Small Estate Resource Center

The Franklin County Probate Court Resource Center was created to provide limited legal assistance to individuals who are handling simple estate matters but cannot afford a lawyer.

If you qualify to participate in Resource Center services, you will receive free, one-on-one, legal assistance from a lawyer.

The Resource Center may be able to help you with the following types of cases:

1. Small Estates. The Resource Center can help you transfer assets to the heirs of a small estate. A small estate has assets totaling less than $35,000 for people not married at the time of death and less than $100,000 for people who were married at the time of death.
2. Real Estate Transfer Only. We can assist if the only asset in the estate is a single or multiple pieces of real estate, even if the real estate has a value over $100,000, and six months have passed since the date of death.

Call for Consultation

You may call 614-525-7251 and leave a message for a Resource Center attorney. You will receive a return call within three business days. All consultations are completed by phone.

Resource center hours may vary, so please allow time for a return call and be sure to answer your phone.

How to Prepare for Assistance

Visit our Small Estates Forms page and look for your case type. See below for information to help you determine which case type applies to your situation.

1. Summary Administration – for estates with $5,000 or less if the person who died was not married at the time of death, or $40,000 or less if the person who died was married at the time of death. If the person who died had a will, have the will available to discuss the contents with the attorney. Time limits may apply to summary administration proceedings.
2. Release from Administration – for larger estates with assets totaling less than $35,000 for people not married at the time of death and less than $100,000 for people who were married at the time of death. If any of the assets are real estate, obtain the most recent deed from the Franklin County Recorder’s Office. If the person who died had a will, have the will available to discuss the contents with the attorney.
3. Real Estate Transfer Only – used when the only asset of the person who died is real estate. Before your appointment, obtain the most recent deed from the Franklin County Recorder's Office. If the person who died had a will, have the will available to discuss the contents with the attorney.
4. Application to Probate a Will(PDF, 158KB) – complete the application to probate will if assets are distributed according to the will.
5. Application to File Will for Record Only(PDF, 139KB) – complete the application to file a will for record only if appropriate.

Filing Documents

The legal advice is free, but the filing fees are not. You should be prepared to pay filing fees which, in most cases, are $150 or less.

All filings in the Franklin County Probate Court must be e-filed.

The Resource Center is not able to give legal advice concerning contested matters. The Resource Center cannot provide legal advice on matters not directly related to the case types listed above.

The Resource Center is staffed by attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio. Resource Center attorneys are not employees of the Franklin County Probate Court.

Additional information about getting help with limited legal services is available at The Supreme Court of Ohio Limited Scope Representation.