Probate in Franklin County

Probate Court Record

Franklin County Probate Court

Franklin County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

373 South High Street, 22nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Franklin County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Franklin County? →Settling an estate in Franklin County →

Guardianship Firms Serving Franklin County

The largest firm in Licking County, serving Newark and central and southeastern Ohio. It handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, special needs trusts, and business succession, along with probate and trust administration. Over 150 combined years of experience.

Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTax Planning+2

Sitterley Law provides estate planning and elder law services from the historic Mithoff Building in downtown Lancaster. Jennifer Sitterley is one of approximately 38 Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Ohio (CELA) and the only one in Fairfield County. Also OSBA Certified Specialist in Elder Law.

Solo PracticeSince 2019Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawGuardianship+3

All 4 Ohio guardianship firms serving Franklin County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Ohio

Free Ohio forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Ohio and download the PDF.

Free

Last Will and Testament

In Ohio, a will is signed before 2ORC § 2107.03Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and no self-proving affidavit is availableORC § 2107.03Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Free

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Ohio allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2ORC § 1337.17Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.

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Free

Financial Power of Attorney

Ohio treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultORC §§ 1337.21–1337.64Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementORC §§ 1337.21–1337.64Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.

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$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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All Ohio forms

Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Ohio

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Ohio: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Ohio.

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

In Ohio, four years at a public university cost about $97,692NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 7% below the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo state estate or inheritance tax; estate tax repealed for deaths on/after Jan 1, 2013 (Ohio Rev. Code § 5731.02 levies only on persons "dying on or after July 1, 1968, and before January 1, 2013")Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

Calculate the Amount

What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?

An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Ohio runs $2,940Estimate: 10 hours at $294, Clio's Ohio Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,410Estimate: 15 hours at $294, Clio's Ohio Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $942Estimate: 3 hours at $314, Clio's Ohio Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,884Estimate: 6 hours at $314, Clio's Ohio Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.

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Who Inherits Without a Will?

Without a will in Ohio, a surviving spouse takes the entire estateORC § 2105.06Verified Oct 21, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationORC §§ 2105.11 to 2105.13Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.

Check the Rules

All Ohio tools