A probate estate must be opened when there is a titled or registered asset that was in a deceased person’s name without a named beneficiary, such as a bank account, property or vehicle. The probate court will appoint an Executor or Administrator to assist with the distribution of your assets, either according to your Will or Ohio law. The probate court will supervise the entire process, which includes determining what assets need to be probated, determining beneficiaries, notifying beneficiaries about the estate, and distributing the assets. The probate process can take 18 months, or longer, to be finalized before the probate estates are distributed to the beneficiaries.
