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 →

Estate Law 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

Serves Union County and central Ohio from Marysville, most active in Union, Delaware, Champaign, Madison, and Logan counties. Handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, asset protection, and probate and trust administration, with added focus on farm and agribusiness estate planning and business succession. Established 1982.

Since 1982Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateAsset ProtectionBusiness Succession

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

Serves Northeast Ohio from offices in Akron, Canton, and Cleveland. The Trusts & Estates group guides executors and trustees through estate and trust administration and handles contested matters including will and trust disputes, fiduciary litigation, and probate litigation, alongside business succession planning. Founded 1913.

Since 1913Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness SuccessionCharitable Planning

All 25 Ohio estate law 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.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

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

Get Started
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.

Get Started
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.

Get Started
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.

Get Started
Free

Pour-Over Will

In Ohio, a pour-over will is signed before 2ORC § 2107.03Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.

Get Started
Free

Transfer on Death Deed

In Ohio, a transfer on death designation affidavit is signed before a notaryORC 5302.22 to 5302.24Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathORC 5302.22 to 5302.24Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. Ohio does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.

Get Started

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.

Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?

In Ohio, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.

Calculate Costs

Do I Need a Revocable Trust?

Probate in Ohio takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.

Get the Answer

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Ohio costs an estimated $26,234ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.

Calculate Costs

What Are the Estate Laws in My State?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Ohio costs an estimated $26,234ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees of typically 1.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate. Estates under $35,000codes.ohio.gov: ORC § 2113.03Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.

Check the Rules

How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Ohio: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysR.C. §§ 2115.02, 2115.06, 2113.69Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsR.C. §§ 2117.06, 2117.07, 2117.12, 2117.25Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

See the Steps

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.

Calculate Costs

All Ohio tools