Probate & Estate Administration Attorney in Dayton, Ohio
When you lose someone you love, the last thing you need is a confusing court process. Probate is the court-supervised settling of an estate after a death, and in Ohio it typically takes 9 to 18 months, with each county court following its own written (and unwritten) rules. Our team has walked through this process with many families, and we can walk through it with yours.
Let Us Simplify Probate for You
Common questions that arise:
- Do they have a Will? If so, what do I do with it?
- How do I transfer the house out of their name?
- How do I retitle a car to sell?
- What happens to money left in the bank?
- What about life insurance?
- Can I be reimbursed for the funeral expenses?
- Who pays the home utilities until the estate is settled?
- What do I do with their ongoing bills?
What Probate Involves
Probate freezes the assets of an estate until the court can determine the validity of the will, inventory and value the property, and notify creditors and beneficiaries. Only then can assets be distributed. Along the way, executors must file inventories, publish notices, pay valid debts, prepare accountings, and meet court deadlines. Mistakes can create personal liability.
Questions We Answer Every Week
- They had a will. What do I do with it?
- How do I transfer the house out of their name? How do I retitle a car to sell it?
- What happens to money left in the bank? What about life insurance?
- Can I be reimbursed for funeral expenses? Who pays the utilities until the estate settles?
- What do I do with their ongoing bills?
If you’re asking any of these, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
How We Help Executors and Families
We handle the filings with the Montgomery County Probate Court (and surrounding counties), guide you through inventories and accountings, manage creditor claims, resolve questions among beneficiaries, and transfer titles correctly, so the estate closes as quickly and inexpensively as Ohio law allows. Where the estate qualifies, we’ll use Ohio’s simplified procedures (release from administration, summary release) to shorten the process.
Tom is the perfect blend of southern charm and midwest sensibility. He cares about your intimate story like the details of your family and crafts the law around your needs.
We had a lot of questions, and Tom took his time, was very thorough and patient, and did his very best to help us understand what we needed to protect our family.
Tom L. Culpepper
Jesse Kufeldt
Patty Niswonger
Shelby Arnold
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Trust Administration
Trustees know that their role is important, but few people are fully prepared to take on this role alone. The process can be emotional and demanding in time and effort, often due to the intersection of family dynamics and complex legal requirements. Dealing with the financial institutions alone can be frustrating.
Are you a Trustee or Successor Trustee and need help filling that role? Our office is able to help you understand the Trust document, the process of trust administration, the roles and responsibilities as a Trustee and we can map out a plan to coordinate the process with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Assets in a trust, joint accounts, and accounts with beneficiary designations pass outside probate. Small estates may qualify for simplified procedures.
A full administration usually runs 9 to 18 months. Simplified releases can be far faster.
No. You may decline, and we can help the court appoint an alternative.
Ready to protect your family's future?
Please call our office at +1 (937) 589-4144 so we can serve you during this difficult time.