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 →

Trust Administration 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 trust administration 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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Free

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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