The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Ohio with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Ohio reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Ohio probate pages.
Ohio probate fees
| Item | Ohio |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Filing fees vary by county (each of Ohio's 88 probate courts sets its own schedule under ORC 2746.06). Opening a full administration generally runs about $100–$350; release from administration is usually less. Certified copies, publication, bond, and appraisal typically add several hundred dollars more. |
| Attorney fees | Attorney fees in Ohio probate are not fixed by statute. Sup. R. 71 of the Ohio Rules of Superintendence requires fees to be 'reasonable' and approved by the probate court. Each of Ohio's 88 county probate courts adopts local rules — many publish percentage-based guidelines for ordinary administration that track the executor commission schedule (roughly 4%/3%/2% tiers). |
| Executor / personal representative fees | Executor/administrator commissions are fixed by Ohio Revised Code §2113.35: 4% on the first $100,000 of personal property received and proceeds of real property sold, 3% on the next $300,000, 2% on amounts above $400,000, plus 1% on the value of real property not sold and 1% on certain non-probate property (excluding joint-and-survivorship), valued as of date of death. |
| Fee basis | statutory |
| Appraisal / referee | Ohio does not use a state-appointed probate referee. Under ORC 2115.06, the executor appoints a 'suitable disinterested' appraiser, subject to court approval. For real estate, the fiduciary may instead accept the county auditor's valuation in lieu of appointing an appraiser. |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Ohio estate (personal property), the statutory commission is about $15,000 (4% of $100k + 3% of $300k + 2% of $100k), plus 1% on any real property the executor doesn't sell.
Ohio thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Ohio |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Under ORC 2113.03, an estate may be 'released from administration' if probate assets are $35,000 or less, or $100,000 or less when everything passes to the surviving spouse. A separate 'summary release from administration' under ORC 2113.031 is available for estates of about $5,000 or less. |
| Creditor claim period | Six months from the date of death, under Ohio Revised Code §2117.06. This sets the practical floor on closing an estate. |
| Typical duration | A routine, uncontested Ohio probate typically takes 6 to 12 months. The six-month creditor claim window under ORC 2117.06 sets a practical floor. Contested estates, those with real estate to sell, or estates requiring federal estate-tax returns commonly take 12–24 months or longer. |
| Simplified real-property transfer | Ohio has no separate small-estate affidavit limited to real property, but the 'release from administration' procedure under ORC 2113.03 may include real estate if total probate value is within the $35,000 / $100,000 thresholds. Real estate held in survivorship tenancy, transfer-on-death designation, or trust passes outside probate entirely. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Ohio allows a Transfer on Death Designation Affidavit for real estate under Ohio Revised Code §5302.22. The owner records the affidavit naming a beneficiary; the property transfers at death without probate. |
What passes outside Ohio probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Ohio allows a Transfer on Death Designation Affidavit for real estate under Ohio Revised Code §5302.22. The owner records the affidavit naming a beneficiary; the property transfers at death without probate.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: Ohio Revised Code §2113.35; Ohio Revised Code §2113.36; Ohio Revised Code §2113.03; Ohio Revised Code §2113.031; Ohio Revised Code §2115.06; Ohio Revised Code §2117.06; Ohio Revised Code §2746.06; Ohio Rules of Superintendence Sup. R. 71
- State authority: Supreme Court of Ohio (supremecourt.ohio.gov)
- Executor fees: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2113.35
- Small-estate procedure: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2113.03
- Court filing fees: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2746.06
- Statutes: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-2113
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Ohio court before relying on it.
The full Ohio guides
- How Much Does Probate Cost in Ohio? — the full cost breakdown.
- How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Ohio? — the fee rule in detail.
- How Long Does Probate Take in Ohio? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
- Executor Deadlines in Ohio — inventory deadline, creditor-claim period and outer bar, each quoted from the statute.
- How to Avoid Probate in Ohio — the transfers that pass outside it.
- How Much Does a Will Cost in Ohio? — execution requirements and pricing.
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This sheet sets out Ohio probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Ohio courts or a licensed Ohio attorney.