Ohio Probate Form 2.1, the Application to Probate Will, is the standard probate form a person named in a decedent’s will (or any interested party) files with the county probate court to officially open the will, ask the court to declare it valid, and start the estate administration process. The form is governed by Ohio Rules of Superintendence Rule 51 and the substantive law in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2107. The current revision printed on the form is Rev. 1/1/2002 with later technical updates; always download the version posted on the Ohio Supreme Court Standard Probate Forms page before filing.
Filing Form 2.1 incorrectly or late stalls the entire estate, blocks the executor from selling the house or paying creditors, and can expose the applicant to personal liability under R.C. 2113.18. Ohio probate courts processed roughly 70,000 estate filings in 2024, and county clerks report that about 1 in 5 Form 2.1 submissions is rejected on first review for missing next-of-kin entries, unsigned applications, or wrong county venue.
- 📝 The exact line-by-line meaning of every box on Form 2.1, including the next-of-kin grid most filers fudge.
- ⚖️ How R.C. 2107.11 venue rules decide which county probate court receives the form.
- 💵 Real 2026 county filing fees, accepted payment methods, and e-filing portals for Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Summit, and Lucas counties.
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out walkthroughs covering a surviving spouse, an adult child whose named executor has died, and an out-of-state decedent who owned Ohio real estate.
- 🚫 The ten most common Form 2.1 mistakes and the precise consequence of each, from waived bond surprises to missed creditor windows.
What Form 2.1 Is and Who Must File It
Form 2.1 is the Application to Probate Will, the front-door pleading that asks an Ohio probate court to admit a decedent’s last will and testament to probate. The form is required by Ohio Rule of Superintendence 51, which makes the standard probate forms mandatory in every one of Ohio’s 88 county probate courts. Filing it is the legal moment the will becomes a public record and the court gains jurisdiction over the estate under R.C. 2107.11.
The person who files is called the applicant. The applicant is usually the executor named in the will, but R.C. 2107.10 lets any person interested in the will apply, including a beneficiary, a creditor, or a surviving spouse. If the named executor refuses, has died, or lives out of state and will not serve, an alternate or a beneficiary steps in.
Form 2.1 does not, by itself, appoint the executor. It only admits the will. The applicant typically files Form 2.1 together with Form 4.0 Application for Authority to Administer Estate, so the court can both validate the will and appoint the fiduciary at the same hearing. Skipping Form 4.0 leaves the estate with a valid will but no one with legal power to act.
You must file Form 2.1 in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent lived in Ohio, that is their home county. If the decedent lived outside Ohio but owned Ohio real estate, file in the county where the real estate sits, which opens an ancillary administration under R.C. 2129.04.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gathering paperwork before you open the form prevents the most common rejections. Ohio probate clerks will not accept a partial filing, and missing the original will is grounds for an immediate denial under R.C. 2107.26. Build the file below before you write a single entry.
- The original signed will, not a photocopy. R.C. 2107.26 requires the original. A copy triggers a separate “lost will” proceeding that takes months and needs two witnesses.
- A certified copy of the death certificate. Order at least three from the Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics office. Banks, the BMV, and the court each want one.
- Decedent’s full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and last address. The court cross-checks the death certificate.
- Decedent’s Social Security number. Used internally by the court and by the IRS for the estate’s Form 1041.
- A complete list of next of kin under R.C. 2105.06. Names, addresses, ages, and relationship. This includes heirs even if they are not named in the will.
- Names and addresses of every beneficiary in the will. Including charities and contingent beneficiaries.
- Estimated value of probate assets, split between real estate and personal property. Use county auditor values for real estate.
- The names and addresses of the will’s witnesses. R.C. 2107.03 requires two.
- A government-issued photo ID for the applicant. Counties verify identity at filing.
- The filing fee in the form your county accepts. Franklin County, for example, takes credit cards on its e-filing portal, while smaller counties may demand check or cash.
If a single piece is missing, the clerk will time-stamp your filing but flag it as deficient, and the case will not move to a magistrate until you cure the defect.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Download Form 2.1 directly from the Ohio Supreme Court Standard Probate Forms page, which posts the most current PDF the moment Rule 51 is amended. Avoid third-party websites that host stale revisions, because clerks reject obsolete versions on sight.
Many counties also post locally-branded copies that include the court’s address and case number formatting. The Cuyahoga County Probate Court forms page, the Franklin County Probate Court forms page, the Hamilton County Probate Court forms page, the Summit County Probate Court forms page, and the Lucas County Probate Court forms page all link to fillable PDFs.
The form is two pages. Page 1 contains the application itself. Page 2 contains the Entry Admitting Will to Probate, signed by the judge. You complete the caption on page 2 but leave the signature lines for the judge.
You can fill the PDF on a computer using Adobe Acrobat Reader or print it and write in black ink. Counties on e-filing systems require a typed PDF, while paper-filing counties accept either. Never use pencil, never use white-out, and never strike through entries — start over on a clean form instead.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form 2.1 Line by Line
Form 2.1 looks short, but every line carries weight. Walk it from the caption down, and resist the urge to skip the boxes that look optional.
Caption: Court, County, and Case Number
The top of the form names the probate court that will hear the estate. The caption reads “IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, PROBATE DIVISION, _ COUNTY, OHIO.”
Type the county where the decedent was domiciled, in all caps, on the blank line. FRANKLIN is the correct entry for a Columbus resident.
Maria Lopez, a Worthington widow, types FRANKLIN in the county blank because her husband Carlos was domiciled in Franklin County under R.C. 2107.11.
If the decedent split time between two homes, file where they were registered to vote and where their driver’s license listed an address. Snowbirds with Florida addresses but Ohio voter registration are still Ohio domiciliaries.
The most common mistake is filing in the county of death rather than domicile. A man who lived in Cuyahoga County but died in a Lucas County hospital must be probated in Cuyahoga, and a Lucas filing will be transferred or dismissed.
A common misconception is that you can pick the most convenient county. Venue is jurisdictional, and a wrong-county filing wastes the filing fee.
Estate of [Decedent’s Full Legal Name]
This line names the estate. Write the decedent’s full legal name exactly as it appears on the death certificate.
Use first, middle, and last names with no nicknames. CARLOS RAMÓN LOPEZ is correct; Charlie Lopez is not.
Maria writes CARLOS RAMÓN LOPEZ because that is the name printed on the certified death certificate from the Ohio Department of Health.
If the decedent used an alias or a maiden name on assets, add an “a.k.a.” line. CARLOS RAMÓN LOPEZ a.k.a. CARLOS R. LOPEZ protects the estate when a bank account is titled differently.
The common mistake here is using a nickname or initials. Banks and title companies will refuse to release assets to “Charlie Lopez” when the court order names “Carlos R. Lopez.”
A common misconception is that the will controls the spelling. The death certificate controls, because that is the document the Bureau of Vital Statistics indexes.
Case Number
Leave this blank if you are filing in person; the clerk assigns it. On e-filing portals like the Franklin County portal, the system auto-generates the case number after payment.
If you are filing a supplemental document in an already-open case, copy the existing case number from the docket. 547123 is a typical Franklin County format.
Aisha Thompson, filing the second amendment to her grandfather’s case, copies 2026 ES 0004821 from the original docket entry.
If two estates run for the same decedent in different counties (a rare scenario in ancillary cases), each county has its own case number. Do not mix them.
The mistake is guessing a number to “complete” the form. Clerks will not file a form with a fabricated case number, and an internal audit can flag the entry as fraud.
A common misconception is that the case number is on the will. It is not — it is assigned at the courthouse.
Paragraph 1: Applicant’s Statement of Decedent’s Death
The form reads: “Applicant states that decedent died on _, domiciled in _.” Fill in the date of death and the city/state of domicile.
Use MM/DD/YYYY for the date and the city plus “Ohio” for domicile. 03/14/2026, Worthington, Ohio is the correct format.
Maria writes 03/14/2026, Worthington, Ohio because Carlos died at home in Worthington on Pi Day.
If the decedent died abroad or in another state but was domiciled in Ohio, the date is still the death-certificate date, and the domicile is the Ohio city. A snowbird who died in Naples, Florida, but lived in Westerville, Ohio, gets Westerville, Ohio on this line.
The common mistake is entering the date the will was found, not the date of death. The court uses this date to start the R.C. 2117.06 six-month creditor claim clock, and a wrong date can shorten or extend that window improperly.
A common misconception is that the time of death matters. It does not — only the date.
Paragraph 2: Statement That the Document Is the Decedent’s Will
The form recites that the attached writing is the decedent’s last will and testament. The applicant signs this representation under R.C. 2107.18.
You do not type anything here unless the will has codicils. If there are codicils, write Will dated 06/01/2020 and Codicil dated 09/15/2023 in the margin or attach a rider.
Marcus Bell, probating his father’s 2018 will and 2022 codicil, lists both documents and dates so the court admits both writings together.
If the will is a self-proving will under R.C. 2107.04, note that fact. Self-proving wills skip the witness deposition step and save weeks.
The mistake is attaching only the codicil and forgetting the original will, or vice versa. The court admits whichever document is attached, and a missing original triggers a lost-will hearing.
A common misconception is that a notarized will is automatically self-proving. It is only self-proving if it includes the statutory self-proving affidavit.
Paragraph 3: Names and Addresses of Witnesses
R.C. 2107.03 requires two witnesses. List both, with current addresses, even if you must track them down.
Use full legal names and current mailing addresses, not the addresses on the will if the witnesses moved.
Maria lists Janet Kim, 412 Oak St., Columbus, OH 43215 and Robert Hayes, 88 Maple Ln., Dublin, OH 43017, because both notarized Carlos’s will at his attorney’s office.
If a witness is dead, write deceased and attach a death certificate. If the will is self-proving, the court can dispense with witness testimony, but you still list the original witnesses.
The mistake is listing the notary as a witness. A notary is not a witness unless they also signed the attestation clause as a witness, which is rare.
A common misconception is that you can substitute a new witness. You cannot — the court only accepts the people who actually saw the testator sign.
Paragraph 4: Surviving Spouse, Children, and Next of Kin
This is the most important and most-botched section of Form 2.1. List every person who would inherit under R.C. 2105.06 if there were no will, regardless of whether they are in the will.
Provide each person’s name, address, age (or “adult”), and relationship to the decedent. Use a separate Form 2.0 if you run out of space.
Janet, probating her 22-year marriage, lists herself as surviving spouse, her two adult children, and her late husband’s son from a prior marriage — even though that son is disinherited in the will.
If next of kin are unknown, you must show diligent search, including obituary review, genealogy databases, and certified-mail attempts. Filing with “unknown” without a search affidavit invites a Civ.R. 60(B) motion to vacate.
The mistake is listing only the people named in the will. Disinherited heirs still get notice under R.C. 2107.19, and skipping them voids the admission of the will.
A common misconception is that adopted-out children do not count. They sometimes do — see R.C. 3107.15 for the carve-outs.
Paragraph 5: Estimated Value of the Estate — Real Property
Enter the estimated fair market value of Ohio real estate that passes through probate. Use the county auditor’s appraised value as a floor.
Round to the nearest dollar and write the number with a dollar sign. $285,000 is the correct format.
Marcus enters $312,400 for his father’s Bexley colonial, taken from the Franklin County Auditor’s website.
Real estate held in joint-and-survivorship deeds, transfer-on-death affidavits, or revocable trusts is not probate real estate and is excluded from this box. Listing non-probate property inflates the bond and invites court correction.
The mistake is using the purchase price from 1998. The court uses this figure to set the bond under R.C. 2109.04, and a stale value leaves the estate underbonded.
A common misconception is that mortgage debt reduces the value here. It does not — list gross value, not equity.
Paragraph 6: Estimated Value of the Estate — Personal Property
Enter the estimated value of probate personal property: bank accounts, vehicles, brokerage accounts, jewelry, and tangible personal items.
Round to the nearest dollar. $74,500 is correct.
Maria enters $62,300, covering Carlos’s solo checking account, his 2019 Toyota Camry, and his coin collection.
Exclude POD/TOD accounts, jointly-held accounts with right of survivorship, life insurance with named beneficiaries, and IRAs with named beneficiaries. They pass outside probate under R.C. 5815.36 and similar statutes.
The mistake is including the decedent’s 401(k). Retirement accounts with a named beneficiary bypass probate, and listing them inflates the inventory and the bond premium.
A common misconception is that household goods must be appraised individually. A reasonable lump-sum estimate is acceptable on Form 2.1, with the detailed inventory coming later on Form 6.0.
Paragraph 7: Prayer for Relief
The form asks the court to admit the will to probate. No data goes here, but the applicant must read and adopt the language by signing below.
Read the paragraph in full. By signing, you swear under R.C. 2921.13 that the application is truthful, and a false statement is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Aisha pauses to read this paragraph because her grandfather’s will leaves nothing to her uncle, and she wants to be sure her statements about next of kin are complete.
If the will nominates a co-executor who refuses to serve, attach a written renunciation. The prayer can then ask the court to appoint the remaining executor solely.
The mistake is signing without reading. The signature is sworn, and clerks will not warn you.
A common misconception is that the prayer is boilerplate that does not bind you. It is the operative request that gives the court power to act, and inaccuracies can void the order.
Applicant’s Signature, Address, and Phone
Sign in black ink (paper) or apply a digital signature (e-filing). Print your name, mailing address, and phone below the signature.
Use a current address where the court can mail orders. Maria Lopez, 1245 Larchmont Rd., Worthington, OH 43085, (614) 555-0142 is correctly formatted.
Maria signs by hand on her paper filing in the Franklin County clerk’s office, while Marcus uploads a typed-name PDF signature through the Cuyahoga County e-file system.
If the applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney’s signature, Ohio Supreme Court attorney number, and bar address go below the applicant’s. The applicant still signs.
The mistake is letting the attorney sign for the applicant. Form 2.1 requires the applicant’s sworn signature, and an attorney-only signature is treated as deficient.
A common misconception is that an electronic signature is invalid. Ohio courts accept e-signatures under R.C. 1306.06 on every county portal that supports e-filing.
Page 2: Entry Admitting Will to Probate
Page 2 is the judge’s order, but you fill the caption (court, county, case number, estate name) at the top so the order matches the application.
Type the same caption fields. Leave the body of the order, the date, and the judge’s signature line blank.
Janet types her caption identically to page 1, ensuring the case style on the order matches the application word for word.
If your county uses a separate Entry form, you may not need this page. Cuyahoga, for example, generates the order electronically.
The mistake is signing the entry yourself or pre-dating it. Only the probate judge signs the entry, and a pre-signed entry is a void document.
A common misconception is that the entry is automatic on filing. The judge signs only after reviewing the will, the witness affidavit (or self-proving clause), and the next-of-kin list.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Three named filers carry distinct fact patterns through the entire form. Read each table to see exactly what an applicant types.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, Surviving Spouse with Simple Estate (Franklin County)
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| County (Caption) | FRANKLIN |
| Estate of | CARLOS RAMÓN LOPEZ |
| Case Number | (left blank — assigned by clerk) |
| Date of death and domicile | 03/14/2026, Worthington, Ohio |
| Will and codicils | Will dated 02/10/2019, self-proving under R.C. 2107.04 |
| Witnesses | Janet Kim, 412 Oak St., Columbus, OH 43215; Robert Hayes, 88 Maple Ln., Dublin, OH 43017 |
| Next of kin | Maria Lopez (spouse), 1245 Larchmont Rd., Worthington — Sofia Lopez (daughter, adult), 220 N. High St., Columbus |
| Real property value | $285,000 |
| Personal property value | $62,300 |
| Applicant signature | Maria Lopez, 1245 Larchmont Rd., Worthington, OH 43085, (614) 555-0142 |
Scenario 2: Marcus Bell, Adult Child Where Named Executor Has Died (Cuyahoga County)
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| County (Caption) | CUYAHOGA |
| Estate of | DAVID ANTHONY BELL |
| Case Number | (auto-generated by Cuyahoga e-file) |
| Date of death and domicile | 01/22/2026, Shaker Heights, Ohio |
| Will and codicils | Will dated 06/01/2018; named executor (Helen Bell) predeceased on 11/03/2024 |
| Witnesses | Priya Shah, 1500 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118; Daniel Okafor, 27 Fairmount Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH 44120 |
| Next of kin | Marcus Bell (son, adult); Lily Bell-Reeves (daughter, adult); Tyler Bell (son from prior marriage, adult, disinherited) |
| Real property value | $312,400 |
| Personal property value | $148,750 |
| Applicant signature | Marcus T. Bell, 3402 Daleford Rd., Shaker Heights, OH 44120, (216) 555-0188 |
Scenario 3: Janet Whitford, Out-of-State Decedent with Ohio Real Estate (Lucas County, Ancillary)
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| County (Caption) | LUCAS |
| Estate of | HAROLD GENE WHITFORD |
| Case Number | (left blank — clerk assigns) |
| Date of death and domicile | 11/05/2025, Naples, Florida (ancillary admin per R.C. 2129.04) |
| Will and codicils | Will dated 04/12/2010, admitted to probate in Collier County, Florida on 12/01/2025 — exemplified copy attached |
| Witnesses | Diane Walters, 800 5th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102; Kevin Hartwell, 425 Tamiami Tr., Naples, FL 34102 |
| Next of kin | Janet Whitford (spouse), 800 5th Ave. S., Naples, FL — Eric Whitford (son, adult), 1900 Madison Ave., Toledo, OH 43604 |
| Real property value | $198,000 (Toledo duplex on Bancroft St.) |
| Personal property value | $0 (no Ohio personal property) |
| Applicant signature | Janet Whitford, 800 5th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102, (239) 555-0177 |
How to File the Completed Form
Form 2.1 is filed in the county probate court that has venue. Each Ohio county sets its own filing logistics, but every county accepts at least paper filing in person or by mail, and the largest counties accept e-filing.
E-filing. Franklin County accepts e-filings through the Franklin County Probate Court e-file portal, with a $100 deposit toward costs paid by Visa, Mastercard, or eCheck. Processing typically takes 3–5 business days. Save the system-generated confirmation email as proof of filing.
In-person filing. Walk the original will, the completed Form 2.1, the death certificate, and the supporting forms (2.0, 4.0, and any waivers) to the clerk’s window. The Cuyahoga County Probate Court is at 1 W. Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113, and accepts cash, check, money order, or credit card. Filing fees in 2026 run roughly $100–$160 statewide. The clerk time-stamps your copy on the spot, which is your proof of filing.
Mail filing. Mail to the probate court mailing address with the original will, the application, supporting forms, the certified death certificate, and a check made out to the court. The Hamilton County Probate Court mails to 230 E. Ninth St., 10th Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Use certified mail with return receipt and keep the green card. Mail processing runs 7–14 business days.
Fax. Most Ohio probate courts no longer accept fax filings for original wills, because the original signed will must be in the file. Confirm with the local clerk before relying on fax.
After filing, the case is set for a hearing within 4–6 weeks. The court issues the entry admitting the will, and the executor receives Form 4.5 Letters of Authority once Form 4.0 is also approved.
What Happens After You File
After Form 2.1 is filed, the clerk dockets the case and routes it to a magistrate or the judge. The court reviews the will for facial validity, confirms the witness affidavit (or the self-proving clause), and checks that next of kin are identified.
Within roughly 30 days, the court issues the Entry Admitting Will to Probate, which is the order on page 2 of the form. This entry makes the will a public record, and any person who wants to challenge the will has three months from the entry to file a will contest under R.C. 2107.71.
The executor named in the will (or the substitute approved through Form 4.0) is appointed and receives Letters of Authority. With those Letters, the executor can open an estate bank account, marshal assets, and pay bills. The six-month creditor claim window of R.C. 2117.06 starts running from the date of death, not the date of admission, so move quickly.
Notice of probate is then sent to all beneficiaries and next of kin via Form 2.4 Notice of Probate of Will. If notices are not returned within 2 months, the court can dispense with further service, and the will becomes incontestable after the 3-month statutory window closes.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing in the wrong county. Venue is jurisdictional under R.C. 2107.11, and the case is dismissed or transferred, costing weeks.
- Submitting a copy instead of the original will. R.C. 2107.26 demands the original, and a copy triggers a lost-will hearing.
- Listing only beneficiaries and skipping disinherited heirs. The court will reject the application until every next-of-kin under R.C. 2105.06 is listed.
- Using nicknames for the decedent’s name. Banks and title companies will not match the order to the asset, and the executor cannot collect.
- Including non-probate assets in the value boxes. Inflated values raise the bond premium and waste fiduciary funds.
- Forgetting the witness addresses or listing outdated ones. The court mails witness deposition forms, and bounced mail stalls admission.
- Pre-signing or pre-dating the page-2 Entry. Only the judge signs; a pre-signed order is treated as a forgery and can spoil the entire filing.
- Failing to attach a death certificate. The case is held without a certified record of death, even though the form does not always list the certificate as required.
- Letting the attorney sign in place of the applicant. Form 2.1 is a sworn statement of the applicant; attorney-only signatures are deficient.
- Missing the filing fee or paying with the wrong method. Some counties refuse personal checks from out-of-state filers, and the case sits unfiled.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do download the form from the Ohio Supreme Court forms page so you have the current revision.
- Do order at least three certified death certificates so other agencies can be served simultaneously.
- Do file Form 4.0 alongside Form 2.1 so the executor is appointed at the same hearing.
- Do call the county clerk before filing to confirm the 2026 filing fee, because counties update fees annually.
- Do keep a complete copy of every page you file, plus the time-stamped receipt.
- Do list every next of kin, even if disinherited, to satisfy R.C. 2107.19 notice rules.
- Don’t white-out or strike through entries — start a clean form instead, because clerks reject altered pages.
- Don’t mail the original will without certified mail tracking, because a lost original triggers a lost-will hearing.
- Don’t estimate values from memory; pull current county auditor data and bank statements.
- Don’t sign the application before reading the prayer paragraph, because the signature is sworn under R.C. 2921.13.
- Don’t assume self-proving wills skip every step — witnesses still must be listed.
- Don’t wait months to file, because the creditor claim clock under R.C. 2117.06 is already running.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Some applicants file Form 2.1 pro se, while others hire a probate attorney. The choice depends on estate size, family conflict, and your tolerance for procedure.
Pros of filing pro se:
- Lower cost. You save the typical 1–4% probate attorney fee allowed under Sup.R. 71.
- Direct control. You set the pace and respond to the court yourself.
- Privacy. No third party reads the family’s private documents until the court does.
- Educational. Many Ohio counties post step-by-step guides such as the Franklin County Probate Court’s pro se packet.
- Fast for simple estates. Surviving-spouse-only estates often clear in 90 days without legal help.
Cons of filing pro se:
- One bad next-of-kin entry can void the will admission, exposing the applicant to personal liability under R.C. 2113.18.
- Will contests are highly technical and the 3-month deadline of R.C. 2107.71 is unforgiving.
- Bond and inventory rules trip up first-time filers, especially when non-probate assets are mistakenly listed.
- Tax filings like the federal Form 1041 and Ohio fiduciary tax are easy to miss.
- County local rules vary widely, and a misstep delays distributions to grieving heirs.
FAQs
Do I file Form 2.1 in the county where my parent died or where they lived?
No. File in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death under R.C. 2107.11, not the county where the death occurred or the hospital is located.
Can I file Form 2.1 without an attorney?
Yes. Ohio probate courts allow pro se filers, and most counties post guides; complex estates with contested wills, business interests, or out-of-state assets still benefit from counsel.
Do I list disinherited children in the next-of-kin section?
Yes. R.C. 2105.06 heirs must all be listed and noticed under R.C. 2107.19, even if the will leaves them nothing.
Is a photocopy of the will acceptable?
No. R.C. 2107.26 demands the original; a copy triggers a separate lost-will proceeding requiring two witnesses and clear-and-convincing proof.
Do I include a 401(k) in the personal property value?
No. Retirement accounts with a named beneficiary pass outside probate under federal law and are excluded from Form 2.1 paragraph 6.
Should I write the date the will was signed in paragraph 1?
No. Paragraph 1 asks for the date of death, not the date the will was signed; using the will date misstates jurisdiction and the creditor clock.
Can my attorney sign Form 2.1 on my behalf?
No. The applicant must personally sign because Form 2.1 is sworn under R.C. 2921.13; attorney-only signatures are deficient.
Is the filing fee the same in every county?
No. Fees vary by county and run roughly $100 to $160 in 2026; confirm the exact figure with your county probate clerk before filing.
Do witnesses have to come to court?
No. If the will is self-proving under R.C. 2107.04, the court accepts the affidavit; otherwise the court mails a deposition form to each witness.
How long do I have to file Form 2.1 after the death?
No statute sets a hard deadline, but R.C. 2107.46 lets interested parties compel production of the will, and the creditor clock under R.C. 2117.06 keeps running.
Can I e-file Form 2.1 in every Ohio county?
No. Only counties with e-file portals — including Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, and Summit — accept electronic filings; smaller counties remain paper-only.
Should I include the value of jointly-held real estate in paragraph 5?
No. Survivorship and transfer-on-death real estate passes outside probate, so it does not belong in the real-property estimate on Form 2.1.
Do I list the will’s witnesses even if the will is self-proving?
Yes. Paragraph 3 requires names and addresses of the witnesses regardless of self-proving status, because the court keeps a complete record.
Is Form 2.1 the only form I need to start a probate?
No. Most filers also submit Form 2.0, Form 2.4, and Form 4.0 at the same time so the executor is appointed quickly.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Ohio Application for Name Change + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 11.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 2.0 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Ohio Probate Form 4.0 (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 Arkansas Petition for Probate of Will (w/Examples) + FAQs