Matthew D. Scott
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Biography
Matt Scott founded MDSLaw in California in 2011, relocating to Marietta, Ohio in 2020. He was admitted to practice in Ohio in 2022, West Virginia in 2024, and Utah in 2026. A graduate of University of the Pacific — McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, he spent half of law school assisting seniors through the on‑campus pro bono Elder Law & Health Clinic. Since opening MDSLaw, Matt and his team have focused exclusively on helping families and business owners plan for the future, preparing more than 2,500 estate plans—ranging from simple to highly complex—for clients across California.
Matt delivers practical, high‑quality legal services in close collaboration with a trusted network of financial advisers, accountants, bankers, and real estate professionals. His work emphasizes clear, actionable planning that accounts for both legal and financial consequences. From 2017–2022 Matt held FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses and maintained life, accident, health, annuity, and long‑term care licenses in multiple states. That financial background deepens his understanding of the monetary implications of legal choices and informs his focused practice across five related areas of law.
Before law school, Matt earned a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University. He has performed internationally in a dozen languages, including an appearance at Carnegie Hall, and has released two solo albums on his own label.
Matt prefers to assist clients in resolving their legal problems pragmatically and outside of court. To that end, he has completed over 40 hours of dispute resolution training and firmly believes that mediation works better than trials.
Matt loves the wilderness of Southeastern Ohio and gets outside as often as possible. He has competed in various sporting events, including American Ninja Warrior in 2020. He and his family love road trips, Waverunners, and hunting for the best ice cream shops.
Practice Areas
- Estate Planning
- Business Formation and Succession Planning
- Ohio and West Virginia Probate And Trust Administration
- Long-Term Care And Medicaid Planning
- Elder Law and Incapacity Planning
Education
- McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California
- J.D.
- Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- B.M. (Bachelor of Music) with emphasis in Vocal Performance (operatic singing)
Bar Admission
- California, 2011
- Ohio, 2022
- West Virginia, 2024
Honors
- Best Probate Lawyers in Elk Grove – Expertise.com
- Top Three Estate Planning Lawyers Elk Grove – Threebestrated.com
- Lead Counsel Rated Attorney
- WealthCounsel Member
- Five Star Investment Professional
Classes & Seminars
- “Seniors In The Know”, Lyon Realty, 2014 to 2017
- “Plan Your Future Now”, Assisted Living Facilities, 2016 to Present
- The Golden State Report, KTKZ FM 105.5 – The Money Station, 2016 to 2022
- “Nuts and Bolts: Medicaid Planning in 3 Layers” – O’Neill Center, 2024
- “Retirement Planning for Business Owners”, Webinar (HalfMoon Education), 2024w
Languages
- English
- Spanish