Planning ahead
Estate planning
- Wills and living trusts
- Powers of attorney and health care directives
- Special needs and irrevocable trusts
- Flat-fee plans, explained before any work starts
Indian Hill estate planning and probate lawyers
Wills, trusts and probate for Indian Hill, officially The City of the Village of Indian Hill, in Hamilton County.
- Free first consultation
- Flat-fee estate plans
- Offices in Loveland and Blue Ash
Where an estate is filed
Hamilton County Probate Court
William Howard Taft Center, 230 East Ninth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Officially
The City of the Village of Indian Hill
Hamilton County
How we meet
In person, phone or Zoom
First consultation is free
How we help Indian Hill families
Whether you are planning ahead or handling things after a loss, you work directly with an attorney who explains every step in plain language.
After a loss
Probate and trust administration
- Guidance for executors, start to finish
- Estates with or without a will
- Settling a trust after a loved one passes
- Will and estate disputes
Land, trusts and privacy
How each parcel is titled matters
When a property includes acreage or more than one parcel, each deed decides how it passes. A living trust or transfer on death designation affidavit can keep it out of probate.
Settling privately
Probate filings are public. A funded living trust lets a trustee settle things without opening a probate case.
When probate is needed
Indian Hill is in Hamilton County, so estates are opened at the Hamilton County Probate Court downtown.
Probate in Indian Hill
Ohio sets the steps: open the estate, file the inventory within three months of appointment, allow six months from the date of death for creditor claims, then distribute and close.
Smaller estates, $35,000 or less, or $100,000 or less when a surviving spouse inherits everything, may qualify for a shorter release from administration.
Sources: Ohio Revised Code 2115.02, 2117.06 and 2113.03.
Visiting the court
Hamilton County Probate Court
- William Howard Taft Center, 230 East Ninth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- (513) 946-3570 · probatect.org
We prepare and file the forms for you, and keep you updated on every court date.
You meet with an attorney, every time
Every consultation is with one of our estate planning and probate attorneys, backed by a team that keeps you updated between meetings.
“Most families don’t need the most complicated plan. They need the right one, explained in plain English.”
Steve R. Wolterman
Founding Attorney
Wills, trusts and probate for Ohio families since founding the firm in 2008.
- Admitted to the Ohio bar in 2007
- J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law
- B.S. Finance, Clemson University
- Certified Exchange Specialist (CES)
“Probate is a lot to handle after a loss. My job is to make sure you always know what happens next.”
Cassidy Carstens
Attorney
Focuses on probate administration for estates of all sizes, and on estate planning.
- With the firm since 2015, from secretary to attorney
- J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law
- Admitted to the Ohio bar in 2023
- B.S. Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati
And the team behind them
Emily Ames
Office Manager
Scheduling, documents and updates between meetings.
Alex Brammer
Client Services Coordinator
Document signings and help getting everything finalized.
Henrietta Heywood
Client Care Coordinator
Answers your calls, schedules meetings and checks in with clients.
“Two weeks later I have everything in place, filed, and feel like I have checked a major box off my to do list.”
Indian Hill questions
Does land have to go through probate in Ohio?
Real estate in one person's name alone usually does. Land held in a living trust, by survivorship deed, or with a recorded transfer on death designation affidavit (Ohio Revised Code 5302.22) generally does not.
Which probate court handles an estate from Indian Hill?
An estate is opened in the probate court of the county where the person lived. For Indian Hill, that is the Hamilton County Probate Court, at William Howard Taft Center, 230 East Ninth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
Does Ohio have an estate tax?
No. Ohio repealed its estate tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2013. Most families plan around probate, incapacity and who inherits, not taxes.
How much does an estate plan cost?
Our estate plans are a flat fee, and we go over your exact cost at the free consultation before any work starts.
Can I be an executor if I live outside Ohio?
Often, yes. Ohio allows a nonresident to serve in many cases, especially a close relative named in the will (Ohio Revised Code 2109.21). We handle the local filings so you do not have to be here for each step.
Communities we serve nearby
Families across Greater Cincinnati work with our Loveland and Blue Ash offices.
Talk with an attorney for free
Tell us what is going on and we will explain your options and the next step.