow, Ohio State Bar Foundation
2017
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Lead Counsel Rated-Divorce Law, Thomson Reuters
2016
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Lead Counsel Rated-Social Security Disability, Thomson Reuters
2016
Lead Counsel Rated-Family Law, Thomson Reuters
2016
Top Lawyers, Columbus C.E.O. Magazine
2015
Access to Justice Member, Ohio Legal Services(SEOLS)
2015
Top Lawyers, Columbus C.E.O. Magazine
2015
Client's Choice Award, Avvo
2015
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Certificate of Good Standing, Ohio Supreme Court
2014
Client's Choice, Avvo
2014
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2014
Top Lawyers, The Legal Intelligencer
2014
Legal Clinic Certificate Award, Fairfield County Bar Association
2013
30 year anniversary, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Top Lawyers in Ohio, The Legal Intelligencer
2013
Top Lawyers, The Legal Network
2012
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2010
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2005
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
2000
Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell
1993
Outstanding Service as an Attorney and Counselor at Law, Fairfield County Probate Court
1987
Boss of the Year, Fairfield County Bar Association
1983
Member, U.S. District Court-Northern District of Ohio
1980
Best Oralist, Moot Court -University of Akron Law School
1983 - Present
Attorney at Law, Law Office of Lee A Thompson
1979 - 1983
Law Clerk, Roger F. DiPaolo, Attorney at Law
2023 - Present
Portage County Bar AssociationMember
2017 - Present
Ohio State Bar FoundationFellow
2014 - Present
American Bar Association, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm DivisionMember
2013 - Present
Columbus Bar AssociationSolo, Small Firms, General Practice Section
2009 - Present
Pro Bono Clinic & Legal Aid – Civil Committee of Fairfield CountyMember
1984 - Present
U.S. District Court Ohio-Southern DistrictAttorney
1984 - Present
Columbus Bar AssociationMember
1984 - Present
Fairield County Bar AssociationDomestic Relations Committee
1983 - Present
Ohio State Bar Association, Family Law CommitteeMember
1983 - Present
U.S. District Court Ohio-Northern DistrictAttorney
1983 - Present
Ohio State Bar AssociationSolo, Small Firms, General Practice Section Member
2014 - 2016
American Bar AssociationMember
2014 - 2014
Ohio State Bar FoundationMember
2013 - 2014
Supreme Court of OhioMentor-Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program
2006 - 2014
Ohio State Bar AssociationMock Trial Judge
1989 - 1990
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fairfield CountyBoard of Directors
1986 - 2003
Ohio Trial Lawyers AssociationMember
1986 - 1986
Fairfield County Trial Lawyers AssociationPast Vice President
1985 - 2001
American Bar AssociationMember
1983 - 1984
Kent Civil Service CommissionCo-chair
1976 - 1978
Portage County Regional Planning CommissionFinance Committee
Affrimed
1983
JD - Juris Doctor
1975
BS - Bachelor of Science
2013
1996
Parenting Time
1989
Attorney on Call, guest host
1984
Domestic Relations
2012
2012
English
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
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What will happen upon mother’s death if she doesn’t amend will to give house to my sibling?
09 Oct 2019
How can my ex enroll our child into a private school after we agreed in our divorce decree on a public school?
29 Aug 2019
Car accidents
11 Nov 2017
Legal separation in Ohio
30 Dec 2015
Termination of Child Support in Ohio
12 Sep 2013