Recent 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.

Archived Alerts

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

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Additional Requirements for Minors

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS

NOTICE: This is only a list of the ADDED requirements for minors. All other laws, rules, and requirements for marriage license still apply.

FEMALE 16 OR 17

Both Parents must be present (and have a US Government Photo ID) to take the oath, and sign the license.*
A Pre-Marriage Counseling letter is required. This can be obtained through a licensed minister or a counseling agency (see yellow pages for marriage counseling). Note: If the letter is from a minister, it must be on the church letterhead or church stationary.
US Government Issued Photo ID. If a driver's license is not obtainable, then the bride must have a State ID.

FEMALE 15 OR YOUNGER AND MALE 17 OR YOUNGER

ALL OF THE ABOVE
For minors of this age, consent must also be obtained through Juvenile Court (852-8000). Typically, this is not granted unless the female is pregnant. If she does receive permission, she needs to present us with the Court Entry signed by the Juvenile Court Judge. This does NOT take the place of parental consent.

*Notes Regarding Parental Consent

If parents are divorced - only the parent with custody has to come in and provide consent. He / she has to bring the divorce decree proving custody.
If parents are separated - there is an affidavit (provided by our office) that is filled out by the parent still responsible for the minor. There are certain requirements for using this affidavit (see affidavit.)
If one parent is deceased - then the other parent needs to provide a death certificate.
If both parents are deceased - then the person(s) who has legal guardianship must sign, and show the guardianship papers.