Steady counsel through the legal process of settling an estate.
Probate and trust administration is the legal process of settling the affairs of someone who has died — collecting their assets, paying their debts, and distributing what remains to the people entitled to receive it. For most families, it's the first time they encounter probate court, and the process can feel opaque and slow.
Our firm handles the full range of probate work. Adam J. Arnold has a deep background across every corner of probate — from routine estate administration to the litigation that occasionally follows.
Not every estate needs to go through full probate. Ohio provides simplified procedures for small estates and for assets that pass by beneficiary designation, joint ownership, or trust. We'll help you determine what the estate actually requires.
Most Ohio probate estates take between six months and a year to close. Complex estates — with contested claims, tax issues, or out-of-state property — can take longer. We work to move things forward efficiently while making sure nothing gets missed.
Probate costs include court filing fees, publication fees, appraiser fees where required, and attorney fees. We are transparent about what to expect and structure our engagement to keep costs proportional to the estate.
Trusts that require ongoing management after a client's death demand experienced hands. We assist trustees in fulfilling their fiduciary duties — investment oversight, accounting to beneficiaries, tax filings, and distributions — with the same care we bring to probate work.
Being named executor is an honor, and also a responsibility. You have legal duties to the estate and its beneficiaries. We help executors understand those duties, avoid personal liability, and complete the administration properly.
Beneficiaries have rights — to information, to timely distributions, and to an executor or trustee who is discharging their duties faithfully. If something isn't right, we can help you understand what remedies are available.
Losing someone is hard enough without also navigating probate court alone. We offer free initial consultations and payment plans. Contact us and we'll walk you through what to expect.
