Estate Appointments
The Appointments Department is responsible for the opening of decedents' estates, the probate of wills, the appointment of estate fiduciaries, the opening of trusts, and the appointment of trustees. The department also makes an initial review of whether bond is required or an appraiser may need to be appointed. There are in excess of three thousand seven hundred (3,700) estates and one thousand (1,000) trusts pending at any given time. |
All filings leading up to and including the appointment of estate or trust fiduciaries must be made by personal appearance. The initial deposit to open a decedent's estate is a minimum of $125.00, however the Court recommends a deposit of $250.00, which is sufficient to cover the costs of most estates. There is no deposit for cases involving trusts as the court costs are determined by the types of filings and are paid at the time of filing. |
Payment must be made by cash, certified check, cashier's check, money order or attorney's check. Personal checks, credit and/or debit cards are NOT accepted by the Court. |
| Legal Practice in the Probate Court |
Legal practice in the Probate Court is restricted by law to attorneys who are licensed by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Due to the complexity of the law and desire to avoid costly errors, most individuals who have filings before the Court are represented by an attorney. Court employees are prohibited by statute from practicing law and cannot give legal advice. |
