Probate in Brown County runs through the Probate Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Brown County, settling their estate runs through the Probate Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Brown County
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Accepted paymentCash, Money order, Credit card. Cash in person only; credit card by phone (937-378-6549) with 3% service fee; money order in person or by mail. Personal checks are NOT accepted.
Verified July 5, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Brown County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 510 E. State St., Suite 1, Georgetown. Brown County is one of 8 Ohio counties where probate filings are still paper-only; most probate courts in the state accept electronic filing.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Ohio intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Ohio estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 6 monthsORC § 2117.06 (eff. 4-3-2023, SB 202, 134th GA)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Brown County, Ohio comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Probate Court at 510 E. State St., Suite 1, Georgetown.
Local procedures at this court that affect cost: Court accepts cash, money order, or credit card (3% fee applies). Personal checks are NOT accepted. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
Ohio charges $200ORC § 2101.16 (as amended by HB 96, 136th GA, eff. 9/30/2025)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Ohio are negotiated, typically 1.8%ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in Ohio. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%ORC §§ 2109.04, 2109.09Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Ohio typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate cases in Brown County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Probate Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Brown County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
When a deadline falls on a legal holiday or when clerk's office closes early, the document is due the following business day.
SourceDress code: No shorts, sleeveless tops, flip-flops, or revealing clothing permitted in hearings.
Before You Go
Cash, Money order, Credit card. Cash in person only; credit card by phone (937-378-6549) with 3% service fee; money order in person or by mail. Personal checks are NOT accepted.
To file at the Probate Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Brown County are recorded with the County Recorder at 800 Mt. Orab Pike, Suite 151, Georgetown, OH 45121. Phone: 937-378-6478. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $34 for the first 2 pages plus $8 for each page beyond 2.
Brown County accepts electronic recording through Corporation Service Company (CSC), ePN, Indecomm Global Services, Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Brown County
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 2 pages) | $34 |
| Each page beyond 2 | $8 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
ORC 317.32(A)(1); ORC 317.36(A)
Verified September 8, 2026 · Source
Ohio uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Brown County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Ohio are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.8%ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Brown County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Probate Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmMilford, OH
Serves Clermont County from Main Street in Milford, filing in the Clermont County Probate Court in Batavia. Handles probate administration — the court process of transferring a decedent’s property — along with guardianship and adoption matters that arise when a family member dies. In the Milford community since 1977.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipBusiness LawReal Estate
FirmCincinnati, OH
Favret Law is a boutique firm in Cincinnati's Hyde Park neighborhood that focuses exclusively on wills, trusts, estate planning, and probate. Bruce Favret is one of fewer than 160 attorneys in Ohio certified as a specialist in wills, trusts, and probate by the OSBA. The father-daughter team is licensed in both Ohio and Kentucky.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmWest Chester, OH
Rosenbauer Law Office is an estate planning firm in West Chester serving the greater Cincinnati area. Founded in 2012 by Nicholas Rosenbauer, the firm focuses exclusively on estate planning, trust administration, and probate with a personalized, family-first approach.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmCincinnati, OH
Wood + Lamping's Trusts, Estates and Wealth Transfer Practice represents clients in all aspects of estate planning, probate, and estate tax law. Over 90 years in Cincinnati; Tier 1 in 8 practice areas (2025 Best Law Firms).
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
Solo PracticeHillsboro, OH
Schroeder Law Group serves Highland County and surrounding southern Ohio communities from Hillsboro. Attorney James Schroeder handles estate planning, probate, real estate, business law, and nonprofit formation. Licensed in Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
FirmAkron, OH
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness SuccessionCharitable Planning
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Ohio statutes and official state code. How we research.
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Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Step-by-step tools for families in Brown County, Ohio.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
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