Ohio Rev. Code § 2101.16 · checked 2026-10-20
Probate court fees in Ohio
R.C. 2101.16 itemises probate court services one by one rather than setting a single opening fee, and lets the court require an advance deposit of up to $125 when someone applies to be appointed executor or administrator (division (E)).
- 1$100,000 estate Itemised
- 2Fee basis Itemised
- 3Small-estate fee $60
- 4Schedule Ohio Rev. Code § 2101.16
Fee to open an estate, by value
| Estate value | Fee | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | — | No single opening fee in the schedule |
| $50,000 | — | No single opening fee in the schedule |
| $100,000 | — | No single opening fee in the schedule |
| $250,000 | — | No single opening fee in the schedule |
| $500,000 | — | No single opening fee in the schedule |
| $1,000,000 | — | No single opening fee in the schedule |
The schedule prices each court service separately, so the total depends on what the estate files.
Other charges in the schedule
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Order for summary release from administration | $60 |
| Probating a will | $15 |
| Proof of notice to beneficiaries | $5 |
| Deposit of a will | $5 |
| Advance deposit on application for appointment (maximum) | $125 |
Source: Ohio Revised Code § 2101.16 (probate court fees), effective September 30, 2025, last checked 2026-10-20. Courts can add copy, certification and publication costs that are not in this schedule.
The small-estate route and its cost
Ohio's simplified procedure is the release from administration (Ohio Rev. Code § 2113.03), for estates within $35,000. The schedule charges $60 for the summary release from administration. Check the Ohio limit or see how long probate takes there.
What the court fee does not cover
The schedule above is only the court's own charge. Publishing notice to creditors in a newspaper, certified copies of letters, a fiduciary bond where the court requires one, appraisals and recording fees for real estate are billed separately by whoever provides them. Those notices also start Ohio's creditor claim period of 6 months (Ohio Rev. Code § 2117.06(B)), which usually decides how soon the estate can close. Most courts can waive or defer fees for a petitioner who cannot pay; the clerk's office has the request form.
Related: probate court fees compared · what probate is · all fee schedules.
Court fees only, read from the official schedule on 2026-10-20. Not legal advice; Probate Clock does not refer anyone to lawyers. Fee waivers are usually available to people who cannot pay — ask the court clerk.