Dungan & LeFevre traces its origins to 1905 in downtown Troy and was formed in its current configuration through a 1991 merger. The full-service firm handles estate planning, probate and trust administration, elder law, and business succession from offices in Troy and Greenville, serving Miami and Darke counties.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Darke County, Ohio
How probate works in Darke County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Darke County Probate Court
Darke County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
300 Garst Avenue, Greenville, OH 45331
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedA person may handle his or her own case but may not represent others. The court provides no forms for self-represented filings and points law offices to the Supreme Court of Ohio standard forms; its estate information sheet explains administration.
Fax
1-937-547-1945
Departments
- Juvenile Court1-937-547-7350
About the court
- The court reports ongoing phone issues and asks callers whose call does not go through to email courtadmin@darkeprobatejuvenile.org.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Darke County
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 Darke County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 300 Garst Avenue, Greenville.
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. Creditors have 6 monthsR.C. §§ 2117.06, 2117.07, 2117.12, 2117.25Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the date of death.
What Probate Costs in Darke County
What probate costs in Darke 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 300 Garst Avenue, Greenville.
The Probate Court charges $200ORC § 2101.16 (as amended by HB 96, 136th GA, eff. 9/30/2025)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. 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%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source to 2.8%Modeled estimate under ORC § 2113.36 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Ohio sets executor compensation by statute — about $15,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.0%ORC § 2113.35Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members 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%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under 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.
How to File Probate at the Probate Court
Probate cases in Darke County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Juvenile Court.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
In Ohio, informal probate is not availableORC §§ 2107.18, 2113.05 (probate court admits the will and issues letters; no registrar/clerk track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Darke County Self-Filing Assessment.
What to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Probate Court: Certified copy of the death certificate (standard county Probate Court filing requirement); If there is a will: the original will plus a SEPARATE Application to Probate Will (Form 2.0) [R.C. 2107.11, 2107.18, 2107.19] — the will must be admitted before letters testamentary can issue (R.C. 2113.05), and Form 4.0 only offers the checkbox "Decedent's Will has been admitted to probate in this Court"; Application for Authority to Administer Estate (Form 4.0), with the names/addresses of the surviving spouse and next of kin and a statement of estate value (R.C. 2113.07)R.C. 2113.05/2113.06 (grant of letters); R.C. 2109.02, 2109.07 (acceptance & application for authority); R.C. 2113.07 (application contents); Ohio Civ.R. 73.2 (standard probate forms), 73.11 (application for letters of authority; notice)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Darke County
In Ohio a death is registered locally, and in Darke County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Darke County General Health District, Vital Statistics as well as by Ohio Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Darke County · Darke County General Health District, Vital Statistics
Hours
Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
300 Garst Avenue, Greenville, OH 45331
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Order online
Fax
1-937-548-9654
Local rule
- The office issues Darke County deaths and is closed Fridays.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byDarke County General Health District, Vital Statistics
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $24 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Darke County · Darke County Coroner
Phone
Office
504 South Broadway, Courthouse, Greenville, OH 45331
Website
Release of remains
1-937-548-2020 · Emergency or on-call investigator · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Darke County
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 Darke County are recorded with the County Recorder at 504 South Broadway Street, Greenville, OH 45331. Phone: 1-937-547-7390. 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.
Darke County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Darke County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
504 South Broadway Street, Greenville, OH 45331
Website
E-recording
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 2 pages) | $34 |
| Each page beyond 2 | $8 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
ORC 317.32(A)(1); ORC 317.36(A)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form · Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Darke County
Ohio uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Darke 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, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Darke 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.
Coolidge Wall has served the Dayton area since 1853 and has stayed true to its Dayton roots. Their estate planning attorneys have extensive experience with probate administration, post-mortem planning, and business succession.
Gudorf Law Group has served Ohio since 1992 with estate planning, elder law, probate, and trust administration. The firm includes two OSBA Board Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, a distinction held by fewer than 200 attorneys statewide.
Martin, Browne, Hull & Harper is one of the oldest continuously operating law firms in Ohio, founded in 1872. The probate and estate planning practice handles everything from simple wills to complex estate plans, including full estate administration and probate court representation. Offices in Springfield, Urbana, and Bellefontaine.
Roberson Law serves over 4,000 clients and is one of the premier estate planning firms in the Dayton area. Partners Nancy Roberson and Kristina Rainer are both OSBA Board Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, and members of the Ohio Chapter of NAELA.
StachlerHarmon Attorneys at Law has represented hundreds of clients in the Dayton area in probate and estate planning matters for over 25 years. The firm handles estate planning, wills, trusts, probate administration, probate litigation, and guardianships.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- ORC § 2101.16 (as amended by HB 96, 136th GA, eff. 9/30/2025)
- ORC § 2113.35
- ORC §§ 2107.18, 2113.05 (probate court admits the will and issues letters; no registrar/clerk track)
- R.C. §§ 2117.06, 2117.07, 2117.12, 2117.25
- R.C. 2113.05/2113.06 (grant of letters); R.C. 2109.02, 2109.07 (acceptance & application for authority); R.C. 2113.07 (application contents); Ohio Civ.R. 73.2 (standard probate forms), 73.11 (application for letters of authority; notice)
- ORC 317.32(A)(1); ORC 317.36(A)
- Darke County Probate Court, official page
- Darke County Recorder, official page
- Darke County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Ohio statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Ohio
Free tools for settling an estate in Ohio: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Ohio.
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.
See the Steps
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.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
In Ohio, informal probate is not availableORC §§ 2107.18, 2113.05 (probate court admits the will and issues letters; no registrar/clerk track)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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