Heban, Murphree & Lewandowski combines over 100 years of collective expertise in probate, estate planning, and litigation. Founded in 2010, the firm serves clients throughout northwest Ohio from Rossford, handling probate administration, estate litigation, wills and trusts, and inheritance disputes. Licensed in both Ohio and Michigan.
Probate in Erie County
Probate Court Record
Erie County Probate Court
Erie County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Office
323 Columbus Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Erie County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Erie County? →Settling an estate in Erie County →
Trust Administration Firms Serving Erie County
Lonz Law Office has provided the Norwalk community with personalized legal representation in estate planning, probate, trust administration, and elder law. The firm handles Medicaid planning, asset preservation, and business law matters throughout Huron County.
Mockensturm, Ltd. is a team of attorneys and CPAs providing business- and tax-related legal services throughout the Toledo area and northern Ohio. Founded in 1999 by Mark Mockensturm, the firm brings combined legal and accounting expertise to estate planning, probate, trusts, and tax matters.
Diller & Rice serves Northwest Ohio with estate planning, probate, tax planning, family business succession planning, asset protection, and elder law including Medicaid and VA eligibility. The firm covers Van Wert, Mercer, Paulding, Defiance, Allen, Auglaize, and surrounding counties.
Eastman & Smith is among the oldest companies in Toledo and one of the oldest law firms in Ohio, founded in 1844. Their Estate Planning, Trust and Probate attorneys provide estate planning, charitable planned giving, probate administration, trust administration, and business succession planning services.
Middleton Law Offices has served families in northwestern Ohio from Bowling Green for over 100 years. Three generations of Middleton attorneys have practiced at the firm. The firm focuses on estate planning, probate avoidance, elder law, and residential and commercial real estate, serving Wood, Henry, Lucas, and Hancock counties.
All 20 Ohio trust administration firms serving Erie 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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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.
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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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Ohio happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeORC § 5801.01 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysR.C. §§ 5808.13, 5810.05Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In Ohio, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Ohio Rev. Code §§ 5807.08, 5807.09; Ohio Rev. Code § 5801.04(B)(7); Ohio Civ.R. 73.24Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
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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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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?
Ohio requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Ohio Rev. Code § 5747.02Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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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.
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