Attorney Profiles

Mr. Certo is past Chairman of the Criminal Law section of the Dayton Bar Association, having served in that capacity for two terms from 1991 - 1993 and 1995 - 1997. He has practiced criminal law for over 28 years and has handled hundreds of state and federal felony cases and countless misdemeanors. He has handled cases ranging from double homicides, jail breaks and criminal enterprises, to robberies, burglaries, rapes and other violent crimes. Many of these cases have been highly publicized cases in the Miami Valley. Mr. Certo was also an Acting Judge in the Dayton Municipal Court for 13 years. He has also served as Acting Prosecutor in the cities of Oakwood and Kettering. He currently serves as a Prosecutor for the City of Beavercreek and the City of Trotwood as a Special Prosecutor.

Probate litigation and probate of estates are now a majority of Mr. Certo's practice. He serves on the Dayton Bar Association Probate Law Committee and has been called upon by other attorneys to testify in court on Probate Law issues. In the field of Domestic Relations, Mr. Certo has handled over 1,500 cases including complex divorce litigation, military divorces, pension division, dissolution, custody, and virtually every issue in domestic relations law. He has also served as President and Vice-President of the Miami Valley Family Law Forum from 2000-2002. He was noted in the Dayton Business Journal as among the Best of the Bar in 2004 and by Ohio Law and Politics magazine as a Super Lawyer in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Mr. Certo is married and has two children. His hobbies include family activities, carpentry, and playing the piano. He has served the communities in which he has lived by volunteer work in fire department and ambulance duty, the boy scouts, and children's services. He currently serves as a Board member of Rebuilding Together-Dayton (a charitable organization)  and the Dayton Art Institute Associate Board.