Serves Franklin and Delaware county families from the Rivers Edge office on Columbus’s northwest side, filing in the Franklin County Probate Court. The practice is limited to estate planning, probate, and estate taxation rather than general litigation. Russell Kessler is an OSBA certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Free initial consultation.
Probate in Licking County
Probate Court Record
Licking County Probate Court
Licking County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Licking County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Licking County? →Settling an estate in Licking County →
Tax Planning Firms Serving Licking County
Serves families across central Ohio from its Columbus office on Goodale Boulevard. The Family Wealth & Estate Planning group handles wills, trusts, and probate administration, and represents beneficiaries, creditors, and fiduciaries in contested estate matters. Founded 1967.
The Cleveland-based Private Wealth Services group serves clients across Ohio. It handles estate settlement, trust administration, and fiduciary services, along with asset protection, charitable planning, and succession planning for closely held companies. Chambers HNW ranked.
Isaac Wiles has been serving Columbus since 1936. Their Estate Planning, Trust & Probate practice group handles elder law and estate administration, with attorneys involved in nearly every precedent-setting case in Ohio relating to elder law and Medicaid eligibility. AV Preeminent rated; 15 attorneys named Best Lawyers in America 2025.
The Columbus-based Probate, Trusts + Estates group handles probate and trust administration, including estate filings, fiduciary tax returns, and beneficiary distribution. Its attorneys litigate will contests, trust-interpretation disputes, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, and have administered estates exceeding $70 million. Chambers USA 2025 ranked.
Serves central Ohio from its Columbus office, one of more than a dozen firm locations. The Trusts & Estates group handles estate and trust administration, probate representation, and fiduciary representation for both corporate and individual fiduciaries, and litigates estate, trust, beneficiary, and guardianship disputes. Formerly Bricker Graydon LLP.
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.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
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.
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.
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 Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Ohio levies no estate or inheritance taxNo 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; only the federal estate tax applies above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
What Taxes Apply to My Inheritance?
Ohio imposes no inheritance or estate taxNo 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; probate assets arrive when the estate closes, 6 months to 9 months for a simple estate.
How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?
Inherited assets in Ohio take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces ordinary income tax at the state's regular ratesR.C. § 5747.02 (rate schedule)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
When Do I Have to Withdraw an Inherited IRA?
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
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.
