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Ohio follows the "reasonable compensation" standard for trusteesOhio Rev. Code §§ 5807.08, 5807.09; Ohio Rev. Code § 5801.04(B)(7); Sup. R. 74Verified Jun 1, 2026. Courts decide what's reasonable on a case-by-case basis, looking at trust size, complexity, and the trustee's actual work. Family-member trustees often waive the fee entirely. Professional trustees (banks, trust companies, attorneys) typically charge between 0.5% and 1.5% of trust assets per year, with corporate fiduciaries usually applying minimum annual fees. The Ohio trustee compensation calculator breaks it down by trust situation.
Trust administration in Ohio is typically faster than probate because trusts don't require court supervision. The main floor is the creditor claim period — 6 months in Ohio — during which the trustee can't safely make final distributions. Simple trusts often wrap up in 6-9 months; trusts that hold business interests, real property in multiple states, or that need to file estate tax returns can take longer. See the Ohio trustee checklist for the full process.
Estate planning attorneys in Ohio average $314 per hourClio Legal Trends Report 2025Verified Jan 1, 2025 for wills and estates work. Flat-fee packages run roughly $942–$1,884 for a simple individual will and $2,940–$4,410 for a basic revocable trust. Online and DIY services cost $30–$300 for the same documents — see the will cost calculator for a side-by-side comparison.
Ohio allows estates under $35,000 to use a simplified Release from Administration procedure, which is a form rather than a court case and typically doesn't require an attorney. For larger estates, formal probate is involved enough that retaining counsel is usually practical — the procedural work is what they're there for. Use the Ohio probate calculator to estimate the costs.
In Ohio, the situations where retaining counsel is typically worth the cost are: blended families with children from prior relationships; ownership of a business, rental property, or significant investment assets; special-needs dependents who need a special-needs trust to preserve benefits; substantial property held in multiple states. If none of these describe your situation, the simpler online and DIY tools are often enough.
Search 4,004 estate law firms across 51 states.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
70 firms
The Bowlus Law Firm is a general practice law firm in downtown Fremont focusing on estate planning, elder law, wills and trusts, real estate, and business law. The firm serves Sandusky County and the surrounding northwest Ohio region.
Location
207 North Park AvenueFremont, OH 43420
Phone
(419) 332-8260
Service Area
4 counties
Bixler Moore focuses exclusively on estate planning, elder law, and closely related practice areas in Stark County. Edgar M. Moore is one of approximately 160 OSBA Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration. The firm serves Stark, Summit, Carroll, and Tuscarawas counties from offices in Canton and Louisville.
Location
4505 Stephen Circle NW, Suite 101Canton, OH 44718
Phone
(330) 491-2222
Blake, Bednar, Blake & Richardson has over 50 years of legal experience serving the Ohio Valley. The firm handles probate, tax and estate planning, real estate, and business litigation for clients in Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, and Carroll counties.
Location
4110 Sunset BoulevardSteubenville, OH 43952
Phone
(740) 264-1651
Established
1976
Brown, Bemiller, Murray & Haring provides legal representation to clients in Richland County and North Central Ohio in probate and estate planning, covering wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, guardianships, conservatorships, estate litigation, will contests, and federal estate tax preparation.
Location
99 Park Avenue WestMansfield, OH 44902
Phone
(419) 525-1611
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs has served Northeast Ohio since 1913. Their Trusts & Estates team creates customized strategies collaborating with accountants, bankers, financial planners, and insurance professionals to ensure an integrated approach to estate and charitable giving plans.
Location
3800 Embassy Parkway, Suite 300Akron, OH 44333
Phone
(330) 376-5300
Established
1913
Service Area
Statewide
Bricker Graydon Wyatt's Trusts & Estates Practice Group handles estate planning, asset protection, income and estate tax planning, probate avoidance, charitable planning, and business succession. Formerly Bricker Graydon LLP.
Location
100 South Third StreetColumbus, OH 43215
Phone
(614) 227-2300
Established
1944
Service Area
Statewide
Burkey, Burkey & Scher has served the Mahoning Valley for over 50 years, providing estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate administration services to clients in Warren, Youngstown, and throughout Trumbull County.
Location
200 Chestnut Avenue NEWarren, OH 44483
Phone
(330) 393-3200
Established
1966
Butler & Marshall has served the Tri-County area from Washington Court House since 1984. The firm handles wills, estates, trusts, probate, bankruptcy, family law, and real estate for clients across Fayette, Pickaway, Ross, Madison, and Clinton counties.
Location
106 West East StreetWashington Court House, OH 43160
Phone
(740) 335-4381
Established
1984
Service Area
5 counties
Calfee's estate planning attorneys assist clients in developing and implementing wills, trusts, and estate and succession plans. Ranked Band 1 in Ohio Private Wealth Law by Chambers HNW 2024. Selected for Best Law Firms 2025 rankings for Litigation - Trusts & Estates (Regional Tier 1 Cleveland).
Location
1405 East Sixth StreetCleveland, OH 44114
Phone
(216) 622-8200
Service Area
Statewide
Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP has provided legal excellence since 1967. Chambers USA praised CPM's Trusts & Estates practice for deep expertise in working with high-net-worth individuals, creditors, beneficiaries, and fiduciaries, with a reputation for handling complex estate litigation.
Location
950 Goodale Boulevard, Suite 200Columbus, OH 43212
Phone
(614) 228-6135
Established
1967