Serves Franklin, Delaware, and surrounding central Ohio counties from Worthington, filing in the Franklin County Probate Court. Handles probate and estate administration for executors and administrators alongside guardianship, Medicaid planning, and special needs trusts. Richard F. Meyer is an OSBA certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Free 15-minute phone consultation.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Pickaway County, Ohio
How probate works in Pickaway County: the Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Pickaway County Probate Court
Pickaway County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
207 South Court Street, Circleville, OH 43113
Website
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe court links the Supreme Court of Ohio standard probate forms and publishes a plain-language estates page on full administration, release from administration and summary release. Deputy clerks do not give legal advice; they determine whether forms are appropriate for filing.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card, Debit card.The court accepts cash, money orders, credit and debit cards, and cashier's, fiduciary, attorney, title company and trust company checks. Personal checks are not accepted.
Fax
1-740-477-3852
Departments
- Probate Deputy Clerk1-740-474-3950 ext. 241
- Probate Deputy Clerk1-740-474-3950 ext. 242
- Probate Deputy Clerk1-740-474-3950 ext. 243
- Court Administrator1-740-474-3950 ext. 233
- Marriage License1-740-474-1524
- Juvenile Court1-740-474-3117
About the court
- The Probate Court is the Probate Division of the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas, in the Pickaway County Courthouse. It is closed on all major holidays, listed on the court's holiday schedule.
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Pickaway 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 Pickaway County, probate runs through the Probate Court at 207 South Court Street, Circleville.
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 Pickaway County
What probate costs in Pickaway 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 207 South Court Street, Circleville.
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 Pickaway County are filed at the Probate Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate Deputy Clerk, Probate Deputy Clerk, Probate Deputy Clerk, and Court Administrator.
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 Pickaway County Self-Filing Assessment.
Pickaway County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Fax filings are accepted as the effective filing under Local Rule 57.1; original wills and codicils cannot be filed by fax.
The filer keeps the signed source document and the fax cover sheet and produces them on request, and a fax sent without the required cover page information is not filed.
SourceWhat 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 Pickaway County
In Ohio a death is registered locally, and in Pickaway County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Pickaway County Public Health, Vital Statistics as well as by Ohio Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Pickaway County · Pickaway County Public Health, Vital Statistics
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
110 Island Road, Suite C, Circleville, OH 43113
Website
Certified copies
At the counter, issued while you wait
Fax
1-740-474-5523
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $30 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Pickaway County · Pickaway County Coroner's Office
Phone
Website
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Pickaway 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 Pickaway County are recorded with the County Recorder at 110 Island Road, Suite G, Circleville, OH 43113. Phone: 1-740-474-5826. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $39 for the first 2 pages plus $8 for each page beyond 2.
Pickaway County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, ePN and Indecomm.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Pickaway County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
110 Island Road, Suite G, Circleville, OH 43113
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first 2 pages) | $39 |
| Each page beyond 2 | $8 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
ORC 317.32(A)(1)(a)-(b); ORC 317.36(A); Pickaway County Recorder, Record a Document
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 Pickaway County
Ohio uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Pickaway 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 Pickaway 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.
Serves families across central Ohio from its Columbus office on Goodale Boulevard. The Family Wealth & Estate Planning group handles wills, trusts, and probate administration, and represents beneficiaries, creditors, and fiduciaries in contested estate matters. Founded 1967.
Gordon Law Office serves clients in Delaware, Franklin, Morrow, Marion, and adjacent counties with estate planning, probate, wills, trusts, and real estate matters.
Isaac Wiles has been serving Columbus since 1936. Their Estate Planning, Trust & Probate practice group handles elder law and estate administration, with attorneys involved in nearly every precedent-setting case in Ohio relating to elder law and Medicaid eligibility. AV Preeminent rated; 15 attorneys named Best Lawyers in America 2025.
The Columbus-based Probate, Trusts + Estates group handles probate and trust administration, including estate filings, fiduciary tax returns, and beneficiary distribution. Its attorneys litigate will contests, trust-interpretation disputes, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, and have administered estates exceeding $70 million. Chambers USA 2025 ranked.
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.
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)(a)-(b); ORC 317.36(A); Pickaway County Recorder, Record a Document
- Pickaway County Probate Court, official page
- Pickaway County Recorder, official page
- Pickaway 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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