Bish, Butler & Thompson traces its roots to 1907 and serves clients throughout northwest Ohio, northeast Indiana, and south central Michigan. The firm offers estate planning and probate services from Bryan, the county seat of Williams County, with nearly 200 years of combined legal experience among staff.
Bryan is in Williams County.
Probate in Williams County
Probate Court Record
Williams County Probate Court
Williams County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
One Courthouse Square, 2nd Floor, Bryan, OH 43506
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Williams County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Williams County? →Settling an estate in Williams 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.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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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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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 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.
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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.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Ohio sets executor compensation by statute — about $15,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.0%ORC § 2113.35Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
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Do I Need Probate?
In Ohio, estates valued at $35,000codes.ohio.gov: ORC § 2113.03Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less qualify for the Release from Administrationcodes.ohio.gov: ORC § 2113.03Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, a court procedure short of full probate.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Ohio, creditors have 6 monthsORC § 2117.06 (eff. 4-3-2023, SB 202, 134th GA)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from the date of death to present claims; late claims are barred.
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Can I Self-File Probate?
In Ohio, informal probate is not availableORC §§ 2107.18, 2113.05 (probate court admits the will and issues letters; no registrar/clerk track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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