Recent Alerts

We have just added the ability to file documents on Civil cases through the Probate Court eFiling system. This includes: Disinterment, Determination of Heirship, Unspecified Civil Cases, Correction of Marriage Record, Change of Name, Sale of Real Estate, Complaint to Transfer Annuity, and Will Contest.

We will continue adding other case types in the weeks and months to come and will update you of any new additions.

Archived Alerts

The Ohio Guardianship Association will be having their 12th Annual Conference September 13th and 14th, 2017. The theme of the Conference will be "Protecting Liberties in Guardianship" and will be held at the Sabin Hall Conference Center in Liberty Township. Click here for the Conference Brochure and/or click here the Conference's website.

We have now added the ability to file documents on Guardianship cases through the Probate Court eFiling system (e.g., Guardianship of an estate only, Guardianship of the person only, Guardianship of the person and estate – for both adults and minors).

We will continue adding other case types in the weeks and months to come and will update you of any new additions.

Judge Ralph Winkler is pleased to announce the initiation of a new E-Filing system in the Hamilton County Probate Court. Utilizing the latest in web development technologies, the court can now accept funds and filings electronically via the Internet at https://efile.probatect.org/.

This new process will save time and money for the public and the court. In this first phase, the system will be available to attorneys and for filings on current estate cases only. Also, funds can be electronically added to all case types as part of this first phase. The next phase of the project will include additional Probate case types, will open the system up to non-attorney filers, and will allow for originating cases.

This new E-filing system will allow filers to upload documents (PDF) they have created or modified from their home or office computers to the Court’s case management system. In addition, using a credit card, users can add money to the case deposits for use in future filings.

It is the Court’s hope that ultimately, attorneys and members of the public will be able to conduct much of their business with the court from the comfort and convenience of their office or home – saving them time and money. We anticipate that this will also result in a time and money savings for the court.

This is yet another step in Judge Winkler’s mission to improve efficiency and reduce costs of the Probate Court using technology.

The Hamilton County Probate Court is pleased to announce it has made a procedural change that will improve efficiency and save the public time when coming to Court to request a Name Change for a Minor or Adult. When a name change action is filed in the Court, the Ohio Revised Code requires that notice of the application be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least thirty days prior to the hearing. Previously applicants had to contact a newspaper, request that the notice be published, pay the newspaper a thirty dollar fee and then return to the court with the receipt showing payment, a proof of publication and Entry approving publication. All of this was done by the applicant outside of the court. Often times cases had to be continued because one or all of these steps were not completed prior to the hearing date.

The court has now streamlined this process allowing individuals to handle all of the publication requirements without leaving the court. The court has set up a process for pickup, payment through the initial case deposit and delivery of the required documents directly with the Cincinnati Court Index Press.

The Hamilton County has adopted changes to its Local Rules which include new provisions dealing with e-filings. The changes can be seen by clicking here. The changes take effect on May 1, 2017.

The Court is accepting written comments on the newly adopted changes to the Local Rules until May 15, 2017. Written comments should be sent to the Probate Court at the following address:

Judge Ralph Winkler
Hamilton County Probate Court
230 E. Ninth Street, 10th Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Notice:
The Ohio Supreme Court recently adopted several changes to Standard Probate forms effective March 1, 2017. The following New Standard Probate Forms are now available on the website.

3.0 Appointment of Appraiser
17.5 Judgement Entry Appointment of Guardian for Incompetent Person
17.7 Guardians Report
18.0 Petition for Adoption of Minor
18.6 Final Decree of Adoption (After Interlocutory Order)
18.7 Final Decree of Adoption (Without Interlocutory Order)
19.0 Petition For Adoption of Adult

Notice:
The Ohio Supreme Court recently adopted several new Standard Probate forms effective March 1, 2017. The following New Standard Probate Forms are now available on the website.

27.0 Notice to Guardian Submission of Comments or Complaints
27.1 Disposition of Comments Complaints Regarding Guardians Performance
27.2 Notification of Compliance with Guardian Education Requirements
27.3 Notice Application for Change of Address and Entry
27.4 Entry On Application to Change Address of the Ward
27.5 Annual Registration Guardian with Ten or More Wards
27.6 Annual Fee Schedule
27.7 Biennial Guardianship Plan Person
27.8 Biennial Guardianship Plan Estate
27.9 Application to Terminate Guardianship
27.10 Notification of Guardians Receipt of Fees Other Than Through Guardianship
27.11 Notification of Wards Important Legal Papers
27.12 Guardian Receipt
27.21 Notification of Compliance with Guardian Continuing Education Requirements
27.91 Entry Terminating Guardianship

Home
Hours & Location

HOURS & LOCATION

Hours:
Monday - Friday*
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM**

*Except Legal Holidays
Click for holiday hours
Click for Magistrate Schedule

** All filings must be submitted by 3:45 PM

Location:
William Howard Taft Center
230 East Ninth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Click Here for a Map and Driving Directions

Holiday Hours

2017
Monday	September 4, 2017	Labor Day	Closed Entire Day
Tuesday	November 7, 2017	Election Day	Closed at Noon (12:00 P.M.)
Friday	November 10, 2017	Veterans Day (Observed)	Closed Entire Day
Thursday	November 23, 2017	Thanksgiving Day	Closed Entire Day
Friday	November 24, 2017	Day After Thanksgiving Day	Closed Entire Day
Monday	December 25, 2017	Christmas Day	Closed Entire Day
2018
Monday	January 1, 2018	New Years Day	Closed Entire Day
Monday	January 15, 2018	Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Closed Entire Day
Monday	February 19, 2018	Presidents Day	Closed Entire Day
Friday	March 30, 2018	Good Friday	Closed at Noon (12:00 P.M.)
Monday	May 28, 2018	Memorial Day	Closed Entire Day
Wednesday	July 4, 2018	Independence Day	Closed Entire Day
Monday	September 3, 2018	Labor Day	Closed Entire Day
Tuesday	November 6, 2018	Election Day	Closed at Noon (12:00 P.M.)
Monday	November 12, 2018	Veterans Day (Observed)	Closed Entire Day
Thursday	November 22, 2018	Thanksgiving Day	Closed Entire Day
Friday	November 23, 2018	Day after Thanksgiving Day	Closed Entire Day
Tuesday	December 25, 2018	Christmas Day	Closed Entire Day

MAGISTRATE SCHEDULE

Magistrates are available (except for vacations, etc.), for scheduled or unscheduled matters, according to the following schedule:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Scheduled Hearings	Paul Rattermann	Karen Rosen	Elizabeth Sundermann	Karen Rosen	Elizabeth Sundermann
	Kendal Coes	Rogena Stargel	Kendal Coes	Rogena Stargel	Paul Rattermann
Walk-Ins	Rogena Stargel	Elizabeth Sundermann	Paul Rattermann***	Paul Rattermann	Rogena Stargel
	Karen Rosen	Kendal Coes	Karen Rosen	Elizabeth Sundermann	Kendal Coes

The magistrates will typically be absent for lunch during the following times:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
12:00 - 1:00 P.M.	Coes Rosen Rattermann Stargel	Coes Rosen Stargel Sundermann	Coes Rattermann Stargel Sundermann	Rosen Rattermann Stargel Sundermann	Coes Rosen Rattermann Sundermann
1:00 - 2:00 P.M.	Sundermann	Rattermann	Rosen	Coes	Stargel

If a case is assigned to a magistrate, you must see the assigned magistrate on an available day for that matter. A magistrate may not be available on a day of scheduled hearings. There are limited exceptions for the opening of an estate as well as for the appointment of an appraiser, obtaining an inventory hearing date and approving the sale or transfer of a motor vehicle. Any magistrate can approve these filings.

Note: All magistrates are in a magistrates' meeting from 8:00 - 9:00 every Monday morning.

*** Paul Rattermann will be hearing the Citation docket every Wednesday at 9:30 A.M.