News

Beginning 2/23/2026, the court will no longer be issuing a Notice of Compliance - Legal in new large estates. Filers will not need to wait for a Notice of Compliance - Legal to submit proposed entries.

The court will continue to issue clerk Notices of Compliance in large estates. The new version of the clerk Notice of Compliance will include general instructions about what documents to file to move a case forward.  Upon receiving the clerk Notice of Compliance, filers may immediately upload their proposed entries without waiting for additional notification from the court.

For all new estates pending prior to 2/23/26 where Letters of Authority have not been issued, the court will still issue a Notice of Compliance - Legal including specific directions about what documents should be filed next. However, applicants are welcome to file their proposed entries without waiting for a Notice of Compliance – Legal to be issued.

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The Franklin County Probate Court is actively working to revise and simplify a number of its forms. As of the time of writing, several forms have already been replaced, and more changes are still to come.

 Among the biggest revisions to look out for are changes to several hearing and bond forms:
 

New Form	Old Forms Replaced
4.2, Fiduciary's Bond	4.2, Fiduciary's Bond 20.0E, Conservator's Bond 25.2A, Trustee's Bond
4.2e, Proposed Entry Approving Fiduciary's Bond (Initial Bond, Additional Bond, or Reduced Bond)	4.2e, Proposed Entry Approving Fiduciary's Bond 2B, Proposed Bond Approval Entry 2B, Bond Approval Form 1.A, Proposed Entry Approving Additional Bond 1.B, Proposed Entry to Reduce Bond
1.E, Proposed Entry Setting Hearing	1.E, Entry Setting Hearing 1.ER, Entry Setting Remote Hearing 18.1e, Judgment Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice 19.5AE, Entry Setting Petition for Hearing 6.0e, Entry Setting Hearing for Inventory and Appraisal 13.0e, Entry Setting Hearing 20.4Be, Entry Setting Hearing 22.0E, Entry Setting Hearing and Ordering Notice 2.ESCR, Proposed Entry Setting Remote Status Conference 2.ESC, Proposed Entry Setting Status Conference
1.D, Application for Continuance of Hearing	1.D, Application for Continuance of Hearing 1.DR, Application for Continuance of Remote Hearing 19.5, Application for Continuance of Hearing
1.De, Proposed Entry Continuing Hearing	1.D, Entry for Continuance 1.De, Entry for Continuing Hearing 1.DeR, Entry Continuing Remote Hearing 19.7, Entry Continuing Hearing

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If a signer is physically located in Ohio and uses an online notary, the notary must be licensed in Ohio and located within the state during the notarization. Please refer to the attached order.

Administrative-Order-Regarding-Online-Notaries-Public
 

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Due to the closure of the Daily Reporter – the costs and procedures for service via publication are changing.  
Beginning December 12, 2025, the Columbus Dispatch is the default newspaper of general jurisdiction for legal publication in the Probate Court.

The Probate Court will arrange for service by publication for all name change and adoption cases.  The cost for publication of a name change is $60.  The cost for publication of an adoption is $680.
All other requests for publications will require the party to work directly with the Columbus Dispatch to arrange for publication, with proof being filed. 

In all cases where the parties are arranging for publication:
1.    the applicant shall file a motion with an accompanying affidavit, a copy of the proposed notice, and a proposed entry granting the request.  
2.    The applicant will then contact the Columbus Dispatch to arrange publication.  
3.    Within ten days of the final publication, the applicant shall file proof of publication that includes a copy of the notice and the dates of publication.  Service shall be deemed complete on the last day of publication.   

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