Probate & Estate Administration

Probate is the legal process by which assets titled in a decedent’s name are transferred to his or her heirs or beneficiaries. The entire process is supervised by the probate court of the county in which the decedent resided. If the decedent prepared a Will, the probate court will ensure that the directions contained in the Will are properly carried out. If the decedent had no Will or estate planning documents, the probate court will supervise the distribution of the decedent’s property to the persons designated to receive them by Ohio law.

The administration of a typical estate will involve the following procedures:

  • The admission of the Will to probate;
  • The notification of all heirs;
  • The inventory and valuation of the decedent’s assets;
  • The presentation and payment of claims against the estate; and
  • The distribution of assets to the appropriate beneficiaries

The cost and duration of the probate process can vary substantially depending on a number of factors such as the value and complexity of the estate, the existence of a Will and the location of real property included in the estate. Will contests or disputes with alleged creditors over the debts of the estate can also add significant cost and delay. Common expenses of an estate include executors fees, attorneys fees, accounting fees, court fees, appraisal costs, and surety bonds. These typically add up to 5% to 7% of the total estate value. Most estates are settled though probate in about 9 to 12 months, assuming there is no litigation involved.

Client Probate Worksheet

Non-Probate Assets

Certain types of assets referred to “non-probate assets” are not required to be administered through the probate process. These include:

  • Property in which you and another person own title as joint tenants with right of survivorship.
  • Retirement accounts such as IRA and 401(k) accounts where there are designated death beneficiaries.
  • Life insurance policies with proper beneficiary designations.
  • Bank accounts with pay on death (POD) designations
  • Property owned by a living trust. Legal title to such property passes to successor trustee without having to go through probate.

About Joseph L. Motta

Attorney at Law

Joseph L. Motta earned his B.A. from Ohio Northern University and his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Motta served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas D. Lambros of the United States District Court for the Northern Ohio District of Ohio. Mr. Motta has practiced in the areas of business and real estate law in addition to estate planning and elder law.

Mr. Motta is a lifelong resident of the Cleveland area and currently resides in Avon Lake.

Professional Affiliations

  • Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law section of the Ohio State Bar Association
  •  Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law section of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
  • Estate Planning Council of Cleveland
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
  • Elder Counsel
Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts

Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts

Proper estate planning involves the design and implementation of a strategy to protect your family in the event of incapacity or disability as well as death.

Long Term Care Planning

Long Term Care & Medicaid Planning

Most long term care is not medical care, but assistance with the basic personal tasks of everyday life or activities of daily living (ADL’s).

probate administration attorney in Westlake

Probate & Estate Administration Lawyer

Probate is the legal process by which assets titled in a decedent’s name are transferred to his or her heirs or beneficiaries.

Veteran Aid and Attendance Benefits

Veteran's Aid & Attendance Benefits

Veterans 65 and older or their surviving spouses may qualify for an Aid and Attendance Pension that can help pay long term care expenses.