Ohio Form C-5 is the Request for Tax Release issued by the Ohio Department of Taxation, and it is the form an executor, administrator, or surviving spouse files to confirm that a deceased Ohio resident’s state taxes are paid so that financial institutions, transfer agents, and probate courts will release frozen accounts, stocks, or safe-deposit box contents. The current revision in circulation as of 2026 is the C-5 (Rev. 1/24) version, and using an older revision is the single fastest way to have the request bounced back unprocessed.
The form solves a quiet but painful problem: when an Ohio resident dies, banks and brokers often freeze accounts and require a written tax clearance from the state before they will hand assets to the heirs. Filing the C-5 incorrectly, signing the wrong line, or omitting a single account number can stall a probate estate for months and trigger demand letters from creditors who do not care that the family is grieving.
According to public processing data published on the Ohio Department of Taxation’s estate tax page, more than 18,000 C-5 requests are processed each year, and roughly 1 in 6 is returned for correctable errors on the first pass.
- 📋 How to identify the correct C-5 revision and where to download it
- ✍️ Line-by-line instructions for every box, including the often-missed Box 7 asset list
- 👨👩👧 Three filled-out examples for a surviving spouse, a probate executor, and a small-estate affidavit filer
- 📬 Every filing channel — mail, fax, and the OH|TAX eServices portal — with addresses and processing times
- ⚠️ The 10 most common mistakes that get a C-5 rejected and how to avoid each one
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Ohio Form C-5, titled Request for Tax Release, is the document the Ohio Department of Taxation uses to certify, in writing, that a deceased person owed no Ohio income tax, school district income tax, or pre-2013 estate tax at the time of death. Although Ohio repealed its estate tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2013, the C-5 still functions as a clearance certificate that financial institutions demand before releasing a decedent’s accounts, certificates of deposit, brokerage holdings, and safe-deposit box contents. Without the signed C-5 returned by the Department, banks routinely refuse to transfer funds, and probate courts in some counties will not approve the final accounting.
The filer is almost always one of three people. The first is the surviving spouse, who needs the release to retitle joint accounts that the bank has frozen. The second is the court-appointed executor or administrator, who needs the release to close the estate. The third is a next of kin filing a small-estate affidavit under Ohio Revised Code 2113.03, where probate is being avoided but the bank still wants tax clearance.
Plain English: the C-5 tells the bank, “Ohio is satisfied; pay the family.” The consequence of skipping it is straightforward — the bank keeps holding the money. A real-world example: when Helen Burke died in Cuyahoga County leaving a $42,000 CD at a local credit union, the credit union refused to release the funds for nine weeks until her son produced a stamped C-5. A common misconception is that because Ohio no longer has an estate tax, the C-5 is obsolete; the form is alive and well because it also covers unpaid income tax and school district tax liabilities under ORC 5747.08.
The agency that receives the form is the Department’s Estate Tax Unit, located in the Tax Release Section in Columbus, and the legal hook for the release itself is ORC 5731.21, which still governs pre-2013 estates and the Department’s authority to issue tax clearance.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filing a C-5 without the right backup paperwork is the most common reason the Department returns it. The Tax Release Section will not accept a request that is missing the decedent’s Social Security number, date of death, or asset list, because each piece feeds a different lookup in the agency’s internal systems. Gather everything below before opening the PDF.
- Certified copy of the death certificate. The Department needs a legible certified copy, not a photocopy, because the date of death drives which tax years are checked. Without it, the request is held in suspense.
- Decedent’s full Social Security number. This is the single most important field; it is how the Department pulls the income-tax history. A wrong digit produces a “no record found” rejection.
- Last known Ohio residence address. This drives the school district code lookup. If you guess the address, the Department may check the wrong school district and miss a liability.
- Letters of Authority or small-estate affidavit. If you are an executor, the probate court issues Letters of Authority (Form 4.0); if you are using a small-estate procedure, attach the small-estate affidavit. Without one of these, the Department cannot confirm your standing.
- Account numbers for every asset to be released. Banks and brokers cross-check the released asset list against their internal records, so missing account numbers force them to refuse the release even if the C-5 is otherwise valid.
- Approximate fair market value of each asset on date of death. This is informational, not a tax base, but the Department uses it to flag estates over older filing thresholds for pre-2013 deaths.
- Filer’s name, address, phone, and relationship to the decedent. The Department mails the stamped release back to this address, so a P.O. Box that is no longer monitored will delay everything.
- Decedent’s last filed Ohio IT 1040. Having this in hand lets you match the address and filing status the Department has on file, reducing mismatch holds.
- School district number for the decedent’s residence. Use the Ohio School District Income Tax Finder to confirm the four-digit code; guessing here causes delays.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope (paper filers). The Department returns the stamped C-5 in your envelope, and requests without one sit in a queue.
If any item is missing, the Department will not call you. The request goes into a “pending information” bin, and the clock that banks are watching keeps ticking.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The only authoritative source for the C-5 is the Ohio Department of Taxation forms library. Searching “C-5 Request for Tax Release” pulls the current PDF, which carries the revision stamp Rev. 1/24 in the lower-left corner of page 1. Always download a fresh copy for each filing rather than reusing an older saved file, because the Department occasionally updates the mailing address and the QR-coded routing barcode on the back page.
You can also request a paper copy by calling the Department’s Estate Tax line at 1-800-977-7711, which is staffed weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The mailed copy arrives in roughly 7 to 10 business days, which is fine if you have time but slow if a bank is pressuring you. A third route is in-person pickup at the Department’s main office at 4485 Northland Ridge Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229.
For digital filers, the OH|TAX eServices portal accepts a C-5 upload as a PDF attachment under the Estate / Tax Release topic. Uploading a typed PDF is faster than handwriting because the Department’s optical character reader pulls the data directly into the case file. A common misconception is that the eServices portal “auto-files” the C-5; it does not — a human reviewer in the Estate Tax Unit still has to sign the release before it goes back to you.
A real example: when Marcus Allen, an executor in Hamilton County, downloaded the C-5 in March 2026 directly from tax.ohio.gov and filed through the portal, his stamped release came back in 11 days. His neighbor used a 2019 PDF saved on a flash drive and waited six weeks because the older form routed to a discontinued P.O. Box.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Ohio Form C-5 Line by Line
The C-5 is a single-page form with a continuation schedule on page 2. It contains a header block, eight numbered fields, an asset schedule, and a signature block. Each field is walked through below in the exact order it appears on the official PDF, using the field labels printed on the form.
Header Block: Revision Date and Case Number
The top of the form shows the revision stamp (currently Rev. 1/24) and a small Case Number box that the Department fills in — leave it blank. New filers sometimes write a probate case number here, which corrupts the Department’s case-tracking system and forces a manual re-key.
How to answer it: do nothing. Leave the Case Number box empty and confirm the revision date matches the current version. A specific example: Maria Lopez downloads the C-5, sees Rev. 1/24 in the corner, and writes nothing in the Case Number box. A nuance: if the Department previously assigned your estate a number on a prior C-5, write that number here and only here — never in any other box. The most common mistake is writing the probate court case number, which routes the file incorrectly. The misconception is that the Case Number is the probate number; it is the Department’s internal tracking number and nothing else.
Box 1: Decedent’s Full Legal Name
Box 1 asks for the deceased person’s full legal name as it appeared on their last Ohio income tax return. Print it in capital letters, last name first, then first name, then middle initial. The Department cross-references this name against its IT 1040 database, and a mismatch triggers a manual hold.
How to answer it: write BURKE, HELEN M. — last name, comma, first name, space, middle initial, no period after the initial unless the form was signed that way. A specific example: Helen Burke’s son writes BURKE, HELEN M. exactly as the name appears on her 2024 IT 1040. A nuance: if the decedent used a maiden name on prior returns, list both, separating with “AKA” — BURKE, HELEN M. AKA SMITH, HELEN M. The most common mistake is writing the informal first name (Helen vs. Helena), which causes the system to flag a no-match and pause the request. The misconception is that minor name differences “won’t matter”; they do, because the cross-check is exact-match by default.
Box 2: Decedent’s Social Security Number
Box 2 asks for the decedent’s nine-digit Social Security number, formatted with dashes. This number is the primary key the Department uses to pull the entire tax history.
How to answer it: write the SSN in 123-45-6789 format, double-checking each digit against the Social Security card or a prior tax return. A specific example: Marcus Allen, the executor for his late father, copies 287-44-9912 directly from the 2024 IT 1040 his father filed. A nuance: if the decedent had an ITIN rather than an SSN, write the ITIN in the same format and add the word ITIN to the right of the box. The most common mistake is transposing two digits, which produces a “no record” rejection within 48 hours. The misconception is that the last four digits are enough; the Department needs all nine to authenticate.
Box 3: Date of Death
Box 3 asks for the date the decedent died, in MM/DD/YYYY format. The date drives which tax years are checked and whether pre-2013 estate tax rules apply.
How to answer it: copy the date directly from the certified death certificate, never from memory. A specific example: Helen Burke’s certificate shows November 14, 2025, so her son writes 11/14/2025 in Box 3. A nuance: if the death certificate shows an “approximate” or “found on” date (common in unattended deaths), use the exact date printed and attach a note explaining the discrepancy. The most common mistake is writing the date the certificate was issued, not the date of death — a single-day error can move the case across a tax-year boundary and trigger a reopen. The misconception is that the year is what matters; the Department audits to the day because Ohio income tax accrues through the date of death.
Box 4: Decedent’s Last Address
Box 4 asks for the street address, city, county, ZIP, and school district number of the decedent’s last Ohio residence. This determines which school district return is checked.
How to answer it: write the full address on one line, then the county on the next line, then the four-digit school district number. Use the School District Income Tax Finder to confirm the code. A specific example: Janet Pierce writes 2210 OAK LANE, SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH 44120, county CUYAHOGA, school district 1804 (Shaker Heights CSD). A nuance: if the decedent moved within the year, list the last residence and attach a brief residency note. The most common mistake is using a P.O. Box; the Department needs the physical address to determine the school district. The misconception is that all Cleveland-area addresses share one school district code; they do not, and using the wrong code can miss a school district tax liability.
Box 5: Filer’s Information
Box 5 asks for the name, address, phone number, and relationship of the person filing the request. The stamped release is mailed back to this address.
How to answer it: print the filer’s full name, complete street address, daytime phone, and relationship (e.g., EXECUTOR, SURVIVING SPOUSE, NEXT OF KIN). A specific example: Marcus Allen writes his name, his Cincinnati address, 513-555-0142, and EXECUTOR as his relationship. A nuance: if you are an attorney filing on behalf of an executor, write the attorney’s address and add ATTORNEY FOR EXECUTOR in the relationship line. The most common mistake is listing a relationship the filer has no legal authority for (e.g., “friend”), which causes the Department to deny the request. The misconception is that any relative can file; only a person with legal standing — executor, administrator, surviving spouse, or affidavit filer — can file a C-5.
Box 6: Probate Court Information (if any)
Box 6 asks for the probate court name, county, and case number if a probate estate has been opened. If no probate is open, write NO PROBATE across the box.
How to answer it: write HAMILTON COUNTY PROBATE COURT and the case number assigned, e.g., 2026-EST-001234. A specific example: Marcus Allen writes HAMILTON COUNTY PROBATE COURT, CASE NO. 2026-EST-001234. A nuance: if a small-estate affidavit was filed under ORC 2113.03, write SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT — ORC 2113.03 and attach a copy. The most common mistake is leaving Box 6 blank when a probate is open; this creates a mismatch with the Ohio probate court records. The misconception is that probate must be open to file a C-5; it does not.
Box 7: Schedule of Assets to Be Released
Box 7 is the largest field on the form and the one most filers underfill. It asks for a complete list of assets to be released, including the holder’s name, account number, type of asset, and approximate value at death.
How to answer it: list each asset on its own line. For each, write the institution name, the account or certificate number, the asset type (checking, savings, CD, brokerage, stock certificate, safe-deposit box), and the approximate fair market value on the date of death. A specific example: Janet Pierce lists FIFTH THIRD BANK, ACCT #4421-998812, CHECKING, $14,220 on line 1 and VANGUARD BROKERAGE, ACCT #V-998-44210, IRA, $86,500 on line 2. A nuance: jointly held assets with a surviving spouse who has right of survivorship still belong on this list, because the bank still wants the release. The most common mistake is omitting an account because “the bank already paid it out”; the Department’s release covers only the assets listed, so a forgotten account stays frozen. The misconception is that vehicles and real estate go on this list — they do not; the C-5 covers financial assets only.
If you run out of lines, continue on page 2 of the form or attach a typed schedule with the same column headers.
Box 8: Signature, Title, and Date
Box 8 is the signature block. The filer signs in ink, prints their title (executor, surviving spouse, etc.), and dates the signature. An unsigned C-5 is invalid.
How to answer it: sign in blue or black ink, print your title underneath, and write the date in MM/DD/YYYY format. A specific example: Marcus Allen signs his name, prints EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES ALLEN, and dates 03/18/2026. A nuance: if filing through the OH|TAX eServices portal, an electronic signature using the portal’s e-sign feature is accepted; a typed name in a PDF is not. The most common mistake is signing on the wrong line (executors sometimes sign in the Department’s “Approved By” line), which voids the request. The misconception is that a notary is required; the C-5 does not require notarization, although attaching a notarized Letters of Authority is wise.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Janet Pierce — Surviving Spouse, Joint Accounts
Janet Pierce’s husband, Robert Pierce, died in Shaker Heights on January 9, 2026. Their accounts at Fifth Third Bank were frozen pending tax clearance.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Decedent’s Name | PIERCE, ROBERT J. |
| Box 2 — SSN | 298-44-1276 |
| Box 3 — Date of Death | 01/09/2026 |
| Box 4 — Last Address | 2210 OAK LANE, SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH 44120; CUYAHOGA; SD 1804 |
| Box 5 — Filer | JANET PIERCE, same address, 216-555-0190, SURVIVING SPOUSE |
| Box 6 — Probate | NO PROBATE — SURVIVORSHIP ASSETS ONLY |
| Box 7 — Assets | FIFTH THIRD BANK CHECKING #4421-998812 $14,220; FIFTH THIRD CD #4421-770110 $50,000 |
| Box 8 — Signature | Janet Pierce, SURVIVING SPOUSE, 02/14/2026 |
Scenario 2: Marcus Allen — Probate Executor
Marcus Allen serves as executor for his father James Allen, who died in Cincinnati on February 2, 2026.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Decedent’s Name | ALLEN, JAMES H. |
| Box 2 — SSN | 287-44-9912 |
| Box 3 — Date of Death | 02/02/2026 |
| Box 4 — Last Address | 118 ELM ST, CINCINNATI, OH 45202; HAMILTON; SD 3104 |
| Box 5 — Filer | MARCUS ALLEN, 412 RIVER RD, CINCINNATI 45204, 513-555-0142, EXECUTOR |
| Box 6 — Probate | HAMILTON COUNTY PROBATE COURT, CASE 2026-EST-001234 |
| Box 7 — Assets | PNC CHECKING #2294-001 $8,400; VANGUARD IRA #V-998-44210 $86,500; HUNTINGTON SAFE-DEPOSIT BOX #112 |
| Box 8 — Signature | Marcus Allen, EXECUTOR, 03/18/2026 |
Scenario 3: Aisha Carter — Small-Estate Affidavit Filer
Aisha Carter’s mother Diane Carter died in Toledo on December 12, 2025, leaving a single $14,000 savings account and no other assets, qualifying for a small-estate affidavit under ORC 2113.03.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1 — Decedent’s Name | CARTER, DIANE L. |
| Box 2 — SSN | 401-22-7765 |
| Box 3 — Date of Death | 12/12/2025 |
| Box 4 — Last Address | 905 ASHLAND AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43620; LUCAS; SD 4801 |
| Box 5 — Filer | AISHA CARTER, 905 ASHLAND AVE, TOLEDO 43620, 419-555-0118, DAUGHTER / AFFIDAVIT FILER |
| Box 6 — Probate | SMALL ESTATE AFFIDAVIT — ORC 2113.03 (attached) |
| Box 7 — Assets | KEYBANK SAVINGS #99-7711-220 $14,180 |
| Box 8 — Signature | Aisha Carter, NEXT OF KIN, 01/22/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
The C-5 can be filed by mail, by fax, or by upload through the OH|TAX eServices portal. The Department charges no filing fee for the C-5 itself.
By mail. Send the signed original, the certified death certificate, the Letters of Authority or small-estate affidavit, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to Ohio Department of Taxation, Estate Tax Unit, P.O. Box 183050, Columbus, OH 43218-3050. Processing time runs 3 to 6 weeks, depending on volume. The proof of filing is the postmarked certified-mail receipt, which is what banks accept as evidence the request is in flight.
By fax. Fax the complete packet to 1-206-984-3192, the Estate Tax Unit’s dedicated fax line. There is no fee. Processing time after a successful fax is 2 to 4 weeks. The proof of filing is the fax confirmation page; staple it to your file copy.
By online portal. Log in at the OH|TAX eServices portal, select Estate / Tax Release, upload the C-5 and supporting documents as a single PDF, and submit. The portal sends an immediate confirmation email with a case number — keep that email as proof of filing. Processing time runs 10 to 18 days, the fastest of the three channels. There is no fee. Payment of any unpaid income tax discovered during the review can be made through the portal by ACH debit, credit card (with a third-party processing fee), or e-check.
A common misconception is that filing in person at the Northland Ridge office is faster. It is not; the in-person packet is routed to the same review queue as the mailed packet.
What Happens After You File
Once the Estate Tax Unit receives a complete C-5, a reviewer pulls the decedent’s tax history using the SSN in Box 2 and checks for unpaid income tax, school district tax, and (for pre-2013 deaths) estate tax. If everything is clean, the reviewer signs the bottom-right “Approved” block, applies the Department’s stamp, and mails or uploads the stamped C-5 back to the filer. The stamped form is what the bank wants to see.
If the Department finds an unpaid liability, it issues a Notice of Tax Due to the filer rather than approving the release. The filer must pay the liability — through the OH|TAX eServices portal or by check — before the C-5 will be approved. A real-world example: when James Allen’s 2024 IT 1040 turned out to have a $312 balance, the Department held the C-5 until Marcus paid the balance, then issued the release within four business days. A common misconception is that paying the balance “voids” the C-5; it does not — payment unblocks the same C-5 already on file.
If the request is incomplete, the Department issues a Request for Additional Information letter. The filer has 30 days to respond before the case is closed without prejudice and must be refiled.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using an outdated revision of the C-5. Old PDFs route to closed mailboxes; the request is returned unprocessed.
- Writing the probate case number in the Case Number box. The Department’s tracking system is corrupted, forcing a manual re-key and a 2-week delay.
- Transposing digits in the SSN. A single wrong digit produces a “no record” rejection within 48 hours.
- Listing an informal first name in Box 1. A name mismatch with the IT 1040 database triggers a manual hold.
- Using a P.O. Box in Box 4. The school district lookup fails, and the Department flags the case for review.
- Omitting an account from Box 7. The bank refuses to release the missing account because it is not on the stamped form.
- Forgetting the certified death certificate. The case sits in the “pending information” bin until you mail the certificate.
- Failing to attach Letters of Authority or a small-estate affidavit. The Department cannot confirm your standing and denies the request.
- Signing on the “Approved By” line. The signature is invalid, and the C-5 is treated as unsigned.
- Skipping the self-addressed stamped envelope when filing by mail. The stamped release sits in the outbound queue until staff manually request a return address.
- Listing real estate or vehicles in Box 7. Those assets are not covered by the C-5 and confuse the reviewer, slowing approval.
- Filing before the death certificate is issued. The Department cannot verify the date of death and rejects the request.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do download a fresh copy of the C-5 from the Department’s forms library every time you file, because revisions update silently.
- Do confirm the decedent’s school district code with the School District Income Tax Finder before writing it in Box 4.
- Do list every account, even joint or survivorship accounts, in Box 7 because banks release only what is stamped.
- Do file through the OH|TAX eServices portal when speed matters, because the portal cuts processing time roughly in half.
- Do keep a complete copy of the filed packet, including the certified-mail receipt or fax confirmation, for the estate’s permanent file.
- Do call the Estate Tax line at 1-800-977-7711 if 30 days have passed without acknowledgment, because cases occasionally fall out of the queue.
Don’ts
- Don’t sign the C-5 with a relative’s name “to save time”; the signature must be the filer’s own.
- Don’t paraphrase field labels when explaining the form to a bank — quote the exact box numbers from the form.
- Don’t mail the original death certificate without a copy in your file; certified copies cost money to replace.
- Don’t list real estate, vehicles, or personal property in Box 7 because those transfer through probate or title, not the C-5.
- Don’t assume Ohio’s repealed estate tax means the C-5 is unnecessary; banks and brokers still require it.
- Don’t file the C-5 before opening probate if a probate is needed, because Box 6 will be incomplete and trigger a hold.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se
- It is free; the Department charges no fee for the C-5.
- The form is short — one page plus an asset schedule — and most filers can complete it in under an hour.
- Filing yourself keeps you in direct contact with the Estate Tax Unit, which speeds responses.
- Pro se filers often catch family-specific account details an attorney would miss.
- The OH|TAX eServices portal makes online submission straightforward for non-professionals.
Cons of filing pro se
- Mistakes that look small (an SSN digit, an informal name) cause weeks of delay.
- Pro se filers sometimes miss school district tax liabilities that an attorney would expect.
- The 30-day response window after a Request for Additional Information is short for grieving filers.
- Banks occasionally push back on a pro-se-filed release, demanding attorney involvement that adds cost later.
- For estates with out-of-state assets or pre-2013 deaths still being settled, pro se filing increases the odds of missing a liability under ORC 5731.21.
Filing Channels at a Glance
| Channel | Key Details |
|---|---|
| P.O. Box 183050, Columbus, OH 43218-3050; no fee; 3–6 weeks; SASE required | |
| Fax | 1-206-984-3192; no fee; 2–4 weeks; keep fax confirmation |
| Online (OH|TAX eServices) | No fee; 10–18 days; immediate email confirmation |
| In-person | 4485 Northland Ridge Blvd., Columbus; no fee; same queue as mail |
FAQs
Do I need to file a C-5 if Ohio no longer has an estate tax?
Yes. The C-5 still serves as proof to banks and brokers that the decedent owed no Ohio income tax or school district tax, and most institutions require it before releasing accounts.
Is there a filing fee for Form C-5?
No. The Ohio Department of Taxation charges no fee to file or process a C-5 request through any channel.
Can a surviving spouse file a C-5 without opening probate?
Yes. A surviving spouse can file alone for survivorship accounts; write NO PROBATE — SURVIVORSHIP ASSETS ONLY in Box 6 and list the joint accounts in Box 7.
Do I write the probate case number in the Case Number box at the top?
No. The top Case Number box is reserved for the Department’s internal number; the probate case number belongs in Box 6 only.
Should I list jointly owned bank accounts in Box 7?
Yes. List them, because banks still want a stamped release before unfreezing joint accounts, even with right of survivorship.
Do I include the decedent’s house in Box 7?
No. Real estate is not covered by the C-5; transfer of real property uses probate or a transfer-on-death designation affidavit.
Can I file the C-5 online?
Yes. Upload the signed PDF and supporting documents through the OH|TAX eServices portal, which returns a stamped release in 10–18 days.
Does the C-5 have to be notarized?
No. Notarization is not required, although attaching notarized Letters of Authority strengthens the filing if the Department questions standing.
What happens if I write the wrong SSN in Box 2?
No approval is possible until corrected; the Department’s system returns “no record found,” and you must refile a corrected C-5 with a new signature and date.
Do I need a separate C-5 for each bank?
No. One C-5 lists all financial assets in Box 7, and the stamped release covers every account on that schedule.
How long does the Department keep a C-5 case open if I don’t respond to a request for information?
No longer than 30 days; after that, the case closes without prejudice and you must refile from scratch.
Can an attorney sign Box 8 on behalf of an executor?
No. The fiduciary (executor, administrator, surviving spouse, or affidavit filer) must sign personally; attorneys can be listed in Box 5 as the contact but cannot sign Box 8.
What revision of the C-5 is current?
Yes, the current version is Rev. 1/24; older revisions still circulating online are routed to closed addresses and should not be used.
Do I need to attach the death certificate even if I already sent it for probate?
Yes. The Estate Tax Unit does not share files with probate courts, so a certified copy must accompany every C-5 filing.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 1.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 25.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 5.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 6.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 7.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 8.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Form IT-4708 (w/Examples) + FAQs