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GENERAL RESOURCES
We will continue to add resources to this page that will assist you. If there is information that you feel would be helpful, please let us know
APPRAISERS
Superintendence Rule 61 allows a fiduciary to hire an appraiser and leaves it to the parties to set a reasonable fee. The rule makes it discretionary with the fiduciary as to when an appraiser is needed, suggesting that property with special and unusual characteristics would be an appropriate situation to engage an appraiser.
In Hamilton County Probate Court, Local Rule 61.1 expounds on the Superintendence Rule for the appraisement of property. Local Rule 61.1 explains who can and who cannot be an appraiser. It also requires that real estate appraisals be made by licensed real estate appraisers or by individuals with appropriate professional experience and training. Unlike some other Probate Courts, the Hamilton County Probate Court does not maintain a list of appraisers for real estate. An appraisal for household goods and personal effects is required whenever the aggregate value exceeds $5,000.
COURT COSTS
This deposit schedule is based upon the average cost to complete various case types. Each case is different and additional funds may be required to complete a case.
Effective July 19, 2021
| CODE | DESCRIPTION | DEPOSIT | MISC |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | Adult Adoption | $150.00 | |
| AC | Consent to Interstate Adoption | $70.00 | |
| AF | Registration of Foreign Birth Record | $100.00 | |
| AG | Agency Adoption | $185.00 | |
| AL | Pre-Placement A & E | $80.00 | |
| AP | Private Adoption | $185.00 | |
| AR | Readoption (AKA Foreign Readopt) | $160.00 | |
| AS | Adoption by Step Parent | $160.00 | |
| AX | Complaint Determining Birth Registration | $190.00 | |
| BC | Birth Correction | $90.00 | |
| BR | Birth Registration | $90.00 | |
| CD | Disinterment | $90.00 | |
| CH | Determination of Heirship | $160.00 | |
| CI | Civil Case (Unspecified) | $180.00 | |
| CM | Correction of Marriage Record | $90.00 | |
| CN | Name Change | $150.00 | $30 additional collected if publication required |
| CS | Sales Case | $160.00 | |
| CT | Transfer Structured Settlement | $170.00 | |
| CW | Will Contest | $180.00 | |
| DG | Designation of Standby Guardian - Power of Atty | $60.00 | |
| DG | Nomination of Guardian | $60.00 | |
| DH | Designation of Heir | $120.00 | |
| DP | Declaration of Paternity | $70.00 | |
| DR | Authenticated Copies | $40.00 | Plus $1 Per Pg. |
| DR | Authenticated Copies With Will | $50.00 | Plus $1 Per Pg. |
| DW | Will Deposit | $40.00 | |
| EA | Full Administration of Estate (Date of Death prior to 1/1/2002) | $260.00 | |
| EB | Reopen Full Administration | $110.00 | |
| EC | Certificate of Transfer | $95.00 | Additional $30 if filed with a Will |
| ED | Admit Will Only | $100.00 | |
| EE | Estate Tax Return Only | $30.00 | Plus $1 Per Pg Over 4 Pgs. |
| EF | Will For Record Only | $30.00 | |
| EG | Disposition of Bodily Remains | $90.00 | |
| EM | Medical Records | $125.00 | |
| EN | Full Administration of Estate (Date of Death on or after 1/1/2002) | $260.00 | |
| EP | Estate Relieved (Publication Required) | $210.00 | |
| EP | Estate Relieved (Publication Required) with Will | $240.00 | |
| ER | Estate Relieved (No Publication) | $170.00 | |
| ER | Estate Relieved (No Publication) with Will | $200.00 | |
| ET | Disburse Attorney Trust Accounts | $70.00 | |
| EX | Wrongful Death Estate Only | $190.00 | |
| EZ | Summary Release From Administration | $150.00 | |
| GC | Conservatorship | $160.00 | |
| GE | Guardianship (Estate Only) | $240.00 | |
| GI | Guardianship (Person and Estate) | $240.00 | |
| GP | Guardianship (Person Only) | $240.00 | |
| GX | Petition for Protective Services | $175.00 | |
| IT | Involuntary Treatment for Alcohol and/or Drugs | $0.00 | |
| MA | Appointment of Successor Custodian | $65.00 | |
| ME | Minor Guardianship (Estate Only) | $170.00 | |
| MG | Minor Guardianship (Person and Estate) | $170.00 | |
| MJ | Minor Declining Jurisdiction | $110.00 | |
| MP | Minor Guardianship (Person Only) | $170.00 | |
| MS | Minor Settlement (No Guardian) | $110.00 | |
| MX | Deliver Funds to Minor (No Guardian) | $80.00 | |
| ML | Marriage License | $75.00 | |
| SD | Safe Deposit Box | $140.00 | |
| TG | Trust (Minor Guardian) | $140.00 | |
| TM | Trust (Misc.) | $140.00 | |
| TS | Trust (Special Needs) | $140.00 | |
| TT | Trust (Testamentary Trust) | $140.00 | |
| TW | Trust (Wrongful Death) | $140.00 | |
| Accounts | $40.00 | Plus $1 Pg Over Standard Form |
Interpretation Services
The Hamilton County Probate Court provides interpreters, free of charge, to facilitate participation in Court proceedings or services. The Court is committed to ensuring equal justice to all who come before the Court. The Court recognizes the obligation to provide language assistance services where these services protect an individual’s rights. Because any point of contact with the legal system can have serious consequences, the Hamilton County Probate Court makes every effort to ensure that language services are provided.
Interpretation services are available to persons who either:
- do not speak English;
- do not speak English as their primary language and who have limited ability to read, speak, write or understand English; or
- are deaf or hearing impaired. Click here to download the Sign Language Access Plan 2023.
Court interpreters help to ensure that all persons are given equal access to the Court and that Court proceedings and services function efficiently and effectively. The court interpreter is a neutral party who is here only to interpret the proceedings and facilitate communication. The interpreter will interpret only what is said without adding, omitting, or summarizing content.
Interpretation services are available, but a minimum of a 72-hour notice is required.
Please call 513-946-3570 to inquire about interpretation services.
LAWYER REFERRAL
Many matters involving Probate Court can be relatively straightforward and done without the assistance of an attorney. The Hamilton County Probate Court has made every attempt to make the use of the Court as user-friendly as possible, for example, by allowing access to magistrates on a walk-in basis and by provided detailed instructions for the completion of forms. None of the Court's attorneys or personnel are permitted to provide legal advice, however, so there are times when it might be necessary to obtain the assistance of an attorney.
There are two local organizations to assist in the search for an attorney. The Cincinnati Bar Association operates a Lawyer Referral Service whereby the Bar Association will try to match a person needing legal help with an attorney. Attorneys participating in this program have certified they are experienced in a particular field and have agreed to provide an initial 30-minute consultation for only $50. The fees after that time are set by the attorney and client. The Lawyer Referral Service may be reached at (513) 381-8359.
While matters concerning probate law are not the primary mission of the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, it has a program known as the Volunteer Lawyers Project which can provide assistance in probate matters for free or at a greatly reduced rate. The number for the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati is (513) 241-9400.
UNCLAIMED FUNDS
There are four different types of Unclaimed Funds one might come across in the Probate Court.
Disposition Of Unclaimed Funds by Probate Court:
Sometimes at the conclusion of a probate matter, there remains a positive case balance. If an attorney is involved in the case a refund check is drafted payable to the attorney. If the attorney was reimbursed through an Application for Attorney Fees, the attorney should name the fiduciary payee and deliver said check. Each second Monday of January the Court must publish a list of unclaimed funds from the preceding year. If a payee does not contact the probate cashier to reissue a lost or voided check, ORC sections 2335.34 and 2335.35 requires that the court pay the unclaimed funds into the County Treasury. After five years any unclaimed funds default to the County General Fund. To see a current list of outstanding checks Click here
Unclaimed Inheritances:
When heirs of an estate cannot be located, the Probate Court may order the fiduciary to pay the unclaimed distribution(s) into the County Treasury, where they will remain until someone files a claim and the money is paid out. To see a list of Unclaimed Inheritances, Click here.
Escheat Of Personal Estate When Estate Is Intestate and Without Heirs:
When, under sections 2105.01 to 2105.21, inclusive of the Revised Code, personal property escheats to the state, the prosecuting attorney of the county in which letters of administration are granted upon such estate shall collect and pay it over to the treasurer. Such estate shall be applied to the support of the common schools of the county in which collected.
Miscellaneous Unclaimed Funds:
Sometimes probate cases are reopened because additional funds are discovered which are assets of the estate. When opening an estate, the attorney and/or fiduciary should check for any miscellaneous unclaimed funds in Ohio or any state where the decedent may have lived or held property. To find out more about miscellaneous unclaimed funds click here for Ohio Unclaimed Funds or National Unclaimed Funds.