Butler County Probate Court

Court Services

The Probate Division of the Butler County Court of Common Pleas is more commonly referred to as the Butler County Probate Court.

The Probate Court has jurisdiction over a wide variety of matters including:

Decedent's Estates

To probate wills and appoint executors, administrators;
To direct and control the conduct and settle the accounts of executors and administrators and order distribution of estates
To authorize the transfer of decedent's real and personal property; and,
To construe the meaning of wills,
To accept for filing copies of Ohio Estate Tax Returns

Guardianships and Conservatorships

To appoint guardians for persons who are incapable of taking proper care of the person's self or property
To appoint guardians for minors when necessary
To appoint a conservator at the request of and for a person who is physically infirm
To direct and control the conduct of guardians and conservators, and to settle their accounts

Trusts

To appoint testamentary trustees
To direct and control the conduct of testamentary trustees and to settle their accounts
To terminate a testamentary trust in any case in which a court of equity may do so.
To hear civil actions involving the construction and administration of inter vivos or living trusts

Adoptions

To hear and determine petitions involving the adoption of minors.
To hear and determine petitions involving the adoption of adults
To hear and determine actions seeking the release of information about the birth name of an adopted person and the identity of a person's biological parents and biological siblings
To hear and determine petitions involving the re-adoption of persons born in foreign countries whose adoptions have previously been finalized in country of the person's birth

Name Changes, Correction and Registration of Birth Records

To hear and determine applications seeking the change of name of minors or adults
To hear and determine applications seeking the correction and registration of birth records
Wrongful Death and Minor Settlements
To hear and determine applications seeking approval of the settlement of wrongful death claims
To hear and determine applications seeking approval of the settlement of the claims of minors for personal injury

Mental Illness Cases

To hear and determine cases involving persons who are alleged to be mentally ill subject to court ordered hospitalization

Civil Actions

To render declaratory judgments
To hear and determine cases seeking the construction of wills and trusts
To hear and determine will contests
To hear and determine complaints seeking approval of the sale, mortgage or lease of a decedent's or ward's real property
To hear and determine complaints against persons suspected of having concealed, embezzled, or conveyed away or having been in possession of any moneys, chattels, or choses of action in an estate

Marriage

Other

A more comprehensive description of the jurisdiction of the Probate Court is found in section 2101.24 of the Ohio Revised Code