If you had an Ohio relative (or friend) who died without much property, and you have agreed in writing to cover the costs of the funeral and burial, then you may be entitled to his or her limited assets to help offset those costs.

Ohio statute provides for a summary release from estate administration under certain specific circumstances. The recently departed’s assets must have a total value of less than $5,000 or the cost of his or her funeral and burial expenses, whichever is lower.
You must provide a listing of the relative’s property, such as a vehicle and/or a bank account, and the estimated value. You must also provide written documentation that you are obligated to pay the funeral and burial expenses.

After payment of the required fees and the filing of the required forms, the Ohio county probate court is to issue an order granting a summary release of the estate from administration. A certified copy of this order should work to have the property, such as the vehicle title or bank account, transferred into your name. The property then becomes your property.

The intent of this law is the efficient administration of small estates so that a person who agrees to pay the costs of the funeral and burial expenses can have those costs offset by whatever limited resources that the deceased relative left.

If you have a relative of modest means who recently passed away in Ohio, and you have agreed in writing to pay the funeral and burial costs, call attorney Mark Tipton of Tipton Law Firm, LLC to discuss your situation. It may be that you are entitled to the relative’s property to help defray the costs you agreed to pay. There is no fee to speak directly to the attorney, and the telephone number to call is 419-636-0010.

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