An Ohio small estate affidavit allows an estate’s inheritors to collect the decedent’s property with less court involvement than the standard probate hearing would require. While the form (referred to in Ohio as an “Application to Release Estate from Administration”) is not an affidavit, it is used to request an exemption from court administration. For the estate to be eligible, the total value of the decedent’s assets cannot exceed $35,000, or $100,000 if the surviving spouse is entitled to all of the decedent’s assets.

The application and accompanying documentation must be submitted to the court, who will then set a date and time for a hearing to grant or deny the application. If there is no contest during the hearing, the applicant may collect and distribute the estate to its inheritors without further involvement from the court.

How to Record (4 Steps)

• Step 1 – Qualify as a Small Estate
• Step 2 – Complete Attachments
• Step 3 – Submit Application and Send Notices
• Step 4 – Distribute Estate

Step 1 – Qualify as a Small Estate

The total value of the decedent’s assets must be under $35,000 to qualify as a small estate. The limit is raised to $100,000 for surviving spouses if one of the following applies:

• The decedent left a will entitling the spouse to all of the decedent’s assets (§ 2113.03(A)(2)(a)).
• The decedent died intestate, and there are surviving children (or lineal descendants) who are children of the spouse (§ 2105.06(B)).
• The decedent died intestate, and there are no children (or lineal descendants) (§ 2105.06(E)).

Step 2 – Complete Attachments

The applicant must complete a written inventory of the estate’s property and assets using the Assets and Liabilities of Estate to be Relieved from Administration (Form 5.1). The inventory may be taken with an appraiser, who will need to sign the document.

The applicant must also identify all parties entitled to the decedent’s assets using the Surviving Spouse, Children, Next of Kin, Legatees and Devisees (Form 1.0). Once completed, both forms will be attached to the application in the following step.

Step 3 – Submit Application and Send Notices 

The applicant must submit the completed application, supplementary forms, and will (if any) to the probate court. The court will give a length of time for notices to be sent to the parties indicated in Form 1.0 (unless the notices are waived in the application) and, if deemed necessary, for a notice to be published in a newspaper in circulation in the county (§ 2113.03(B)).

Step 4 – Distribute Estate

On a date following the expiration of the notice and publication period, the court will hold a hearing at the date and time indicated on the Application to Release Estate from Administration. If the hearing is successful, the court will relieve the estate from administration, and the applicant may collect and distribute the property to the rightful inheritors.