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 →

Probate 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 probate 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.

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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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