Probate Guidance When You Need It Most

You Were Named Executor. You Don't Have to Do It Alone.

A probate lawyer for Cincinnati, West Chester and the surrounding counties who walks executors through each Ohio court filing in plain language, so the estate keeps moving while your family has room to grieve.

Compassionate Probate Representation in Ohio

Steady Probate Help From Someone Who Answers Your Questions

Probate usually begins right after a loss, when the last thing you want is a stack of court forms. As a probate lawyer serving West Chester, Cincinnati and the communities around them, Jennifer guides executors and families through the Ohio probate process, from the first application to the final distribution.


You work directly with attorney Jennifer Curtis, who explains each step before it happens and keeps track of the deadlines. Katie, her paralegal of more than 20 years, handles the paperwork side, so you always know who to call and get an answer quickly.

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Probate Administration

When an estate goes through an Ohio probate court, the will is admitted, assets are gathered, debts are paid and property is passed to the people entitled to it. Jennifer handles the legal side of that work with you:

  • Filing the will and probate documents with the correct county court
  • Identifying and valuing estate assets for the inventory
  • Managing creditor claims and estate obligations
  • Distributing assets correctly and closing the estate

Executor & Administrator Support

Most people named as executor have never done it before and are not sure where to start. Jennifer gives you a clear plan from the first week, so you can:

  • Understand your responsibilities under Ohio law
  • Avoid the mistakes that make an executor personally responsible
  • Stay organized and on schedule from appointment to closing

Resolving Probate Challenges

Some estates bring disagreements that slow everything down and strain the family. Jennifer works to settle them through negotiation or mediation where possible and is prepared in court when a matter needs it. She regularly helps with:

  • Disagreements between beneficiaries
  • Questions about who owns an asset
  • Wills and estate documents that are unclear or out of date

The Ohio Probate Process, Step by Step

Clear Steps. Clear Deadlines. No Guesswork.

Every estate has its own details, but the Ohio probate process follows the same basic order. Here is what happens after you decide to open the estate.

  • Step 1: File the will and application

    The will and an application are filed with the probate court in the county where your loved one lived. If there is no will, the application asks the court to appoint an administrator.

  • Step 2: Receive your appointment

    The court appoints you as executor, or as administrator when there is no will, and issues Letters of Authority. Those letters let you act for the estate with banks and other institutions.

  • Step 3: File the inventory

    The inventory lists the probate assets and their values. It is due within three months of your appointment.

  • Step 4: Allow time for creditor claims

    Creditors have six months from the date of death to present claims against the estate. This window is the main reason most estates stay open for at least half a year.

  • Step 5: Pay debts and expenses

    Valid claims, funeral costs, taxes and administration expenses are paid from estate funds, not from your own money.

  • Step 6: File the account

    The account shows the court what came into the estate, what was paid out and what remains for the beneficiaries.

  • Step 7: Distribute assets and close the estate

    Once the court approves the account, the remaining assets go to the beneficiaries and the estate is closed.

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Full Administration or Release From Administration?

Ohio offers more than one way through probate, and the right path depends mostly on the size of the estate and who inherits.

  • Full administration is the standard path, with an appointed executor or administrator, an inventory, the creditor period and a final account.
  • Release from administration is a simpler path for probate assets of $35,000 or less.
  • Release from administration is also available for probate assets of $100,000 or less when the surviving spouse is entitled to the entire estate under the will or Ohio inheritance law.


Release from administration typically closes much faster than full administration, and Jennifer can tell you early which path the estate qualifies for.


Some assets never go through probate at all. Property owned jointly with survivorship rights, accounts with a named beneficiary and accounts with a payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designation pass directly to the person named, whatever the will says. Assets held in a trust are settled by the trustee outside of court, which we help with through our Estate Administration work.

Probate Courts We Work With in Southwest Ohio

The estate is handled in the probate court of the county where your loved one lived. From our West Chester office, we work with families in three county courts:

  • Butler County Probate Court in Hamilton, for estates in West Chester, Liberty Township, Fairfield and the rest of Butler County
  • Warren County Probate Court in Lebanon, for estates in Mason, Lebanon and the rest of Warren County
  • Hamilton County Probate Court in Cincinnati, for estates in Cincinnati, Blue Ash, Loveland and the rest of Hamilton County


Jennifer is a member of the Butler County Bar Association and the Warren County Bar Association. The same probate courts also handle Ohio name changes, another part of our practice.


If you live out of state, you do not have to manage an Ohio estate from a distance on your own. Out-of-state clients describe being kept informed at every step while we handle the local work from here.

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Ohio Probate Questions Executors Ask Us Most

  • What is probate in Ohio?

    Probate is the court-supervised process for settling a person's estate after death in Ohio. The probate court in the county where the person lived appoints an executor or administrator, who gathers the assets, pays the debts and distributes what remains to the beneficiaries.

  • Does every estate go through probate in Ohio?

    No. Assets that pass by survivorship, named beneficiary, or a payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designation go directly to the person named, and assets in a trust are handled by the trustee. Probate is needed only for assets titled in the person's name alone with no beneficiary, and smaller estates may qualify for the simpler release from administration.

  • How long does probate take in Ohio?

    A simple full administration in Ohio usually takes at least six months, because creditors have six months from the date of death to present claims. Estates with real estate, family disputes or tax issues take longer. Estates that qualify for release from administration typically close faster.

  • How much does an estate have to be worth to go through full probate in Ohio?

    Estates with probate assets over $35,000 generally go through full administration. Below that amount, the estate may qualify for release from administration, and the limit rises to $100,000 when the surviving spouse is entitled to the entire estate. Only assets that pass through probate count toward these limits.

  • What does an executor have to do in Ohio probate court?

    An Ohio executor files the will and application, receives Letters of Authority, files an inventory within three months of appointment, and handles creditor claims during the six-month window after the date of death. The executor then pays debts and expenses, files the account and distributes the remaining assets to the beneficiaries.

  • How do I open an estate at Hamilton County Probate Court?

    You open an estate by filing the will, if there is one, along with an application for authority to administer the estate at the Hamilton County Probate Court in Cincinnati. The person must have lived in Hamilton County, and the court appoints the executor or administrator and issues Letters of Authority. The same basic steps apply in the Butler County and Warren County probate courts.

  • Can an executor be held personally responsible for mistakes?

    Yes. An Ohio executor is a fiduciary and can be held personally responsible for losses caused by mistakes such as paying beneficiaries before valid creditor claims or mixing estate funds with personal money. Following the court's deadlines and keeping clear records, with an attorney guiding each filing, keeps that risk low.

  • Do I need a lawyer for probate in Butler County, Ohio?

    It depends on the estate and on the court's local requirements, and many executors in Butler County choose to work with an attorney so filings are correct the first time. A lawyer is especially valuable when the estate includes real estate, has debts, or involves family members who disagree.

  • Can probate disputes be resolved without litigation?

    Often, yes. Many disagreements between beneficiaries can be settled through negotiation or mediation, which saves time and expense and keeps family relationships intact. When a dispute does need a judge, Jennifer is prepared to present the matter in court.

Probate Help Across Butler, Warren and Hamilton Counties

Serving West Chester and Surrounding Communities

JCurtis Law helps executors and families throughout Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties, including West Chester, Liberty Township, Mason, Hamilton and Cincinnati. If you have been named executor or are unsure what comes next after a loss, a short call is the easiest place to start. If you are planning ahead for your own family, see our estate planning services.