As Passed by the Senate                       1            

123rd General Assembly                                             4            

   Regular Session                         Am. Sub. H. B. No. 313  5            

      1999-2000                                                    6            


   REPRESENTATIVE SALERNO-TIBERI-SULZER-O'BRIEN-DePIERO-BOYD-      8            

  MOTTLEY-CORE-AMSTUTZ-BARRETT-SULLIVAN-VERICH-WOMER BENJAMIN-     9            

   BARNES-JONES-SENATORS HERINGTON-ESPY-LATTA-SPADA-OELSLAGER-     10           

                       CUPP-WHITE-GARDNER                          11           


_________________________________________________________________   13           

                          A   B I L L                                           

             To amend sections 319.54, 1109.07, 1339.411,          15           

                1339.68, 2101.12, 2101.16, 2101.24, 2106.10,       17           

                2106.13, 2106.18, 2107.501, 2113.03, 2113.61,      18           

                2131.10, 5111.11, 5302.01, 5302.02, and 5731.21                 

                and to enact sections 2113.031, 5302.22, and       19           

                5302.23 of the Revised Code to permit, without     20           

                appointing a fiduciary or following release from   21           

                administration procedures, the transfer of titled               

                assets of a decedent to certain persons who pay    22           

                or are obligated to pay the decedent's funeral                  

                expenses; to permit any person, entity, or         23           

                organization to be a beneficiary of a POD bank     24           

                account; to remove the requirement that the value  26           

                of the two automobiles that a decedent's                        

                surviving spouse may select from the decedent's    27           

                estate be determined by an appraisal and to        28           

                permit the surviving spouse to select a truck                   

                under that law even if the decedent owned an       29           

                automobile; to extend the statutory exemption to   31           

                the doctrine of ademption to a sale of                          

                specifically devised or bequeathed property by an  32           

                agent acting under a power of attorney or durable               

                power of attorney; to specify the circumstances    34           

                under which a spendthrift provision in a trust                  

                that holds property granted to a skip person and   35           

                                                          2      


                                                                 
                qualifying as a nontaxable gift for purposes of    36           

                the federal generation-skipping transfer tax       37           

                would or would not cause a forfeiture or                        

                postponement of an interest in that property; and  38           

                to permit an owner of an interest in real          39           

                property to designate on a deed one or more                     

                beneficiaries to take title to the interest upon   40           

                the death of the grantee under the deed without    41           

                having to go through probate.                                   




BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:        43           

      Section 1.  That sections 319.54, 1109.07, 1339.411,         45           

1339.68, 2101.12, 2101.16, 2101.24, 2106.10, 2106.13, 2106.18,     47           

2107.501, 2113.03, 2113.61, 2131.10, 5111.11, 5302.01, 5302.02,    48           

and 5731.21 be amended and sections 2113.031, 5302.22, and         49           

5302.23 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:         50           

      Sec. 319.54.  (A)  On all moneys collected by the county     59           

treasurer on any tax duplicate of the county, other than estate    60           

tax duplicates, and on all moneys received as advance payments of  61           

personal property and classified property taxes, the county        62           

auditor, on settlement with the treasurer and tax commissioner,    63           

on or before the date prescribed by law for such settlement or     64           

any lawful extension of such date, shall be allowed as             65           

compensation for the county auditor's services the following       66           

percentages:                                                       67           

      (1)  On the first one hundred thousand dollars, two and      69           

one-half per cent;                                                 70           

      (2)  On the next two million dollars, eight thousand three   72           

hundred eighteen ten-thousandths of one per cent;                  73           

      (3)  On the next two million dollars, six thousand six       75           

hundred fifty-five ten-thousandths of one per cent;                76           

      (4)  On all further sums, one thousand six hundred           78           

sixty-three ten-thousandths of one per cent.                       79           

                                                          3      


                                                                 
      If any settlement is not made on or before the date          81           

prescribed by law for such settlement or any lawful extension of   82           

such date, the aggregate compensation allowed to the auditor       83           

shall be reduced one per cent for each day such settlement is      84           

delayed after the prescribed date.  No penalty shall apply if the  85           

auditor and treasurer grant all requests for advances up to        86           

ninety per cent of the settlement pursuant to section 321.34 of    87           

the Revised Code.  The compensation allowed in accordance with     88           

this section on settlements made before the dates prescribed by    89           

law, or the reduced compensation allowed in accordance with this   90           

section on settlements made after the date prescribed by law or    91           

any lawful extension of such date, shall be apportioned ratably    92           

by the auditor and deducted from the shares or portions of the     93           

revenue payable to the state as well as to the county, townships,  94           

municipal corporations, and school districts.                      95           

      (B)  From all moneys collected by the county treasurer on    97           

any tax duplicate of the county, other than estate tax             98           

duplicates, and on all moneys received as advance payments of      99           

personal property and classified property taxes, there shall be    100          

paid into the county treasury to the credit of the real estate     101          

assessment fund created by section 325.31 of the Revised Code, an  102          

amount to be determined by the county auditor, which shall not     103          

exceed the following percentages:                                  104          

      (1)  On the first one hundred thousand dollars, three and    106          

one-half per cent;                                                 107          

      (2)  On the next three million dollars, one and              109          

three-eighths per cent;                                            110          

      (3)  On the next three million dollars, one per cent;        112          

      (4)  On all further sums not exceeding one hundred fifty     114          

million dollars, three-quarters of one per cent;                   115          

      (5)  On amounts exceeding one hundred fifty million          117          

dollars, six-tenths of one per cent.                               118          

      Such compensation shall be apportioned ratably by the        120          

auditor and deducted from the shares or portions of the revenue    121          

                                                          4      


                                                                 
payable to the state as well as to the county, townships,          122          

municipal corporations, and school districts.                      123          

      (C)  Each county auditor shall receive four per cent of the  125          

amount of tax collected and paid into the county treasury, on      126          

property omitted and placed by the county auditor on the tax       127          

duplicate.                                                         128          

      (D)  On all estate tax moneys collected by the county        130          

treasurer, the county auditor, on settlement semiannually with     131          

the tax commissioner, shall be allowed, as compensation for the    132          

auditor's services under Chapter 5731. of the Revised Code, the    134          

following percentages:                                             135          

      (1)  Four per cent on the first one hundred thousand         137          

dollars;                                                           138          

      (2)  One-half of one per cent on all additional sums.        140          

      Such percentages shall be computed upon the amount           142          

collected and reported at each semiannual settlement, and shall    143          

be for the use of the general fund of the county.                  144          

      (E)  On all cigarette license moneys collected by the        146          

county treasurer, the county auditor, on settlement semiannually   147          

with the treasurer, shall be allowed as compensation for the       148          

auditor's services in the issuing of such licenses one-half of     150          

one per cent of such moneys, to be apportioned ratably and         151          

deducted from the shares of the revenue payable to the county and  152          

subdivisions, for the use of the general fund of the county.       153          

      (F)  The county auditor shall charge and receive fees as     155          

follows:                                                           156          

      (1)  For deeds of land sold for taxes to be paid by the      158          

purchaser, five dollars;                                           159          

      (2)  For the transfer or entry of land, lot, or part of      161          

lot, to be paid by the person requiring it, fifty cents for each   162          

transfer;                                                          163          

      (3)  For receiving statements of value and administering     165          

section 319.202 of the Revised Code, one dollar, or ten cents per  166          

hundred dollars for each one hundred dollars, or fraction of one   167          

                                                          5      


                                                                 
hundred dollars, whichever is greater, of the value of the real    169          

property transferred or, for sales occurring on or after January   170          

1, 2000, the value of the used manufactured home or used mobile    173          

home, as defined in division (A)(6) of section 5739.0210 of the    175          

Revised Code, transferred, except no fee shall be charged when     176          

the transfer is made:                                              177          

      (a)  To or from the United States, this state, or any        179          

instrumentality, agency, or political subdivision of the United    180          

States or this state;                                              181          

      (b)  Solely in order to provide or release security for a    183          

debt or obligation;                                                184          

      (c)  To confirm or correct a deed previously executed and    186          

recorded;                                                          187          

      (d)  To evidence a gift, in trust or otherwise and whether   189          

revocable or irrevocable, between husband and wife, or parent and  190          

child or the spouse of either;                                     191          

      (e)  On sale for delinquent taxes or assessments;            193          

      (f)  Pursuant to court order, to the extent that such        195          

transfer is not the result of a sale effected or completed         196          

pursuant to such order;                                            197          

      (g)  Pursuant to a reorganization of corporations or         199          

unincorporated associations or pursuant to the dissolution of a    200          

corporation, to the extent that the corporation conveys the        201          

property to a stockholder as a distribution in kind of the         202          

corporation's assets in exchange for the stockholder's shares in   203          

the dissolved corporation;                                         204          

      (h)  By a subsidiary corporation to its parent corporation   206          

for no consideration, nominal consideration, or in sole            207          

consideration of the cancellation or surrender of the              208          

subsidiary's stock;                                                209          

      (i)  By lease, whether or not it extends to mineral or       211          

mineral rights, unless the lease is for a term of years renewable  212          

forever;                                                           213          

      (j)  When the value of the real property or the              215          

                                                          6      


                                                                 
manufactured or mobile home or the value of the interest that is   217          

conveyed does not exceed one hundred dollars;                                   

      (k)  Of an occupied residential property, including a        219          

manufactured or mobile home, being transferred to the builder of   220          

a new residence or to the dealer of a new manufactured or mobile   221          

home when the former residence is traded as part of the            222          

consideration for the new residence or new manufactured or mobile  223          

home;                                                                           

      (l)  To a grantee other than a dealer in real property or    225          

in manufactured or mobile homes, solely for the purpose of, and    226          

as a step in, the prompt sale of the real property or              227          

manufactured or mobile home to others;                                          

      (m)  To or from a person when no money or other valuable     229          

and tangible consideration readily convertible into money is paid  230          

or to be paid for the real estate or manufactured or mobile home   231          

and the transaction is not a gift;                                 233          

      (n)  Pursuant to division (B) of section 317.22 of the       235          

Revised Code, or to section 2113.61 of the Revised Code, between   237          

spouses or to a surviving spouse pursuant to section 5302.17 of    238          

the Revised Code as it existed prior to April 4, 1985, between     239          

persons pursuant to section 5302.17 or 5302.18 of the Revised      240          

Code on or after April 4, 1985, to a person who is a surviving,    241          

survivorship tenant pursuant to section 5302.17 of the Revised     242          

Code on or after April 4, 1985, or pursuant to section 5309.45 of  243          

the Revised Code;                                                               

      (o)  To a trustee acting on behalf of minor children of the  245          

deceased;                                                          246          

      (p)  Of an easement or right-of-way when the value of the    248          

interest conveyed does not exceed one thousand dollars;            249          

      (q)  Of property sold to a surviving spouse pursuant to      251          

section 2106.16 of the Revised Code;                               252          

      (r)  To or from an organization exempt from federal income   254          

taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of  255          

1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended, provided such    256          

                                                          7      


                                                                 
transfer is without consideration and is in furtherance of the     257          

charitable or public purposes of such organization;                258          

      (s)  Among the heirs at law or devisees, including a         260          

surviving spouse, of a common decedent, when no consideration in   261          

money is paid or to be paid for the real property or manufactured  262          

or mobile home;                                                    263          

      (t)  To a trustee of a trust, when the grantor of the trust  265          

has reserved an unlimited power to revoke the trust;               266          

      (u)  To the grantor of a trust by a trustee of the trust,    268          

when the transfer is made to the grantor pursuant to the exercise  269          

of the grantor's power to revoke the trust or to withdraw trust    270          

assets;                                                                         

      (v)  To the beneficiaries of a trust if the fee was paid on  272          

the transfer from the grantor of the trust to the trustee or if    273          

the transfer is made pursuant to trust provisions which became     274          

irrevocable at the death of the grantor;                           275          

      (w)  To a corporation for incorporation into a sports        277          

facility constructed pursuant to section 307.696 of the Revised    278          

Code;                                                              279          

      (x)  BETWEEN PERSONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5302.18 OF THE      281          

REVISED CODE.                                                                   

      The auditor shall compute and collect the fee.  The auditor  283          

shall maintain a numbered receipt system, as prescribed by the     284          

tax commissioner, and use such receipt system to provide a         285          

receipt to each person paying a fee.  The auditor shall deposit    286          

the receipts of the fees on conveyances in the county treasury     287          

daily to the credit of the general fund of the county.             288          

      The real property transfer fee provided for in division      290          

(F)(3) of this section shall be applicable to any conveyance of    291          

real property presented to the auditor on or after January 1,      292          

1968, regardless of its time of execution or delivery.             293          

      Sec. 1109.07.  (A)  When a deposit is made in the name of    304          

two or more persons, payable to either or the survivor, the bank   305          

may pay all of the deposit, any part of the deposit, or any        306          

                                                          8      


                                                                 
interest earned on the deposit, to either of the named persons,    307          

or the guardian of the estate of either of the named persons,      308          

whether or not the other person is living.  The receipt or         309          

acquittance of the person paid is a sufficient release and         310          

discharge of the bank for any payments made from the account to    311          

that person.                                                                    

      (B)  A bank may enter into a written contract with a         313          

natural person for the proceeds of the person's deposits to be     315          

payable on the death of that person to another natural person OR   316          

TO ANY ENTITY OR ORGANIZATION in accordance with the terms,        318          

restrictions, and limitations set forth in sections 2131.10 and    319          

2131.11 of the Revised Code.                                                    

      Sec. 1339.411.  (A)(1)  Except as provided in divisions      329          

(A)(2) and, (3), AND (4) of this section, a spendthrift provision  330          

in an instrument that creates an inter vivos or testamentary       331          

trust shall not cause any forfeiture or postponement of any        333          

interest in property that satisfies both of the following:                      

      (a)  It is granted to a surviving spouse of the testator or  335          

other settlor.                                                     336          

      (b)  It qualifies for the federal estate tax marital         338          

deduction allowed by subtitle SUBTITLE B, Chapter 11, of the       340          

"Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 26 U.S.C.A. 2056, as amended, or  341          

the estate tax marital deduction allowed by division (A) of        342          

section 5731.15 of the Revised Code.                               343          

      (2)  Division (A)(1) of this section does not apply if an    346          

instrument that creates an inter vivos or testamentary trust       347          

expressly states the intention of the testator or other settlor    348          

that obtaining a marital deduction as described in division        349          

(A)(1)(b) of this section is less important than enforcing the     351          

forfeiture or postponement of the interest in property in          352          

accordance with the spendthrift provision in the instrument.       353          

      (3)  DIVISION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO THE     356          

FORFEITURE OR POSTPONEMENT PORTIONS OF A SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION     357          

AND DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY PORTION OF A SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION THAT  358          

                                                          9      


                                                                 
PROHIBITS A BENEFICIARY FROM ASSIGNING, ALIENATING, OR OTHERWISE   359          

DISPOSING OF ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A TRUST OR PROHIBITS A     360          

CREDITOR OF A BENEFICIARY FROM ATTACHING OR OTHERWISE ENCUMBERING  361          

THE TRUST ESTATE.                                                  362          

      (4)  Division (A)(1) of this section does not apply to any   366          

beneficiary of an inter vivos or testamentary trust other than     367          

the surviving spouse of the testator or other settlor or to any    368          

inter vivos or testamentary trust of which the surviving spouse    369          

of the testator or other settlor is a beneficiary if an interest   370          

in property does not qualify for a marital deduction as described  371          

in division (A)(1)(b) of this section.                             372          

      (B)(1)  Except as provided in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of    375          

this section, if an instrument creating an inter vivos or          376          

testamentary trust includes a spendthrift provision and the trust  378          

holds shares in an S corporation, the spendthrift provision shall  379          

not cause any forfeiture or postponement of any beneficial         380          

interest, income, principal, or other interest in the shares of    381          

the S corporation held by the trust.  For purposes of division     383          

(B)(1) of this section, "S corporation" has the same meaning as    384          

in section 1361 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 26 U.S.C.  388          

1361.                                                              389          

      (2)  Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply if an    392          

instrument that creates an inter vivos or testamentary trust       393          

expressly states the intention of the testator or other settlor                 

that maintenance of the corporation's status as an S corporation   395          

is less important than enforcing the forfeiture or postponement    396          

of any beneficial interest, income, principal, or other interest   397          

in the S corporation shares in accordance with the spendthrift     399          

provision in the instrument.                                                    

      (3)  Division (B)(1) of this section applies only to the     402          

forfeiture or postponement portions of a spendthrift provision     403          

and does not apply to any portion of a spendthrift provision that               

prohibits a beneficiary from assigning, alienating, or otherwise   404          

disposing of any beneficiary BENEFICIAL interest in a trust or     405          

                                                          10     


                                                                 
prohibits a creditor of a beneficiary from attaching or otherwise  407          

encumbering the trust estate.                                                   

      (4)(C)(1)  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN DIVISIONS (C)(2) AND (3)    410          

OF THIS SECTION, A SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION IN AN INSTRUMENT THAT     413          

CREATES AN INTER VIVOS OR TESTAMENTARY TRUST SHALL NOT CAUSE ANY   414          

FORFEITURE OR POSTPONEMENT OF ANY INTEREST IN PROPERTY THAT        415          

SATISFIES BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING:                                   416          

      (a)  IT IS GRANTED TO A PERSON WHO IS A SKIP PERSON UNDER    418          

THE FEDERAL GENERATION-SKIPPING TRANSFER TAX IMPOSED BY SUBTITLE   420          

B, CHAPTER 13, OF THE "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 26          424          

U.S.C.A. 2601-2663, AS AMENDED.                                    425          

      (b)  IT QUALIFIES AS A NONTAXABLE GIFT UNDER SECTION         428          

2642(c) OF THE "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 26 U.S.C.A         431          

2642(c).                                                                        

      (2)  DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY IF AN    433          

INSTRUMENT THAT CREATES AN INTER VIVOS OR TESTAMENTARY TRUST       434          

EXPRESSLY STATES THE INTENTION OF THE TESTATOR OR OTHER SETTLOR                 

THAT QUALIFYING AS A NONTAXABLE TRUST GIFT AS DESCRIBED IN         435          

DIVISION (C)(1)(b) OF THIS SECTION IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN          436          

ENFORCING THE FORFEITURE OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE INTEREST IN        437          

PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION IN THE       438          

INSTRUMENT.                                                                     

      (3)  DIVISION (C)(1) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO THE     440          

FORFEITURE OR POSTPONEMENT PORTIONS OF A SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION     441          

AND DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY PORTION OF A SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION THAT  442          

PROHIBITS A BENEFICIARY FROM ASSIGNING, ALIENATING, OR OTHERWISE   443          

DISPOSING OF ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A TRUST OR PROHIBITS A     444          

CREDITOR OF A BENEFICIARY FROM ATTACHING OR OTHERWISE ENCUMBERING  445          

THE TRUST ESTATE.                                                  446          

      (D)  Divisions (A), (B)(1), (2), and (3)(C) of this section  450          

are intended to codify certain fiduciary and trust law principles               

relating to the interpretation of a testator's or other settlor's  451          

intent with respect to the provisions of a trust.  Divisions (A),  453          

(B)(1), (2), and (3)(C) of this section apply to trust             454          

                                                          11     


                                                                 
instruments executed prior to and existing on the effective date   457          

of this amendment, unless the trustee of a THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF   458          

THIS AMENDMENT AND TO trust of that nature, in a written trust     461          

amendment, elects to do otherwise.  Any election of that nature,   462          

when made, is irrevocable INSTRUMENTS EXECUTED ON OR AFTER THE     463          

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT.                                  464          

      Sec. 1339.68.  (A)  As used in this section:                 473          

      (1)  "Disclaimant" means any person, any guardian or         475          

personal representative of a person or estate of a person, or any  476          

attorney-in-fact or agent of a person having a general or          477          

specific authority to act granted in a written instrument, who is  478          

any of the following:                                              479          

      (a)  With respect to testamentary instruments and intestate  481          

succession, an heir, next of kin, devisee, legatee, donee, person  482          

succeeding to a disclaimed interest, surviving joint tenant,       483          

surviving tenant by the entireties, surviving tenant of a tenancy  484          

with a right of survivorship, beneficiary under a testamentary     485          

instrument, or person designated to take pursuant to a power of    486          

appointment exercised by a testamentary instrument;                487          

      (b)  With respect to nontestamentary instruments, a          489          

grantee, donee, person succeeding to a disclaimed interest,        490          

surviving joint tenant, surviving tenant by the entireties,        491          

surviving tenant of a tenancy with a right of survivorship,        492          

beneficiary under a nontestamentary instrument, or person          493          

designated to take pursuant to a power of appointment exercised    494          

by a nontestamentary instrument;                                   495          

      (c)  With respect to fiduciary rights, privileges, powers,   497          

and immunities, a fiduciary under a testamentary or                498          

nontestamentary instrument.  This section does not authorize a     499          

fiduciary to disclaim the rights of beneficiaries unless the       500          

instrument creating the fiduciary relationship authorizes such a   501          

disclaimer.                                                        502          

      (d)  Any person entitled to take an interest in property     504          

upon the death of a person or upon the occurrence of any other     505          

                                                          12     


                                                                 
event.                                                             506          

      (2)  "Property" means all forms of property, real and        508          

personal, tangible and intangible.                                 509          

      (B)(1)  A disclaimant, other than a fiduciary under an       511          

instrument who is not authorized by the instrument to disclaim     512          

the interest of a beneficiary, may disclaim, in whole or in part,  513          

the succession to any property by executing and by delivering,     514          

filing, or recording a written disclaimer instrument in the        515          

manner provided in this section.                                   516          

      (2)  A disclaimant who is a fiduciary under an instrument    518          

may disclaim, in whole or in part, any right, power, privilege,    519          

or immunity, by executing and by delivering, filing, or recording  520          

a written disclaimer instrument in the manner provided in this     521          

section.                                                           522          

      (3)  The written instrument of disclaimer shall be signed    524          

and acknowledged by the disclaimant and shall contain all of the   525          

following:                                                         526          

      (a)  A reference to the donative instrument;                 528          

      (b)  A description of the property, part of property, or     530          

interest disclaimed, and of any fiduciary right, power,            531          

privilege, or immunity disclaimed;                                 532          

      (c)  A declaration of the disclaimer and its extent.         534          

      (4)  The guardian of the estate of a minor or an             536          

incompetent, or the personal representative of a deceased person,  537          

with the consent of the probate division of the court of common    538          

pleas, may disclaim, in whole or in part, the succession to any    539          

property, or interest in property, that the ward, if an adult and  540          

competent, or the deceased, if living, might have disclaimed.      541          

The guardian or personal representative, or any interested person  542          

may file an application with the probate division of the court of  543          

common pleas that has jurisdiction of the estate, asking that the  544          

court order the guardian or personal representative to execute     545          

and deliver, file, or record the disclaimer on behalf of the ward  546          

or estate.  The court shall order the guardian or personal         547          

                                                          13     


                                                                 
representative to execute and deliver, file, or record the         548          

disclaimer if the court finds, upon hearing after notice to        549          

interested parties and such other persons as the court shall       550          

direct, that:                                                      551          

      (a)  It is in the best interests of those interested in the  553          

estate of the person and of those who will take the disclaimed     554          

interest;                                                          555          

      (b)  It would not materially, adversely affect the minor or  557          

incompetent, or the beneficiaries of the estate of the decedent,   558          

taking into consideration other available resources and the age,   559          

probable life expectancy, physical and mental condition, and       560          

present and reasonably anticipated future needs of the minor or    561          

incompetent or the beneficiaries of the estate of the decedent.    562          

      A written instrument of disclaimer ordered by the court      564          

under this division shall be executed and be delivered, filed, or  565          

recorded within the time and in the manner in which the person     566          

could have disclaimed if the person were living, an adult, and     568          

competent.                                                                      

      (C)  A partial disclaimer of property that is subject to a   570          

burdensome interest created by the donative instrument is not      571          

effective unless the disclaimed property constitutes a gift that   572          

is separate and distinct from undisclaimed gifts.                  573          

      (D)  The disclaimant shall deliver, file, or record the      575          

disclaimer, or cause the same to be done, not later than nine      576          

months after the latest of the following dates:                    577          

      (1)  The effective date of the donative instrument if both   579          

the taker and the taker's interest in the property are finally     581          

ascertained on that date;                                          582          

      (2)  The date of the occurrence of the event upon which      584          

both the taker and the taker's interest in the property become     586          

finally ascertainable;                                             587          

      (3)  The date on which the disclaimant attains twenty-one    589          

years of age or is no longer an incompetent, without tendering or  590          

repaying any benefit received while the disclaimant was under      591          

                                                          14     


                                                                 
twenty-one years of age or an incompetent, and even if a guardian  592          

of a minor or incompetent had filed an application pursuant to     593          

division (B)(4) of this section and the probate division of the    594          

court of common pleas involved did not consent to the guardian     595          

executing a disclaimer.                                            596          

      (E)  No disclaimer instrument is effective under this        598          

section if either of the following applies under the terms of the  599          

disclaimer instrument:                                             600          

      (1)  The disclaimant has power to revoke the disclaimer;     602          

      (2)  The disclaimant may transfer, or direct to be           604          

transferred, to self the entire legal and equitable ownership of   607          

the property subject to the disclaimer instrument.                              

      (F)(1)  If SUBJECT TO DIVISION (F)(2) OF THIS SECTION, IF    610          

the interest disclaimed is created by a nontestamentary            611          

instrument, the disclaimer instrument shall be delivered           612          

personally or by certified mail to the trustee or other person     613          

who has legal title to, or possession of, the property                          

disclaimed.                                                        614          

      (2)  If the interest disclaimed is created by a              616          

testamentary instrument or, by intestate succession, OR BY A       617          

TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5302.22 OF THE REVISED  618          

CODE, the disclaimer instrument shall be filed in the probate      619          

division of the court of common pleas in the county in which       620          

proceedings for the administration of the decedent's estate have   621          

been commenced, and an executed copy of the disclaimer instrument  622          

shall be delivered personally or by certified mail to the          623          

personal representative of the decedent's estate.                  624          

      (3)  If no proceedings for the administration of the         626          

decedent's estate have been commenced, the disclaimer instrument   627          

shall be filed in the probate division of the court of common      628          

pleas in the county in which proceedings for the administration    629          

of the decedent's estate might be commenced according to law.      630          

The disclaimer instrument shall be filed and indexed, and fees     631          

charged, in the same manner as provided by law for an application  632          

                                                          15     


                                                                 
to be appointed as personal representative to administer the       633          

decedent's estate.  The disclaimer is effective whether or not     634          

proceedings thereafter are commenced to administer the decedent's  635          

estate.  If proceedings thereafter are commenced for the           636          

administration of the decedent's estate, they shall be filed       637          

under, or consolidated with, the case number assigned to the       638          

disclaimer instrument.                                             639          

      (4)  If an interest in real estate is disclaimed, an         641          

executed copy of the disclaimer instrument also shall be recorded  642          

in the office of the recorder of the county in which the real      643          

estate is located.  The disclaimer instrument shall include a      644          

description of the real estate with sufficient certainty to        645          

identify it, and shall contain a reference to the record of the    646          

instrument that created the interest disclaimed.  If title to the  647          

real estate is registered under Chapters 5309. and 5310. of the    648          

Revised Code, the disclaimer interest shall be entered as a        649          

memorial on the last certificate of title.  A spouse of a          650          

disclaimant has no dower or other interest in the real estate      651          

disclaimed.                                                        652          

      (G)  Unless the donative instrument expressly provides       654          

that, if there is a disclaimer, there shall not be any             655          

acceleration of remainders or other interests, the property, part  656          

of property, or interest in property disclaimed, and any future    657          

interest that is to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or   658          

after the termination of the interest disclaimed, shall descend,   659          

be distributed, or otherwise be disposed of, and shall be          660          

accelerated, in the following manner:                              661          

      (1)  If intestate or testate succession is disclaimed, as    663          

if the disclaimant had predeceased the decedent;                   664          

      (2)  If the disclaimant is one designated to take pursuant   666          

to a power of appointment exercised by a testamentary instrument,  667          

as if the disclaimant had predeceased the donee of the power;      668          

      (3)  If the donative instrument is a nontestamentary         670          

instrument, as if the disclaimant had died before the effective    671          

                                                          16     


                                                                 
date of the nontestamentary instrument;                            672          

      (4)  If the disclaimer is of a fiduciary right, power,       674          

privilege, or immunity, as if the right, power, privilege, or      675          

immunity was never in the donative instrument.                     676          

      (H)  A disclaimer pursuant to this section is effective as   678          

of, and relates back for all purposes to, the date upon which the  679          

taker and the taker's interest have been finally ascertained.      681          

      (I)  A disclaimant who has a present and future interest in  683          

property, and disclaims the disclaimant's present interest in      685          

whole or in part, is considered to have disclaimed the             686          

disclaimant's future interest to the same extent, unless a         688          

contrary intention appears in the disclaimer instrument or the     689          

donative instrument.  A disclaimant is not precluded from          690          

receiving, as an alternative taker, a beneficial interest in the   691          

property disclaimed, unless a contrary intention appears in the    692          

disclaimer instrument or in the donative instrument.               693          

      (J)  The disclaimant's right to disclaim under this section  695          

is barred if, before the expiration of the period within which     696          

the disclaimant may disclaim the interest, the disclaimant does    698          

any of the following:                                              699          

      (1)  Assigns, conveys, encumbers, pledges, or transfers, or  701          

contracts to assign, convey, encumber, pledge, or transfer, the    702          

property or any interest in it;                                    703          

      (2)  Waives in writing the disclaimant's right to disclaim   705          

and executes and delivers, files, or records the waiver in the     707          

manner provided in this section for a disclaimer instrument;       708          

      (3)  Accepts the property or an interest in it;              710          

      (4)  Permits or suffers a sale or other disposition of the   712          

property pursuant to judicial action against the disclaimant.      714          

      (K)  A fiduciary's application for appointment or            716          

assumption of duties as a fiduciary does not waive or bar the      717          

disclaimant's right to disclaim a right, power, privilege, or      719          

immunity.                                                                       

      (L)  The right to disclaim under this section exists         721          

                                                          17     


                                                                 
irrespective of any limitation on the interest of the disclaimant  722          

in the nature of a spendthrift provision or similar restriction.   723          

      (M)  A disclaimer instrument or written waiver of the right  725          

to disclaim that has been executed and delivered, filed, or        726          

recorded as required by this section is final and binding upon     727          

all persons.                                                       728          

      (N)  The right to disclaim and the procedures for            730          

disclaimer established by this section are in addition to, and do  731          

not exclude or abridge, any other rights or procedures existing    732          

under any other section of the Revised Code or at common law to    733          

assign, convey, release, refuse to accept, renounce, waive, or     734          

disclaim property.                                                 735          

      (O)(1)  No person is liable for distributing or disposing    737          

of property in a manner inconsistent with the terms of a valid     738          

disclaimer if the distribution or disposition is otherwise proper  739          

and the person has no actual knowledge of the disclaimer.          740          

      (2)  No person is liable for distributing or disposing of    742          

property in reliance upon the terms of a disclaimer that is        743          

invalid because the right of disclaimer has been waived or barred  744          

if the distribution or disposition is otherwise proper and the     745          

person has no actual knowledge of the facts that constitute a      746          

waiver or bar to the right to disclaim.                            747          

      (P)(1)  A disclaimant may disclaim pursuant to this section  750          

any interest in property that is in existence on September 27,     751          

1976, if either the interest in the property or the taker of the   752          

interest in the property is not finally ascertained on that date.  753          

      (2)  No disclaimer executed pursuant to this section         755          

destroys or diminishes an interest in property that exists on      756          

September 27, 1976, in any person other than the disclaimant.      757          

      Sec. 2101.12.  The following records shall be kept by the    766          

probate court:                                                     767          

      (A)  An administration docket, showing the grant of letters  769          

of administration or letters testamentary, the name of the         770          

decedent, the amount of bond and names of sureties in the bond,    771          

                                                          18     


                                                                 
and the date of filing and a brief note of each order or           772          

proceeding relating to the estate with reference to the journal    773          

or other record in which the order or proceeding is found;         774          

      (B)  A guardian's docket, showing the name of each ward      776          

and, if the ward is an infant, his THE INFANT'S age and the name   777          

of his THE INFANT'S parents, the amount of bond and names of       779          

sureties in any bond, any limited powers or limited duration of    780          

powers, and the date of filing and a brief note of the orders and  781          

proceedings as described in division (A) of this section;          782          

      (C)  A civil docket, in which shall be noted the names of    784          

parties to actions and proceedings, the date of the commencement   785          

of the actions and proceedings and of the filing of the papers     786          

relating to the actions and proceedings, a brief note of the       787          

orders made in the actions and proceedings, and the date of        788          

entering the orders;                                               789          

      (D)  A journal, in which shall be kept minutes of official   791          

business transacted in the probate court, or by the probate        792          

judge, in civil actions and proceedings;                           793          

      (E)  A record of wills, in which the wills proved in the     795          

court shall be recorded with a certificate of the probate of the   796          

will, and wills proved elsewhere with the certificate of probate,  797          

authenticated copies of which have been admitted to record by the  798          

court;                                                             799          

      (F)  A final record that shall contain a complete record of  801          

each cause or matter and shall be completed within ninety days     802          

after the final order or judgment has been made in the cause or    803          

matter;                                                            804          

      (G)  An execution docket, in which shall be entered a        806          

memorandum of executions issued by the probate judge stating the   807          

names of the parties, the name of the person to whom the           808          

execution is delivered, his THE PERSON'S return on the execution,  810          

the date of issuing the execution, the amount ordered to be        811          

collected, stating the costs separately from the fine or damages,  812          

the payments on the execution, and the satisfaction of the         813          

                                                          19     


                                                                 
execution when it is satisfied;                                    814          

      (H)  A marriage record, in which shall be entered licenses,  816          

the names of the parties to whom a license is issued, the names    817          

of the persons applying for a license, a brief statement of the    818          

facts sworn to by persons applying for a license, and the returns  819          

of the person solemnizing the marriage;                            820          

      (I)  A naturalization record, in which shall be entered the  822          

declaration of intention of the person seeking to be naturalized,  823          

the oath of the person naturalized, and the affidavit or oath of   824          

witnesses who testify in his THE PERSON'S behalf, in which         825          

affidavit shall be stated the place of residence of the            827          

witnesses;                                                                      

      (J)  A permanent record of all births and deaths occurring   829          

within the county, reported as provided by law, which record       830          

shall be kept in the form and manner that may be designated by     831          

the director of health;                                            832          

      (K)  A separate record and index of adoptions, in            834          

accordance with section 3107.17 of the Revised Code;               835          

      (L)  A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION DOCKET, SHOWING   837          

THE DATE OF THE FILING OF THE APPLICATION FOR A SUMMARY RELEASE    839          

FROM ADMINISTRATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2113.031 OF THE REVISED    841          

CODE, THE DECEDENT'S NAME, THE APPLICANT'S NAME, WHETHER THE       842          

APPLICANT IS THE DECEDENT'S SURVIVING SPOUSE OR A PERSON           843          

DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (B)(1) OF THAT SECTION, AND A BRIEF NOTE OF  844          

THE GRANT OF THE ORDER OF SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION AND  845          

OF ANY OTHER ORDER OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THE DECEDENT'S        846          

ESTATE, WITH REFERENCE TO THE JOURNAL OR OTHER RECORD IN WHICH     848          

THE ORDER OR PROCEEDING IS FOUND.                                               

      For each record required by this section, an index shall be  850          

maintained.  Each index shall be kept current with the entries in  851          

the record and shall refer to the entries alphabetically by the    852          

names of the persons as they were originally entered, indexing     853          

the page of the record where the entry is made.  On the order of   854          

the PROBATE judge, blankbooks, other record forms, or other        855          

                                                          20     


                                                                 
record-keeping materials approved by the judge for such THE        856          

records and indexes shall be furnished by the board of county      857          

commissioners at the expense of the county.                        858          

      Sec. 2101.16.  (A)  The fees enumerated in this division     867          

shall be charged and collected, if possible, by the probate judge  868          

and shall be in full for all services rendered in the respective   869          

proceedings:                                                       870          

(1)  Account, in addition to advertising charges..........$12.00   874          

        Waivers and proof of notice of hearing on account,         876          

        per page, minimum one dollar......................$ 1.00   878          

(2)  Account of distribution, in addition to advertising           880          

        charges...........................................$ 7.00   881          

(3)  Adoption of child, petition for......................$50.00   883          

(4)  Alter or cancel contract for sale or purchase of real         885          

        estate, petition to...............................$20.00   887          

(5)  Application and order not otherwise provided for in           889          

        this section or by rule adopted pursuant to                890          

        division (E) of this section......................$ 5.00   892          

(6)  Appropriation suit, per day, hearing in..............$20.00   895          

(7)  Birth, application for registration of...............$ 7.00   898          

(8)  Birth record, application to correct.................$ 5.00   901          

(9)  Bond, application for new or additional..............$ 5.00   904          

(10) Bond, application for release of surety or reduction          906          

        of................................................$ 5.00   907          

(11) Bond, receipt for securities deposited in lieu of....$ 5.00   910          

(12) Certified copy of journal entry, record, or                   912          

        proceeding, per page, minimum fee one dollar......$ 1.00   914          

(13) Citation and issuing citation, application for.......$ 5.00   917          

(14) Change of name, petition for.........................$20.00   920          

(15) Claim, application of administrator or executor for           922          

        allowance of administrator's or executor's own....$10.00   923          

(16) Claim, application to compromise or settle...........$10.00   925          

(17) Claim, authority to present..........................$10.00   928          

(18) Commissioner, appointment of.........................$ 5.00   931          

                                                          21     


                                                                 
(19) Compensation for extraordinary services and                   933          

        attorney's fees for fiduciary, application for....$ 5.00   935          

(20) Competency, application to procure adjudication of...$20.00   938          

(21) Complete contract, application to....................$10.00   941          

(22) Concealment of assets, citation for..................$10.00   944          

(23) Construction of will, petition for...................$20.00   947          

(24) Continue decedent's business, application to.........$10.00   950          

     Monthly reports of operation.........................$ 5.00   954          

(25) Declaratory judgment, petition for...................$20.00   957          

(26) Deposit of will......................................$ 5.00   960          

(27) Designation of heir..................................$20.00   963          

(28) Distribution in kind, application, assent, and order          965          

        for...............................................$ 5.00   966          

(29) Distribution under section 2109.36 of the Revised             968          

        Code, application for an order of.................$ 7.00   970          

(30) Docketing and indexing proceedings, including the             972          

        filing and noting of all necessary documents,              973          

        maximum fee, fifteen dollars......................$15.00   974          

(31) Exceptions to any proceeding named in this section,           976          

        contest of appointment or.........................$10.00   978          

(32) Election of surviving partner to purchase assets of           980          

        partnership, proceedings relating to..............$10.00   982          

(33) Election of surviving spouse under will..............$ 5.00   985          

(34) Fiduciary, including an assignee or trustee of an             987          

        insolvent debtor or any guardian or conservator            988          

        accountable to the probate court, appointment of..$35.00   990          

(35) Foreign will, application to record..................$10.00   993          

     Record of foreign will, additional, per page.........$ 1.00   996          

(36) Forms when supplied by the probate court, not to              998          

        exceed............................................$10.00   1,000        

(37) Heirship, petition to determine......................$20.00   1,003        

(38) Injunction proceedings...............................$20.00   1,006        

(39) Improve real estate, petition to.....................$20.00   1,009        

(40) Inventory with appraisement..........................$10.00   1,012        

                                                          22     


                                                                 
(41) Inventory without appraisement.......................$ 7.00   1,015        

(42) Investment or expenditure of funds, application for..$10.00   1,018        

(43) Invest in real estate, application to................$10.00   1,021        

(44) Lease for oil, gas, coal, or other mineral, petition          1,023        

        to................................................$20.00   1,024        

(45) Lease or lease and improve real estate, petition to..$20.00   1,027        

(46) Marriage license.....................................$10.00   1,030        

     Certified abstract of each marriage..................$ 2.00   1,033        

(47) Minor or mentally ill person, etc., disposal of               1,035        

        estate under ten thousand dollars of..............$10.00   1,037        

(48) Mortgage or mortgage and repair or improve real               1,039        

        estate, petition to...............................$20.00   1,041        

(49) Newly discovered assets, report of...................$ 7.00   1,044        

(50) Nonresident executor or administrator to bar                  1,046        

        creditors' claims, proceedings by.................$20.00   1,048        

(51) Power of attorney or revocation of power, bonding             1,050        

        company...........................................$10.00   1,051        

(52) Presumption of death, petition to establish..........$20.00   1,054        

(53) Probating will.......................................$15.00   1,057        

     Proof of notice to beneficiaries.....................$ 5.00   1,060        

(54) Purchase personal property, application of surviving          1,062        

        spouse to.........................................$10.00   1,064        

(55) Purchase real estate at appraised value, petition of          1,066        

        surviving spouse to...............................$20.00   1,068        

(56) Receipts in addition to advertising charges,                  1,070        

        application and order to record...................$ 5.00   1,072        

     Record of those receipts, additional, per page.......$ 1.00   1,075        

(57) Record in excess of fifteen hundred words in any              1,077        

        proceeding in the probate court, per page.........$ 1.00   1,079        

(58) Release of estate by mortgagee or other lienholder...$ 5.00   1,082        

(59) Relieving AN estate from administration UNDER SECTION         1,084        

        2113.03 OF THE REVISED CODE OR GRANTING AN ORDER                        

        FOR A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION UNDER            1,085        

        SECTION 2113.031 OF THE REVISED CODE..............$60.00   1,086        

                                                          23     


                                                                 
(60) Removal of fiduciary, application for................$10.00   1,089        

(61) Requalification of executor or administrator.........$10.00   1,092        

(62) Resignation of fiduciary.............................$ 5.00   1,095        

(63) Sale bill, public sale of personal property..........$10.00   1,098        

(64) Sale of personal property and report, application             1,100        

        for...............................................$10.00   1,101        

(65) Sale of real estate, petition for....................$25.00   1,104        

(66) Terminate guardianship, petition to..................$10.00   1,107        

(67) Transfer of real estate, application, entry, and              1,109        

        certificate for...................................$ 7.00   1,111        

(68) Unclaimed money, application to invest...............$ 7.00   1,114        

(69) Vacate approval of account or order of distribution,          1,115        

        motion to.........................................$10.00   1,116        

(70) Writ of execution....................................$ 5.00   1,119        

(71) Writ of possession...................................$ 5.00   1,122        

(72) Wrongful death, application and settlement of claim           1,124        

        for...............................................$20.00   1,125        

(73) Year's allowance, petition to review.................$ 7.00   1,127        

(74) Guardian's report, filing and review of..............$ 5.00   1,130        

      (B)(1)  In relation to an application for the appointment    1,133        

of a guardian or the review of a report of a guardian under        1,134        

section 2111.49 of the Revised Code, the probate court, pursuant   1,135        

to court order or in accordance with a court rule, may direct      1,136        

that the applicant or the estate pay any or all of the expenses    1,137        

of an investigation conducted pursuant to section 2111.041 or      1,138        

division (A)(2) of section 2111.49 of the Revised Code.  If the    1,139        

investigation is conducted by a public employee or investigator    1,140        

who is paid by the county, the fees for the investigation shall    1,141        

be paid into the county treasury.  If the court finds that an      1,142        

alleged incompetent or a ward is indigent, the court may waive     1,143        

the costs, fees, and expenses of an investigation.                 1,144        

      (2)  In relation to the appointment or functioning of a      1,146        

guardian for a minor or the guardianship of a minor, the probate   1,147        

court may direct that the applicant or the estate pay any or all   1,149        

                                                          24     


                                                                 
of the expenses of an investigation conducted pursuant to section  1,150        

2111.042 of the Revised Code.  If the investigation is conducted   1,151        

by a public employee or investigator who is paid by the county,                 

the fees for the investigation shall be paid into the county       1,152        

treasury.  If the court finds that the guardian or applicant is    1,153        

indigent, the court may waive the costs, fees, and expenses of an  1,155        

investigation.                                                                  

      (C)  Thirty dollars of the thirty-five-dollar fee collected  1,157        

pursuant to division (A)(34) of this section and twenty dollars    1,158        

of the sixty-dollar fee collected pursuant to division (A)(59) of  1,160        

this section shall be deposited by the county treasurer in the     1,161        

indigent guardianship fund created pursuant to section 2111.51 of  1,162        

the Revised Code.                                                               

      (D)  The fees of witnesses, jurors, sheriffs, coroners, and  1,164        

constables for services rendered in the probate court or by order  1,165        

of the probate judge shall be the same as provided for like        1,166        

services in the court of common pleas.                             1,167        

      (E)  The probate court, by rule, may require an advance      1,169        

deposit for costs, not to exceed one hundred twenty-five dollars,  1,170        

at the time application is made for an appointment as executor or  1,171        

administrator or at the time a will is presented for probate.      1,172        

      (F)  The probate court, by rule, shall establish a           1,174        

reasonable fee, not to exceed fifty dollars, for the filing of a   1,175        

petition for the release of information regarding an adopted       1,176        

person's name by birth and the identity of the adopted person's    1,178        

biological parents and biological siblings pursuant to section                  

3107.41 of the Revised Code, all proceedings relative to the       1,180        

petition, the entry of an order relative to the petition, and all  1,181        

services required to be performed in connection with the           1,182        

petition.  The probate court may use a reasonable portion of a     1,183        

fee charged under authority of this division to reimburse any      1,184        

agency, as defined in section 3107.39 of the Revised Code, for     1,185        

any services it renders in performing a task described in section  1,186        

3107.41 of the Revised Code relative to or in connection with the  1,187        

                                                          25     


                                                                 
petition for which the fee was charged.                            1,188        

      (G)  Thirty dollars of the fifty-dollar fee collected        1,190        

pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section shall be deposited     1,191        

into the "putative father registry fund," which is hereby created  1,192        

in the state treasury.  The department of job and family services  1,194        

shall use the money in the fund to fund the department's costs of               

performing its duties related to the putative father registry      1,195        

established under section 3107.062 of the Revised Code.            1,196        

      Sec. 2101.24.  (A)(1)  Except as otherwise provided by law,  1,205        

the probate court has exclusive jurisdiction:                      1,206        

      (a)  To take the proof of wills and to admit to record       1,208        

authenticated copies of wills executed, proved, and allowed in     1,209        

the courts of any other state, territory, or country.  If the      1,210        

probate judge is unavoidably absent, any judge of the court of     1,211        

common pleas may take proof of wills and approve bonds to be       1,212        

given, but the record of these acts shall be preserved in the      1,213        

usual records of the probate court.                                1,214        

      (b)  To grant and revoke letters testamentary and of         1,216        

administration;                                                    1,217        

      (c)  To direct and control the conduct and settle the        1,219        

accounts of executors and administrators and order the             1,220        

distribution of estates;                                           1,221        

      (d)  To appoint the attorney general to serve as the         1,223        

administrator of an estate pursuant to section 2113.06 of the      1,224        

Revised Code;                                                                   

      (e)  To appoint and remove guardians, conservators, and      1,226        

testamentary trustees, direct and control their conduct, and       1,227        

settle their accounts;                                             1,228        

      (f)  To grant marriage licenses;                             1,230        

      (g)  To make inquests respecting persons who are so          1,232        

mentally impaired as a result of a mental or physical illness or   1,233        

disability, or mental retardation, or as a result of chronic       1,234        

substance abuse, that they are unable to manage their property     1,235        

and affairs effectively, subject to guardianship;                  1,236        

                                                          26     


                                                                 
      (h)  To qualify assignees, appoint and qualify trustees and  1,238        

commissioners of insolvents, control their conduct, and settle     1,239        

their accounts;                                                    1,240        

      (i)  To authorize the sale of lands, equitable estates, or   1,242        

interests in lands or equitable estates, and the assignments of    1,243        

inchoate dower in such cases of sale, on petition by executors,    1,244        

administrators, and guardians;                                     1,245        

      (j)  To authorize the completion of real estate contracts    1,247        

on petition of executors and administrators;                       1,248        

      (k)  To construe wills;                                      1,250        

      (l)  To render declaratory judgments, including, but not     1,252        

limited to, those rendered pursuant to section 2107.084 of the     1,253        

Revised Code;                                                      1,254        

      (m)  To direct and control the conduct of fiduciaries and    1,256        

settle their accounts;                                             1,257        

      (n)  To authorize the sale or lease of any estate created    1,259        

by will if the estate is held in trust, on petition by the         1,260        

trustee;                                                           1,261        

      (o)  To terminate a testamentary trust in any case in which  1,263        

a court of equity may do so;                                       1,264        

      (p)  To hear and determine actions to contest the validity   1,266        

of wills;                                                          1,267        

      (q)  To make a determination of the presumption of death of  1,269        

missing persons and to adjudicate the property rights and          1,270        

obligations of all parties affected by the presumption;            1,271        

      (r)  To hear and determine an action commenced pursuant to   1,273        

section 3107.41 of the Revised Code to obtain the release of       1,274        

information pertaining to the birth name of the adopted person     1,275        

and the identity of the adopted person's biological parents and    1,277        

biological siblings;                                               1,278        

      (s)  To act for and issue orders regarding wards pursuant    1,280        

to section 2111.50 of the Revised Code;                            1,281        

      (t)  To hear and determine actions against sureties on the   1,283        

bonds of fiduciaries appointed by the probate court;               1,284        

                                                          27     


                                                                 
      (u)  To hear and determine actions involving informed        1,286        

consent for medication of persons hospitalized pursuant to         1,287        

section 5122.141 or 5122.15 of the Revised Code;                   1,288        

      (v)  To hear and determine actions relating to durable       1,290        

powers of attorney for health care as described in division (D)    1,291        

of section 1337.16 of the Revised Code;                            1,292        

      (w)  To hear and determine actions commenced by objecting    1,294        

individuals, in accordance with section 2133.05 of the Revised     1,295        

Code;                                                              1,296        

      (x)  To hear and determine complaints that pertain to the    1,298        

use or continuation, or the withholding or withdrawal, of          1,299        

life-sustaining treatment in connection with certain patients      1,300        

allegedly in a terminal condition or in a permanently unconscious  1,301        

state pursuant to division (E) of section 2133.08 of the Revised   1,302        

Code, in accordance with that division;                            1,303        

      (y)  To hear and determine applications that pertain to the  1,305        

withholding or withdrawal of nutrition and hydration from certain  1,306        

patients allegedly in a permanently unconscious state pursuant to  1,307        

section 2133.09 of the Revised Code, in accordance with that       1,308        

section;                                                           1,309        

      (z)  To hear and determine applications of attending         1,311        

physicians in accordance with division (B) of section 2133.15 of   1,312        

the Revised Code;                                                  1,313        

      (aa)  To hear and determine actions relative to the use or   1,315        

continuation of comfort care in connection with certain            1,316        

principals under durable powers of attorney for health care,       1,317        

declarants under declarations, or patients in accordance with      1,318        

division (E) of either section 1337.16 or 2133.12 of the Revised   1,319        

Code;                                                              1,320        

      (bb)  TO HEAR AND DETERMINE APPLICATIONS FOR AN ORDER        1,322        

RELIEVING AN ESTATE FROM ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 2113.03 OF   1,323        

THE REVISED CODE;                                                               

      (cc)  TO HEAR AND DETERMINE APPLICATIONS FOR AN ORDER        1,325        

GRANTING A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION       1,326        

                                                          28     


                                                                 
2113.031 OF THE REVISED CODE.                                                   

      (2)  In addition to the exclusive jurisdiction conferred     1,328        

upon the probate court by division (A)(1) of this section, the     1,329        

probate court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over a particular  1,330        

subject matter if both of the following apply:                     1,331        

      (a)  Another section of the Revised Code expressly confers   1,333        

jurisdiction over that subject matter upon the probate court.      1,334        

      (b)  No section of the Revised Code expressly confers        1,336        

jurisdiction over that subject matter upon any other court or      1,337        

agency.                                                            1,338        

      (B)(1)  The probate court has concurrent jurisdiction with,  1,340        

and the same powers at law and in equity as, the general division  1,341        

of the court of common pleas to issue writs and orders, and to     1,342        

hear and determine actions as follows:                             1,343        

      (a)  If jurisdiction relative to a particular subject        1,345        

matter is stated to be concurrent in a section of the Revised      1,346        

Code or has been construed by judicial decision to be concurrent,  1,347        

any action that involves that subject matter;                      1,348        

      (b)  Any action that involves an inter vivos trust; a trust  1,350        

created pursuant to section 1339.51 of the Revised Code; a         1,351        

charitable trust or foundation; subject to divisions (A)(1)(u)     1,352        

and (z) of this section, a power of attorney, including, but not   1,353        

limited to, a durable power of attorney; the medical treatment of  1,354        

a competent adult; or a writ of habeas corpus.                     1,355        

      (2)  Any action that involves a concurrent jurisdiction      1,357        

subject matter and that is before the probate court may be         1,358        

transferred by the probate court, on its order, to the general     1,359        

division of the court of common pleas.                             1,360        

      (C)  The probate court has plenary power at law and in       1,362        

equity to dispose fully of any matter that is properly before the  1,363        

court, unless the power is expressly otherwise limited or denied   1,364        

by a section of the Revised Code.                                  1,365        

      (D)  The jurisdiction acquired by a probate court over a     1,367        

matter or proceeding is exclusive of that of any other probate     1,368        

                                                          29     


                                                                 
court, except when otherwise provided by law.                      1,369        

      Sec. 2106.10.  (A)  A surviving spouse may elect to          1,378        

receive, as part of the surviving spouse's share of an intestate   1,379        

estate under section 2105.06 of the Revised Code and the           1,380        

allowance for support under section 2106.13 of the Revised Code,   1,381        

the entire interest of the decedent spouse in the mansion house.   1,382        

The interest of the decedent spouse in the mansion house shall be  1,383        

valued at the appraised value with the deduction of that portion   1,384        

of all liens on the mansion house existing at the time of death    1,385        

and attributable to the decedent's interest in the mansion house.  1,386        

      (B)  The election pursuant to division (A) of this section   1,388        

shall be made at or before the time a final account is rendered.   1,389        

      (C)  If the spouse makes an election pursuant to division    1,391        

(A) of this section, the administrator or executor shall file,     1,392        

unless the election is one made under division (D) of this         1,393        

section, an application for a certificate of transfer as provided  1,394        

for in section 2113.61 of the Revised Code.  The application also  1,395        

shall contain an inventory of the property and the allowance for   1,396        

support that the spouse is entitled to receive under sections      1,398        

2105.06 and 2106.13 of the Revised Code.  If the value of the      1,400        

property and the allowance for support that the spouse is          1,401        

entitled to receive is equal to or greater than the value of the   1,402        

decedent's interest in the mansion house, the court shall issue    1,403        

the certificate of transfer.                                       1,404        

      (D)  The surviving spouse may make an election pursuant to   1,406        

division (A) of this section in an estate relieved from            1,407        

administration under section 2113.03 of the Revised Code OR IN AN  1,408        

ESTATE THAT IS SUBJECT TO AN ORDER GRANTING A SUMMARY RELEASE      1,409        

FROM ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 2113.031 OF THE REVISED CODE.    1,410        

The election shall be made at the time of or prior to the entry    1,411        

of the order relieving the estate from administration OR THE       1,412        

ORDER GRANTING A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION.  Either the  1,413        

SURVIVING spouse or the applicant for the order relieving the      1,414        

estate from administration shall file the application for THE      1,415        

                                                          30     


                                                                 
certificate of transfer under division (C) of this section.        1,416        

      (E)  If the surviving spouse dies prior to making an         1,418        

election pursuant to division (A) of this section, the surviving   1,419        

spouse shall be conclusively presumed not to have made an          1,420        

election pursuant to that division.  After the surviving spouse's  1,421        

death, no other person is authorized to make an election pursuant  1,422        

to that division on behalf of the estate of the surviving spouse.  1,423        

      (F)  As used in this section, the mansion house includes     1,425        

the decedent's title in the parcel of land on which the house is   1,426        

situated and, at the option of the surviving spouse, the           1,427        

decedent's title in the household goods contained within the       1,428        

house and the lots or farm land FARMLAND adjacent to the house     1,429        

and used in conjunction with it as the home of the decedent.       1,431        

      Sec. 2106.13.  (A)  If a person dies leaving a surviving     1,440        

spouse and no minor children, leaving a surviving spouse and       1,441        

minor children, or leaving minor children and no surviving         1,442        

spouse, the surviving spouse, minor children, or both shall be     1,443        

entitled to receive, subject to division (B) of this section, in   1,444        

money or property the sum of forty thousand dollars as an          1,446        

allowance for support.  If the surviving spouse selected two                    

automobiles under section 2106.18 of the Revised Code, the         1,447        

allowance for support prescribed by this section shall be reduced  1,449        

by the appraised value of the automobile having the lower          1,451        

appraised value of the two automobiles so selected.  The money or  1,452        

property set off as an allowance for support shall be considered   1,453        

estate assets.                                                                  

      (B)  The probate court shall order the distribution of the   1,455        

allowance for support described in division (A) of this section    1,456        

as follows:                                                        1,457        

      (1)  If the person died leaving a surviving spouse and no    1,459        

minor children, one hundred per cent to the surviving spouse;      1,460        

      (2)  If the person died leaving a surviving spouse and       1,462        

minor children, and if all of the minor children are the children  1,463        

of the surviving spouse, one hundred per cent to the surviving     1,464        

                                                          31     


                                                                 
spouse;                                                            1,465        

      (3)  If the person died leaving a surviving spouse and       1,467        

minor children, and if not all of the minor children are children  1,468        

of the surviving spouse, in equitable shares, as fixed by the      1,469        

probate court in accordance with this division, to the surviving   1,470        

spouse and the minor children who are not the children of the      1,471        

surviving spouse.  In determining equitable shares under this      1,472        

division, the probate court shall do all of the following:         1,473        

      (a)  Consider the respective needs of the surviving spouse,  1,475        

the minor children who are children of the surviving spouse, and   1,476        

the minor children who are not children of the surviving spouse;   1,477        

      (b)  Allocate to the surviving spouse, the share that is     1,479        

equitable in light of the needs of the surviving spouse and the    1,480        

minor children who are children of the surviving spouse;           1,481        

      (c)  Allocate to the minor children who are not children of  1,483        

the surviving spouse, the share that is equitable in light of the  1,484        

needs of those minor children.                                     1,485        

      (4)  If the person died leaving minor children and no        1,487        

surviving spouse, in equitable shares, as fixed by the probate     1,488        

court in accordance with this division, to the minor children. In  1,490        

determining equitable shares under this division, the probate                   

court shall consider the respective needs of the minor children    1,491        

and allocate to each minor child the share that is equitable in    1,492        

light of the child's needs.                                        1,493        

      (C)  If the surviving spouse selected two automobiles under  1,495        

section 2106.18 of the Revised Code, the probate court, in         1,497        

considering the respective needs of the surviving spouse and the   1,498        

minor children when allocating an allowance for support under      1,499        

division (B)(3) of this section, shall consider the benefit        1,500        

derived by the surviving spouse from the transfer of the                        

automobile having the lower appraised value of the two             1,501        

automobiles so selected.                                                        

      (D)  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE VALUE OF AN       1,503        

AUTOMOBILE THAT A SURVIVING SPOUSE SELECTS PURSUANT TO SECTION     1,504        

                                                          32     


                                                                 
2106.18 OF THE REVISED CODE IS THE VALUE THAT THE SURVIVING        1,505        

SPOUSE SPECIFIES FOR THE AUTOMOBILE IN THE AFFIDAVIT EXECUTED      1,506        

PURSUANT TO DIVISION (B) OF SECTION 4505.10 OF THE REVISED CODE.                

      Sec. 2106.18.  (A)  Upon the death of a married resident     1,515        

who owned at least one automobile at the time of death, the        1,516        

interest of the deceased spouse in up to two automobiles that are  1,518        

not transferred to the surviving spouse due to joint ownership     1,519        

with right of survivorship established under section 2106.17 of    1,520        

the Revised Code, and that are not otherwise specifically          1,522        

disposed of by testamentary disposition, may be selected by the    1,523        

surviving spouse.  This interest shall immediately pass to the     1,525        

surviving spouse upon transfer of the title or titles in                        

accordance with section 4505.10 of the Revised Code.  The sum      1,528        

total of the appraised values of the automobiles selected by a     1,530        

surviving spouse under this division, AS SPECIFIED IN THE                       

AFFIDAVIT THAT THE SURVIVING SPOUSE EXECUTES PURSUANT TO DIVISION  1,531        

(B) OF SECTION 4505.10 OF THE REVISED CODE, shall not exceed       1,532        

forty thousand dollars.  Each automobile that passes to a          1,533        

surviving spouse under this division shall not be considered an    1,534        

estate asset and shall not be included and stated in the estate    1,535        

inventory.                                                                      

      (B)  The executor or administrator, with the approval of     1,537        

the probate court, may transfer title to an automobile owned by    1,538        

the decedent to any of the following:                              1,539        

      (1)  The surviving spouse, when the automobile is purchased  1,542        

by the surviving spouse pursuant to section 2106.16 of the         1,543        

Revised Code;                                                                   

      (2)  A distributee;                                          1,545        

      (3)  A purchaser.                                            1,547        

      (C)  The executor or administrator may transfer title to an  1,549        

automobile owned by the decedent without the approval of the       1,550        

probate court to any of the following:                             1,551        

      (1)  A legatee entitled to the automobile under the terms    1,554        

of the will;                                                                    

                                                          33     


                                                                 
      (2)  A distributee if the distribution of the automobile is  1,557        

made without court order pursuant to section 2113.55 of the                     

Revised Code;                                                      1,558        

      (3)  A purchaser if the sale of the automobile is made       1,560        

pursuant to section 2113.39 of the Revised Code.                   1,561        

      (D)  As used in division (A) of this section, "automobile"   1,563        

includes a truck if the deceased spouse did not own an automobile  1,565        

and if the truck was used as a method of conveyance by the         1,566        

deceased spouse or his THE DECEASED SPOUSE'S family when the                    

deceased spouse was alive.                                         1,568        

      Sec. 2107.501.  (A)  A specific devisee or legatee has the   1,577        

right of the remaining specifically devised or bequeathed          1,578        

property, and:                                                     1,579        

      (1)  Any balance on the purchase price, together with any    1,581        

security interest owing from a purchaser to the testator at death  1,582        

by reason of sale of the property;                                 1,583        

      (2)  Any amount of condemnation award unpaid at death for    1,585        

the taking of the property;                                        1,586        

      (3)  Any proceeds unpaid at death on fire or casualty        1,588        

insurance on the property;                                         1,589        

      (4)  Property owned by the testator at his death as a        1,591        

result of foreclosure, or obtained in lieu of foreclosure, of the  1,592        

security for a specifically devised or bequeathed obligation.      1,593        

      (B)  If specifically devised or bequeathed property is sold  1,595        

by a guardian, BY AN AGENT ACTING WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF A POWER  1,596        

OF ATTORNEY, OR BY AN AGENT ACTING WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF A       1,597        

DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY, or if a condemnation award or           1,598        

insurance proceeds are paid to a guardian, TO AN AGENT ACTING      1,599        

WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF A POWER OF ATTORNEY, OR TO AN AGENT        1,600        

ACTING WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY as a    1,601        

result of condemnation, fire, or casualty to the property, the     1,602        

specific devisee or legatee has the right to a general pecuniary   1,603        

devise or bequest equal to the net proceeds of sale, the           1,604        

condemnation award, or the insurance proceeds, and such a devise   1,605        

                                                          34     


                                                                 
or bequest shall be treated as property subject to section         1,606        

2107.54 of the Revised Code.  This section does not apply if       1,607        

subsequent to the sale, condemnation, FIRE, or casualty, it is     1,608        

adjudicated that the disability of the testator has ceased and     1,609        

the testator survives the adjudication by one year.  The right of  1,610        

the specific devisee or legatee is reduced by any right he THE     1,611        

SPECIFIC DEVISEE OR LEGATEE has under division (A) of this         1,612        

section.                                                                        

      Sec. 2113.03.  (A)  Subject to division (D) of this          1,621        

section, an estate may be released from administration under       1,622        

division (B) of this section if either of the following applies:   1,623        

      (1)  The value of the assets of the estate is thirty-five    1,625        

thousand dollars or less.                                          1,626        

      (2)  The value of the assets of the estate is one hundred    1,629        

thousand dollars or less and either of the following applies:      1,630        

      (a)  The decedent devised and bequeathed in a valid will     1,632        

all of the assets of the decedent's estate to a person who is      1,634        

named in the will as the decedent's spouse, and the decedent is    1,635        

survived by that person.                                           1,636        

      (b)  The decedent is survived by a spouse whose marriage to  1,638        

the decedent was solemnized in a manner consistent with Chapter    1,639        

3101. of the Revised Code or with a similar law of another state   1,640        

or nation, the decedent died without a valid will, and the         1,641        

decedent's surviving spouse is entitled to receive all of the      1,642        

assets of the decedent's estate under section 2105.06 of the       1,643        

Revised Code or by the operation of that section and division      1,645        

(B)(1) or (2) of section 2106.13 of the Revised Code.              1,646        

      (B)  Upon the application of any interested party, after     1,648        

notice of the filing of the application has been given to the      1,649        

surviving spouse and heirs at law in the manner and for the        1,650        

length of time the probate court directs, and after notice to all  1,651        

interested parties by publication in a newspaper of general        1,652        

circulation in the county, unless the notices are waived or found  1,653        

unnecessary, the court, when satisfied that division (A)(1) or     1,654        

                                                          35     


                                                                 
(2) of this section is satisfied, may enter an order relieving     1,655        

the estate from administration and directing delivery of personal  1,656        

property and transfer of real estate to the persons entitled to    1,657        

the personal property or real estate.                              1,658        

      For the purposes of this section, the value of an estate     1,661        

that reasonably can be considered to be in an amount specified in               

division (A)(1) or (2) of this section and that is not composed    1,662        

entirely of money, stocks, bonds, or other property the value of   1,663        

which is readily ascertainable, shall be determined by an          1,664        

appraiser selected by the applicant, subject to the approval of    1,665        

the court.  The appraiser's valuation of the property shall be     1,666        

reported to the court in the application to relieve the estate     1,667        

from administration.  The appraiser shall be paid in accordance    1,668        

with section 2115.06 of the Revised Code.                          1,669        

      For the purposes of this section, the amount of property to  1,673        

be delivered or transferred to the surviving spouse, minor                      

children, or both, of the decedent as the allowance for support    1,674        

shall be established in accordance with section 2106.13 of the     1,675        

Revised Code.                                                      1,676        

      When a delivery, sale, or transfer of personal property has  1,678        

been ordered from an estate that has been relieved from            1,679        

administration, the court may appoint a commissioner to execute    1,680        

all necessary instruments of conveyance.  The commissioner shall   1,681        

receipt for the property, distribute the proceeds of the           1,682        

conveyance upon court order, and report to the court after         1,683        

distribution.                                                      1,684        

      When the decedent died testate, the will shall be presented  1,686        

for probate, and, if admitted to probate, the court may relieve    1,687        

the estate from administration and order distribution of the       1,688        

estate under the will.                                             1,689        

      An order of the court relieving an estate from               1,691        

administration shall have the same effect as administration        1,692        

proceedings in freeing land in the hands of an innocent purchaser  1,693        

for value from possible claims of unsecured creditors.             1,694        

                                                          36     


                                                                 
      (C)  Any delivery of personal property or transfer of real   1,696        

estate pursuant to an order relieving an estate from               1,697        

administration is made subject to the limitations pertaining to    1,698        

the claims of creditors set forth in divisions (B) and (C) of      1,699        

section 2117.06 of the Revised Code.                               1,700        

      (D)  The release of an estate from administration under      1,702        

this section does not affect any duty of any person to file an     1,703        

estate tax return and certificate under division (A) of section    1,704        

5731.21 of the Revised Code and does not affect the duties of a    1,705        

probate court set forth in that division.                          1,706        

      (E)  THIS SECTION DOES NOT AFFECT THE ABILITY OF QUALIFIED   1,708        

PERSONS TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM          1,709        

ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 2113.031 OF THE REVISED CODE OR TO    1,710        

FILE AN APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF LETTERS TESTAMENTARY OR       1,711        

LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION.                                         1,712        

      Sec. 2113.031.  (A)  AS USED IN THIS SECTION:                1,714        

      (1)  "FINANCIAL INSTITUTION" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS IN      1,716        

SECTION 5725.01 OF THE REVISED CODE.  "FINANCIAL INSTITUTION"      1,718        

ALSO INCLUDES A CREDIT UNION AND A FIDUCIARY THAT IS NOT A TRUST   1,719        

COMPANY BUT THAT DOES TRUST BUSINESS.                              1,720        

      (2)  "FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES" MEANS WHICHEVER OF THE    1,722        

FOLLOWING APPLIES:                                                 1,723        

      (a)  THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES OF THE DECEDENT THAT    1,726        

ARE INCLUDED IN THE BILL OF A FUNERAL DIRECTOR;                    1,727        

      (b)  THE FUNERAL EXPENSES OF THE DECEDENT THAT ARE NOT       1,730        

INCLUDED IN THE BILL OF A FUNERAL DIRECTOR AND THAT HAVE BEEN      1,731        

APPROVED BY THE PROBATE COURT;                                                  

      (c)  THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES OF THE DECEDENT THAT    1,734        

ARE DESCRIBED IN DIVISIONS (A)(2)(a) AND (b) OF THIS SECTION.      1,735        

      (3)  "SURVIVING SPOUSE" MEANS EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING:       1,738        

      (a)  THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A DECEDENT WHO DIED LEAVING     1,741        

THE SURVIVING SPOUSE AND NO MINOR CHILDREN;                        1,742        

      (b)  THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A DECEDENT WHO DIED LEAVING     1,745        

THE SURVIVING SPOUSE AND MINOR CHILDREN, ALL OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN  1,746        

                                                          37     


                                                                 
OF THE DECEDENT AND THE SURVIVING SPOUSE.                                       

      (B)(1)  IF THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE  1,749        

DOES NOT EXCEED THE LESSER OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS OR THE AMOUNT   1,750        

OF THE DECEDENT'S FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES, ANY PERSON WHO IS   1,751        

NOT A SURVIVING SPOUSE AND WHO HAS PAID OR IS OBLIGATED IN         1,752        

WRITING TO PAY THE DECEDENT'S FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES MAY      1,753        

APPLY TO THE PROBATE COURT FOR AN ORDER GRANTING A SUMMARY         1,754        

RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.       1,755        

      (2)  IF EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING APPLIES, THE DECEDENT'S      1,757        

SURVIVING SPOUSE MAY APPLY TO THE PROBATE COURT FOR AN ORDER       1,758        

GRANTING A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH  1,760        

THIS SECTION:                                                                   

      (a)  THE DECEDENT'S FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES HAVE BEEN    1,763        

PREPAID, AND THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE      1,764        

DOES NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:                  1,765        

      (i)  THE ALLOWANCE FOR SUPPORT THAT IS MADE UNDER DIVISION   1,768        

(A) OF SECTION 2106.13 OF THE REVISED CODE TO THE SURVIVING        1,770        

SPOUSE AND, IF APPLICABLE, TO THE DECEDENT'S MINOR CHILDREN AND    1,771        

THAT IS DISTRIBUTABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DIVISION (B)(1) OR (2)    1,773        

OF THAT SECTION;                                                                

      (ii)  AN AMOUNT, NOT EXCEEDING TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS, FOR     1,776        

THE DECEDENT'S FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES REFERRED TO IN          1,777        

DIVISION (A)(2)(c) OF THIS SECTION.                                1,778        

      (b)  THE DECEDENT'S FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES HAVE NOT     1,781        

BEEN PREPAID, THE DECEDENT'S SURVIVING SPOUSE HAS PAID OR IS       1,782        

OBLIGATED IN WRITING TO PAY THE DECEDENT'S FUNERAL AND BURIAL      1,783        

EXPENSES, AND THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE     1,784        

DOES NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL OF THE ITEMS REFERRED TO IN DIVISIONS    1,785        

(B)(2)(a)(i) AND (ii) OF THIS SECTION.                             1,786        

      (C)  A PROBATE COURT SHALL ORDER A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM      1,789        

ADMINISTRATION IN CONNECTION WITH A DECEDENT'S ESTATE ONLY IF THE  1,790        

COURT FINDS THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE SATISFIED:               1,791        

      (1)  A PERSON DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (B)(1) OF THIS SECTION   1,794        

IS THE APPLICANT FOR A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION, AND    1,796        

                                                          38     


                                                                 
THE VALUE OF THE ASSETS OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE DOES NOT EXCEED   1,797        

THE LESSER OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS OR THE AMOUNT OF THE            1,798        

DECEDENT'S FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES, OR THE APPLICANT FOR A     1,799        

SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION IS THE DECEDENT'S SURVIVING    1,800        

SPOUSE, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (B)(2)(a) OR   1,801        

(b) OF THIS SECTION APPLY.                                         1,802        

      (2)  THE APPLICATION FOR A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM              1,804        

ADMINISTRATION DOES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:                          1,805        

      (a)  DESCRIBES ALL ASSETS OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE THAT ARE  1,808        

KNOWN TO THE APPLICANT;                                            1,809        

      (b)  IS IN THE FORM THAT THE SUPREME COURT PRESCRIBES        1,812        

PURSUANT TO ITS POWERS OF SUPERINTENDENCE UNDER SECTION 5 OF       1,813        

ARTICLE IV, OHIO CONSTITUTION, AND IS CONSISTENT WITH THE          1,815        

REQUIREMENTS OF THIS DIVISION;                                                  

      (c)  HAS BEEN SIGNED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE APPLICANT IN    1,818        

THE PRESENCE OF A NOTARY PUBLIC OR A DEPUTY CLERK OF THE PROBATE   1,819        

COURT;                                                                          

      (d)  SETS FORTH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IF THE DECEDENT'S  1,822        

ESTATE INCLUDES A DESCRIBED TYPE OF ASSET:                         1,823        

      (i)  IF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE INCLUDES A MOTOR VEHICLE, THE  1,826        

MOTOR VEHICLE'S YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, BODY TYPE, MANUFACTURER'S       1,827        

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NUMBER, AND    1,828        

DATE OF DEATH VALUE;                                                            

      (ii)  IF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE INCLUDES AN ACCOUNT           1,831        

MAINTAINED BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THAT INSTITUTION'S NAME     1,832        

AND THE ACCOUNT'S COMPLETE IDENTIFYING NUMBER AND DATE OF DEATH    1,833        

BALANCE;                                                                        

      (iii)  IF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE INCLUDES ONE OR MORE SHARES  1,836        

OF STOCK OR BONDS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THE SHARES AND BONDS AND    1,837        

THEIR TOTAL DATE OF DEATH VALUE AND, FOR EACH SHARE OR BOND, ITS   1,838        

SERIAL NUMBER, THE NAME OF ITS ISSUER, ITS DATE OF DEATH VALUE,    1,839        

AND, IF ANY, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ITS TRANSFER AGENT.           1,840        

      (3)  THE APPLICATION FOR A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM              1,842        

ADMINISTRATION IS ACCOMPANIED BY ALL OF THE FOLLOWING THAT APPLY:  1,843        

                                                          39     


                                                                 
      (a)  A RECEIPT, CONTRACT, OR OTHER DOCUMENT THAT CONFIRMS    1,846        

THE APPLICANT'S PAYMENT OR OBLIGATION TO PAY THE DECEDENT'S        1,847        

FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES OR, IF APPLICABLE IN THE CASE OF THE   1,848        

DECEDENT'S SURVIVING SPOUSE, THE PREPAYMENT OF THE DECEDENT'S      1,849        

FUNERAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES;                                                    

      (b)  AN APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER AS         1,852        

DESCRIBED IN SECTION 2113.61 OF THE REVISED CODE, IF AN INTEREST   1,853        

IN REAL PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE ASSETS OF THE DECEDENT'S       1,854        

ESTATE;                                                            1,855        

      (c)  THE FEE REQUIRED BY DIVISION (A)(59) OF SECTION         1,858        

2101.16 OF THE REVISED CODE.                                       1,859        

      (4)  AT THE TIME OF ITS DETERMINATION ON THE APPLICATION,    1,861        

THERE ARE NO PENDING PROCEEDINGS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE     1,863        

DECEDENT'S ESTATE AND NO PENDING PROCEEDINGS FOR RELIEF OF THE     1,864        

DECEDENT'S ESTATE FROM ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 2113.03 OF     1,865        

THE REVISED CODE.                                                  1,866        

      (5)  AT THE TIME OF ITS DETERMINATION ON THE APPLICATION,    1,869        

THERE ARE NO KNOWN ASSETS OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE OTHER THAN THE  1,870        

ASSETS DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICATION.                                            

      (D)  IF THE PROBATE COURT DETERMINES THAT THE REQUIREMENTS   1,873        

OF DIVISION (C) OF THIS SECTION ARE SATISFIED, THE PROBATE COURT   1,875        

SHALL ISSUE AN ORDER THAT GRANTS A SUMMARY RELEASE FROM            1,876        

ADMINISTRATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE.  THE      1,877        

ORDER HAS, AND SHALL SPECIFY THAT IT HAS, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING     1,878        

EFFECTS:                                                                        

      (1)  IT RELIEVES THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE FROM ADMINISTRATION.  1,881        

      (2)  IT DIRECTS THE DELIVERY TO THE APPLICANT OF THE         1,883        

DECEDENT'S PERSONAL PROPERTY TOGETHER WITH THE TITLE TO THAT       1,884        

PROPERTY.                                                          1,885        

      (3)  IT DIRECTS THE TRANSFER TO THE APPLICANT OF THE TITLE   1,887        

TO ANY INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY INCLUDED IN THE DECEDENT'S       1,888        

ESTATE.                                                            1,889        

      (4)  IT ELIMINATES THE DUTY OF ALL PERSONS TO FILE AN        1,891        

ESTATE TAX RETURN AND CERTIFICATE UNDER DIVISION (A) OF SECTION    1,893        

                                                          40     


                                                                 
5731.21 OF THE REVISED CODE IN CONNECTION WITH THE DECEDENT'S      1,895        

ESTATE.                                                                         

      (5)  IT ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION,     1,897        

CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY OR PERSON REFERRED TO IN ANY          1,898        

PROVISION OF DIVISIONS (A) TO (F) OF SECTION 5731.39 OF THE        1,901        

REVISED CODE TO OBTAIN, AS OTHERWISE WOULD BE REQUIRED BY ANY OF   1,902        

THOSE DIVISIONS, THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE TAX COMMISSIONER                    

PRIOR TO THE DELIVERY, TRANSFER, OR PAYMENT TO THE APPLICANT OF    1,903        

AN ASSET OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE.                                 1,904        

      (E)  A CERTIFIED COPY OF AN ORDER THAT GRANTS A SUMMARY      1,907        

RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION TOGETHER WITH A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE  1,908        

APPLICATION FOR THAT ORDER CONSTITUTES SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY FOR A  1,909        

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, CORPORATION, OR OTHER ENTITY OR PERSON      1,910        

REFERRED TO IN DIVISIONS (A) TO (F) OF SECTION 5731.39 OF THE      1,913        

REVISED CODE OR FOR A CLERK OF A COURT OF COMMON PLEAS TO          1,914        

TRANSFER TITLE TO AN ASSET OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE TO THE         1,915        

APPLICANT FOR THE SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION.             1,916        

      (F)  THIS SECTION DOES NOT AFFECT THE ABILITY OF QUALIFIED   1,919        

PERSONS TO FILE AN APPLICATION TO RELIEVE AN ESTATE FROM           1,920        

ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 2113.03 OF THE REVISED CODE OR TO     1,922        

FILE AN APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF LETTERS TESTAMENTARY OR       1,923        

LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE DECEDENT'S        1,924        

ESTATE.                                                                         

      Sec. 2113.61.  (A)(1)  When real property passes by the      1,933        

laws of intestate succession or under a will, the administrator    1,934        

or executor shall file in probate court, prior to the filing of    1,935        

his THE ADMINISTRATOR'S OR EXECUTOR'S final account, an            1,936        

application requesting the court to issue a certificate of         1,937        

transfer as to the real property.  Real property sold by an        1,939        

executor or administrator or land registered under Chapters 5309.  1,940        

and 5310. of the Revised Code are IS excepted from the             1,941        

application requirement.  Cases in which an order has been made    1,942        

UNDER SECTION 2113.03 OF THE REVISED CODE relieving an estate                   

from administration and in which the order directing transfer of   1,944        

                                                          41     


                                                                 
real property to the person entitled to it may be substituted for  1,945        

the certificate of transfer also are excepted from the             1,946        

application requirement.                                                        

      (2)  IN ACCORDANCE WITH DIVISION (C)(3)(b) OF SECTION        1,949        

2113.031 OF THE REVISED CODE, AN APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF  1,951        

TRANSFER OF AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY INCLUDED IN THE ASSETS    1,952        

OF THE DECEDENT'S ESTATE SHALL ACCOMPANY AN APPLICATION FOR A      1,953        

SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION UNDER THAT SECTION.  THIS      1,954        

SECTION APPLIES TO THE APPLICATION FOR AND THE ISSUANCE OF THE     1,955        

REQUESTED CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE    1,956        

PROBATE COURT DETERMINES THAT THE NATURE OF ANY OF THE PROVISIONS  1,957        

OF THIS SECTION IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE NATURE OF A GRANT OF A    1,958        

SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION.                               1,959        

      (B)  The SUBJECT TO DIVISION (A)(2) OF THIS SECTION, THE     1,962        

application for a certificate of transfer shall contain all of     1,963        

the following:                                                                  

      (1)  The name, place of residence at death, and date of      1,965        

death of the decedent;                                             1,966        

      (2)  A statement whether the decedent died testate or        1,968        

intestate;                                                         1,969        

      (3)  The fact and date of the filing and probate of the      1,971        

will, if applicable, and the fact and date of the appointment of   1,972        

the administrator or executor;                                     1,973        

      (4)  A description of each parcel of real property situated  1,975        

in this state that is owned by the decedent at the time of his     1,976        

death;                                                             1,977        

      (5)  Insofar as they can be ascertained, the names, ages,    1,979        

places of residence, and relationship to the decedent of the       1,980        

persons to whom each parcel of real property described in          1,981        

division (B)(4) of this section passed by descent or devise;       1,982        

      (6)  A statement that all the known debts of the decedent's  1,984        

estate have been paid or secured to be paid, or that sufficient    1,985        

other assets are in hand to complete the payment of those debts;   1,986        

      (7)  Other pertinent information that the court requires.    1,988        

                                                          42     


                                                                 
      (C)  The SUBJECT TO DIVISION (A)(2) OF THIS SECTION, THE     1,991        

court shall issue a certificate of transfer for record in each     1,992        

county in this state in which real property so passing is          1,993        

situated, that shall recite all of the following:                               

      (1)  The name and date of death of the decedent;             1,995        

      (2)  Whether the decedent died testate or intestate and, if  1,997        

testate, the volume and page of the record of the will;            1,998        

      (3)  The volume and page of the probate court record of the  2,000        

administration of the estate;                                      2,001        

      (4)  The names and places of residence of the devisees, the  2,003        

interests passing to them, the names and places of residence of    2,004        

the persons inheriting intestate, and the interests inherited by   2,005        

them, in each parcel of real property described in division        2,006        

(B)(4) of this section;                                            2,007        

      (5)  A description of each parcel of real property           2,009        

described in division (B)(4) of this section;                      2,010        

      (6)  Other information that in the opinion of the court      2,012        

should be included.                                                2,013        

      (D)  If an executor or administrator has failed to file an   2,015        

application for a certificate of transfer before being             2,016        

discharged, the application may be filed by an heir or devisee,    2,017        

or a successor in interest, in the probate court in which the      2,018        

testator's will was probated or, in the case of intestate          2,019        

estates, in the probate court in which administration was had.     2,020        

If no administration was had on an estate and if no                2,021        

administration is contemplated, EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF THE GRANT    2,022        

OF OR CONTEMPLATED APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF AN ORDER OF A      2,023        

SUMMARY RELEASE FROM ADMINISTRATION UNDER SECTION 2113.031 OF THE  2,024        

REVISED CODE, an application for a certificate of transfer may be  2,026        

filed by an heir or devisee, or a successor in interest, in the    2,027        

probate court of the county in which the decedent was a resident   2,028        

at the time of his death.                                                       

      A foreign executor or administrator, when no ancillary       2,030        

administration proceedings have been had or are being had in this  2,031        

                                                          43     


                                                                 
state, may file in accordance with this section an application     2,032        

for a certificate of transfer in the probate court of any county   2,033        

of this state in which real property of the decedent is located.   2,034        

      When a person who has entered into a written contract for    2,036        

the sale and conveyance of an interest in real property dies       2,037        

before its completion, the interest of the decedent in the         2,038        

contract and the record title to the real property described in    2,039        

the contract may be transferred to the persons, legatees,          2,040        

devisees, or heirs at law entitled to the interest of the          2,041        

decedent in the real property, in the same manner as provided in   2,042        

this section and sections 2113.62 and 2113.63 of the Revised Code  2,043        

for the transfer of real property.  The application for the        2,044        

certificate of transfer and the certificate itself also shall      2,045        

recite that the real property described in the application or      2,046        

certificate is subject to a written contract for its sale and      2,047        

conveyance.                                                        2,048        

      Sec. 2131.10.  A natural person, adult or minor, referred    2,057        

to in sections 2131.10 and 2131.11 of the Revised Code as the      2,058        

owner, may enter into a written contract with any bank, building   2,059        

and loan or savings and loan association, credit union, or         2,060        

society for savings, authorized to receive money on an investment  2,061        

share certificate, share account, deposit, or stock deposit, and   2,062        

transacting business in this state, whereby the proceeds of the    2,063        

owner's investment share certificate, share account, deposit, or   2,064        

stock deposit may be made payable on the death of the owner to     2,065        

another natural person or to any entity or organization, referred  2,066        

to in such sections as the beneficiary, notwithstanding any        2,067        

provisions to the contrary in Chapter 2107. of the Revised Code.   2,068        

In creating such accounts, "payable on death" or "payable on the   2,069        

death of" may be abbreviated to "P.O.D."                           2,070        

      Every contract of an investment share certificate, share     2,072        

account, deposit, or stock deposit authorized by this section      2,073        

shall be deemed to contain a right on the part of the owner        2,074        

during his THE OWNER'S lifetime both to withdraw the proceeds of   2,075        

                                                          44     


                                                                 
such investment share certificate, share account, deposit, or      2,077        

stock deposit, in whole or in part, as though no beneficiary has   2,078        

been named, and to designate a change in beneficiary.  The         2,079        

interest of the beneficiary shall be deemed not to vest until the  2,080        

death of the owner.                                                2,081        

      No change in the designation of the beneficiary shall be     2,083        

valid unless executed in the form and manner prescribed by the     2,084        

bank, building and loan or savings and loan association, credit    2,085        

union, or society for savings.                                     2,086        

      Sec. 5111.11.  (A)  As used in this section, "estate" means  2,095        

all property to be administered under Title XXI of the Revised     2,097        

Code and property that would be administered under that title if   2,098        

not for section 2113.03 OR 2113.031 of the Revised Code.           2,099        

      (B)  For the purpose of recovering the cost of services      2,102        

correctly paid under the medical assistance program to a                        

recipient age fifty-five or older, the department of job and       2,103        

family services shall institute an estate recovery program         2,105        

against the property and estates of medical assistance recipients  2,106        

to recover medical assistance correctly paid on their behalf to    2,107        

the extent that federal law and regulations permit the             2,108        

implementation of such a program OF THAT NATURE.  The department   2,110        

shall seek to recover medical assistance correctly paid only       2,111        

after the recipient and the recipient's surviving spouse, if any,  2,112        

have died and only at a time when the recipient has no surviving   2,113        

child who is under age twenty-one or blind or permanently and      2,114        

totally disabled.                                                  2,115        

      The department may enter into a contract with any person     2,117        

under which the person administers the estate recovery program on  2,118        

behalf of the department or performs any of the functions          2,120        

required to carry out the program.  The contract may provide for   2,121        

the person to be compensated from the property recovered from the  2,122        

estates of medical assistance recipients or may provide for such   2,123        

other ANOTHER manner of compensation as is agreed to by the        2,125        

person and the department.  Regardless of whether it is            2,126        

                                                          45     


                                                                 
administered by the department or a person under contract with     2,127        

the department, the program shall be administered in accordance    2,128        

with applicable requirements of federal law and regulations and    2,129        

state law and rules.                                                            

      (C)  The department may waive seeking recovery of medical    2,132        

assistance correctly paid if the director of job and family                     

services determines that recovery would work an undue hardship.    2,134        

The director, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised       2,135        

Code, shall adopt rules establishing procedures for waiver of      2,136        

recovery due to an undue hardship, which shall meet the standards  2,137        

specified by the United States secretary of health and human       2,139        

services under 42 U.S.C. 1396p(b)(3), as amended.                  2,141        

      (D)  Any action that may be taken by the department under    2,144        

section 5111.111 of the Revised Code may be taken by a person      2,146        

administering the program, or performing actions specified in      2,147        

that section, pursuant to a contract with the department.                       

      Sec. 5302.01.  The forms set forth in sections, 5302.05,     2,156        

5302.07, 5302.09, 5302.11, 5302.12, 5302.14, and 5302.17, AND      2,158        

5302.22 of the Revised Code may be used and shall be sufficient    2,160        

for their respective purposes.  They shall be known as "Statutory  2,161        

Forms" and may be referred to as such.  They may be altered as                  

circumstances require, and the authorization of such forms shall   2,162        

not prevent the use of other forms.  Wherever the phrases defined  2,163        

in sections 5302.06, 5302.08, 5302.10, and 5302.13 of the Revised  2,164        

Code are to be incorporated in instruments by reference, the       2,165        

method of incorporation as indicated in the statutory forms shall  2,166        

be sufficient, but shall not preclude other methods.                            

      Sec. 5302.02.  The rules and definitions contained in        2,175        

sections 5302.03, 5302.04, 5302.06, 5302.08, 5302.10, 5302.13,     2,176        

5302.17, 5302.18, 5302.19, 5302.20, and 5302.21, AND 5302.22 of    2,177        

the Revised Code apply to all deeds or other instruments relating  2,179        

to real estate, whether the statutory forms or other forms are     2,181        

used, where the instruments are executed on or after October 1,                 

1965, OR, IN RELATION TO THE RULES AND DEFINITIONS CONTAINED IN    2,182        

                                                          46     


                                                                 
SECTION 5302.22 OF THE REVISED CODE, ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE     2,183        

DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT.                                                         

      Sec. 5302.22.  (A)  A DEED CONVEYING ANY INTEREST IN REAL    2,185        

PROPERTY, AND IN SUBSTANCE FOLLOWING THE FORM SET FORTH IN THIS    2,186        

DIVISION, WHEN DULY EXECUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 5301. OF   2,187        

THE REVISED CODE AND RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY          2,188        

RECORDER, CREATES A PRESENT INTEREST AS SOLE OWNER OR AS A TENANT  2,189        

IN COMMON IN THE GRANTEE AND CREATES A TRANSFER ON DEATH INTEREST  2,190        

IN THE BENEFICIARY OR BENEFICIARIES.  UPON THE DEATH OF THE        2,192        

GRANTEE, THE DEED VESTS THE INTEREST OF THE DECEDENT IN THE        2,194        

BENEFICIARY OR BENEFICIARIES.  THE DEED DESCRIBED IN THIS          2,195        

DIVISION SHALL IN SUBSTANCE CONFORM TO THE FOLLOWING FORM:                      

                     "TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED                       2,196        

      .................... (MARITAL STATUS), OF .................  2,198        

COUNTY, .................... (FOR VALUABLE CONSIDERATION PAID, IF  2,199        

ANY), GRANT(S) (WITH COVENANTS, IF ANY), TO ....................   2,200        

WHOSE TAX MAILING ADDRESS IS ...................., TRANSFER ON     2,201        

DEATH TO ...................., BENEFICIARY(S), THE FOLLOWING REAL  2,202        

PROPERTY:                                                                       

      (DESCRIPTION OF LAND OR INTEREST IN LAND AND ENCUMBRANCES,   2,204        

RESERVATIONS, AND EXCEPTIONS, IF ANY.)                             2,205        

      PRIOR INSTRUMENT REFERENCE:  ..............................  2,207        

...................., WIFE (HUSBAND) OF THE GRANTOR, RELEASES ALL  2,209        

RIGHTS OF DOWER THEREIN.                                           2,210        

      WITNESS .................... HAND THIS ....................  2,212        

DAY OF ...................."                                       2,213        

      (EXECUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 5301. OF THE REVISED   2,215        

CODE)                                                                           

      (B)  ANY PERSON WHO, UNDER THE REVISED CODE OR THE COMMON    2,218        

LAW OF THIS STATE, OWNS REAL PROPERTY OR ANY INTEREST IN REAL      2,219        

PROPERTY AS A SOLE OWNER OR AS A TENANT IN COMMON MAY CREATE AN    2,221        

INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY TRANSFERABLE ON DEATH BY EXECUTING   2,222        

AND RECORDING A DEED AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION CONVEYING THE     2,223        

PERSON'S ENTIRE, SEPARATE INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY TO ONE OR  2,224        

                                                          47     


                                                                 
MORE INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THE GRANTOR, AND DESIGNATING ONE OR    2,225        

MORE OTHER PERSONS, IDENTIFIED IN THE DEED BY NAME, AS TRANSFER    2,226        

ON DEATH BENEFICIARIES.                                            2,227        

      A DEED CONVEYING AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY THAT INCLUDES  2,229        

A TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION NEED NOT BE SUPPORTED  2,230        

BY CONSIDERATION AND NEED NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE TRANSFER ON      2,231        

DEATH BENEFICIARY TO BE EFFECTIVE.                                 2,232        

      (C)  UPON THE DEATH OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO OWNS REAL          2,234        

PROPERTY OR AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY THAT IS SUBJECT TO A      2,235        

TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION MADE UNDER A TRANSFER    2,236        

ON DEATH DEED AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, THE DECEASED OWNER'S    2,239        

INTEREST SHALL BE TRANSFERRED ONLY TO THE TRANSFER ON DEATH        2,240        

BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE DEED BY NAME AND WHO       2,241        

SURVIVE THE DECEASED OWNER OR THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE ON THE DATE                 

OF DEATH OF THE DECEASED OWNER.  THE TRANSFER OF THE DECEASED      2,243        

OWNER'S INTEREST SHALL BE RECORDED BY PRESENTING TO THE COUNTY     2,244        

AUDITOR AND FILING WITH THE COUNTY RECORDER AN AFFIDAVIT,          2,245        

ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR THE     2,246        

DECEASED OWNER.  THE AFFIDAVIT SHALL RECITE THE NAME AND ADDRESS   2,247        

OF EACH DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY WHO SURVIVED THE  2,248        

DECEASED OWNER OR THAT IS IN EXISTENCE ON THE DATE OF THE                       

DECEASED OWNER'S DEATH, THE DATE OF THE DECEASED OWNER'S DEATH, A  2,251        

DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY OR INTEREST IN REAL       2,252        

PROPERTY, AND THE NAMES OF EACH DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON DEATH       2,253        

BENEFICIARY WHO HAS NOT SURVIVED THE DECEASED OWNER OR THAT IS     2,254        

NOT IN EXISTENCE ON THE DATE OF THE DECEASED OWNER'S DEATH.  THE   2,255        

AFFIDAVIT SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A CERTIFIED COPY OF A DEATH      2,256        

CERTIFICATE FOR EACH DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY WHO  2,257        

HAS NOT SURVIVED THE DECEASED OWNER.  THE COUNTY RECORDER SHALL    2,259        

MAKE AN INDEX REFERENCE TO ANY AFFIDAVIT SO FILED IN THE RECORD    2,260        

OF DEEDS.                                                                       

      UPON THE DEATH OF ANY INDIVIDUAL HOLDING REAL PROPERTY OR    2,262        

AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY THAT IS SUBJECT TO A TRANSFER ON      2,263        

DEATH BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION MADE UNDER A TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED  2,264        

                                                          48     


                                                                 
AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, IF THE TITLE TO THE REAL PROPERTY IS  2,265        

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5309. OF THE REVISED CODE, THE      2,266        

PROCEDURE FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE INTEREST OF THE DECEASED OWNER   2,267        

SHALL BE PURSUANT TO SECTION 5309.081 OF THE REVISED CODE.         2,268        

      Sec. 5302.23.  (A)  ANY DEED CONTAINING LANGUAGE THAT SHOWS  2,270        

A CLEAR INTENT TO DESIGNATE A TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY SHALL  2,271        

BE LIBERALLY CONSTRUED TO DO SO.                                   2,272        

      (B)  REAL PROPERTY OR AN INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY THAT IS   2,274        

SUBJECT TO A TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION AS          2,275        

PROVIDED IN SECTION 5302.22 OF THE REVISED CODE OR AS DESCRIBED    2,276        

IN DIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION HAS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING           2,277        

CHARACTERISTICS AND RAMIFICATIONS:                                 2,278        

      (1)  AN INTEREST OF A DECEASED OWNER SHALL BE TRANSFERRED    2,280        

TO THE TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE   2,281        

DEED BY NAME AND WHO SURVIVE THE DECEASED OWNER OR THAT ARE IN     2,282        

EXISTENCE ON THE DATE OF THE DECEASED OWNER'S DEATH.  IF THERE IS  2,284        

A DESIGNATION OF MORE THAN ONE TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY, THE  2,285        

BENEFICIARIES SHALL TAKE TITLE IN THE INTEREST IN EQUAL SHARES AS  2,286        

TENANTS IN COMMON.  IF A TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY DOES NOT    2,287        

SURVIVE THE DECEASED OWNER OR IS NOT IN EXISTENCE ON THE DATE OF   2,288        

THE DECEASED OWNER'S DEATH, AND THE DECEASED OWNER HAS DESIGNATED  2,289        

ONE OR MORE PERSONS AS CONTINGENT TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARIES  2,290        

AS PROVIDED IN DIVISION (B)(2) OF THIS SECTION, THE DESIGNATED     2,291        

CONTINGENT TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARIES SHALL TAKE THE SAME                  

INTEREST THAT WOULD HAVE PASSED TO THE TRANSFER ON DEATH           2,292        

BENEFICIARY HAD THAT TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY SURVIVED THE    2,293        

DECEASED OWNER OR BEEN IN EXISTENCE ON THE DATE OF THE DECEASED    2,294        

OWNER'S DEATH.  IF NONE OF THE DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON DEATH        2,295        

BENEFICIARIES SURVIVES THE DECEASED OWNER OR IS IN EXISTENCE ON    2,297        

THE DATE OF THE DECEASED OWNER'S DEATH AND NO CONTINGENT TRANSFER               

ON DEATH BENEFICIARIES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED OR HAVE SURVIVED THE   2,298        

DECEASED OWNER, THE INTEREST OF THE DECEASED OWNER SHALL BE        2,300        

DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF THE PROBATE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED OWNER    2,301        

OF THE INTEREST.                                                   2,302        

                                                          49     


                                                                 
      (2)  A TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED MAY CONTAIN A DESIGNATION OF   2,304        

ONE OR MORE PERSONS AS CONTINGENT TRANSFER ON DEATH                2,305        

BENEFICIARIES, WHO SHALL TAKE THE INTEREST OF THE DECEASED OWNER   2,306        

THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE PASSED TO THE DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON     2,307        

DEATH BENEFICIARY IF THAT NAMED DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON DEATH       2,308        

BENEFICIARY DOES NOT SURVIVE THE DECEASED OWNER OR IS NOT IN                    

EXISTENCE ON THE DATE OF DEATH OF THE DECEASED OWNER.  PERSONS     2,310        

DESIGNATED AS CONTINGENT TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARIES SHALL BE  2,311        

IDENTIFIED IN THE DEED BY NAME.                                    2,312        

      (3)  THE DESIGNATION OF A TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY HAS  2,314        

NO EFFECT ON THE PRESENT OWNERSHIP OF REAL PROPERTY, AND A PERSON  2,315        

DESIGNATED AS A TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY HAS NO INTEREST IN   2,318        

THE REAL PROPERTY UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE OWNER OF THE INTEREST.    2,319        

      (4)  THE DESIGNATION IN A DEED OF ANY TRANSFER ON DEATH      2,321        

BENEFICIARY MAY BE REVOKED OR CHANGED AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT THE     2,322        

CONSENT OF THAT DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY, BY THE   2,323        

OWNER OF THE INTEREST BY EXECUTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER      2,325        

5301. OF THE REVISED CODE AND RECORDING A DEED CONVEYING THE       2,326        

GRANTOR'S ENTIRE, SEPARATE INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY TO ONE    2,327        

OR MORE PERSONS, INCLUDING THE GRANTOR, WITH OR WITHOUT THE                     

DESIGNATION OF ANOTHER TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY.              2,328        

      (5)  A FEE SIMPLE TITLE OR ANY FRACTIONAL INTEREST IN A FEE  2,331        

SIMPLE TITLE MAY BE SUBJECTED TO A TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY   2,332        

DESIGNATION.                                                       2,333        

      (6)  A DESIGNATED TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY TAKES ONLY   2,335        

THE INTEREST THAT THE DECEASED OWNER OR OWNERS HELD ON THE DATE    2,336        

OF DEATH, SUBJECT TO ALL ENCUMBRANCES, RESERVATIONS, AND           2,337        

EXCEPTIONS.                                                                     

      (7)  NO RIGHTS OF ANY LIENHOLDER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT         2,339        

LIMITED TO, ANY MORTGAGEE, JUDGMENT CREDITOR, OR MECHANIC'S LIEN   2,340        

HOLDER, SHALL BE AFFECTED BY THE DESIGNATION OF A TRANSFER ON      2,341        

DEATH BENEFICIARY PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND SECTION 5302.22 OF  2,342        

THE REVISED CODE.  IF ANY LIENHOLDER TAKES ACTION TO ENFORCE THE   2,343        

LIEN, BY FORECLOSURE OR OTHERWISE THROUGH A COURT PROCEEDING, IT   2,344        

                                                          50     


                                                                 
IS NOT NECESSARY TO JOIN THE TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY AS A    2,345        

PARTY DEFENDANT IN THE ACTION UNLESS THE TRANSFER ON DEATH         2,346        

BENEFICIARY HAS ANOTHER INTEREST IN THE REAL PROPERTY THAT IS      2,347        

CURRENTLY VESTED.                                                               

      (8)  ANY TRANSFER ON DEATH OF REAL PROPERTY OR OF AN         2,349        

INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY THAT RESULTS FROM A DEED DESIGNATING A   2,350        

TRANSFER ON DEATH BENEFICIARY IS NOT TESTAMENTARY.                 2,351        

      Sec. 5731.21.  (A)(1)(a)  Except as provided under division  2,360        

(A)(3) of this section, the executor or administrator, or, if no   2,361        

executor or administrator has been appointed, then such other      2,362        

ANOTHER person in possession of property, the transfer of which    2,363        

is subject to estate taxes under section 5731.02 or division (A)   2,365        

of section 5731.19 of the Revised Code, shall file an estate tax   2,366        

return, within nine months of the date of the decedent's death,    2,367        

in the form prescribed by the tax commissioner, in duplicate,      2,368        

with the probate court of the county.  The return shall include    2,369        

all property the transfer of which is subject to estate taxes,     2,370        

whether such THAT property is transferred under the last will and  2,372        

testament of the decedent or otherwise.  The time for filing the                

return may be extended by the tax commissioner.                    2,373        

      (b)  The estate tax return described in division (A)(1)(a)   2,375        

of this section shall be accompanied by a certificate, in the      2,376        

form prescribed by the tax commissioner, that is signed by the     2,377        

executor, administrator, or other person required to file the      2,378        

return, and that states all of the following:                      2,379        

      (i)  The fact that the return was filed;                     2,381        

      (ii)  The date of the filing of the return;                  2,383        

      (iii)  The fact that the estate taxes under section 5731.02  2,385        

or division (A) of section 5731.19 of the Revised Code, that are   2,386        

shown to be due in the return, have been paid in full;             2,387        

      (iv)  If applicable, the fact that real property listed in   2,389        

the inventory for the decedent's estate is included in the         2,390        

return;                                                            2,391        

      (v)  If applicable, the fact that real property not listed   2,393        

                                                          51     


                                                                 
in the inventory for the decedent's estate, including, but not     2,394        

limited to, survivorship tenancy property as described in section  2,395        

5302.17 of the Revised Code OR TRANSFER ON DEATH PROPERTY AS       2,396        

DESCRIBED IN SECTIONS 5302.22 AND 5302.23 OF THE REVISED CODE,     2,397        

also is included in the return.  In this regard, the certificate   2,399        

additionally shall describe that real property by the same         2,400        

description used in the return.                                                 

      (2)  The probate court shall forward one copy of the estate  2,402        

tax return described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section to the  2,403        

tax commissioner.                                                  2,404        

      (3)  If the value of the gross estate of the decedent is     2,406        

twenty-five thousand dollars or less and the decedent was a        2,407        

resident of this state, the person otherwise required to file a    2,408        

return may file a return, but shall not be required to do so.  IF  2,410        

A PROBATE COURT ISSUES AN ORDER THAT GRANTS A SUMMARY RELEASE      2,411        

FROM ADMINISTRATION IN CONNECTION WITH A DECEDENT'S ESTATE UNDER   2,412        

SECTION 2113.031 OF THE REVISED CODE, THAT ORDER ELIMINATES THE    2,413        

DUTY OF ALL PERSONS TO FILE AN ESTATE TAX RETURN AND CERTIFICATE   2,414        

UNDER DIVISIONS (A)(1)(a) AND (b) OF THIS SECTION WITH RESPECT TO  2,416        

THE ESTATE FOR WHICH THE ORDER WAS GRANTED.                                     

      (4)(a)  Upon receipt of the estate tax return described in   2,418        

division (A)(1)(a) of this section and the accompanying            2,419        

certificate described in division (A)(1)(b) of this section, the   2,420        

probate court promptly shall give notice of the return, by a form  2,421        

prescribed by the tax commissioner, to the county auditor.  The    2,422        

auditor then shall make a charge based upon the notice and shall   2,423        

certify a duplicate of the charge to the county treasurer.  The    2,424        

treasurer then shall collect, subject to division (A) of section   2,425        

5731.25 of the Revised Code or any other statute extending the     2,426        

time for payment of an estate tax, the tax so charged.             2,427        

      (b)  Upon receipt of the return and the accompanying         2,429        

certificate, the probate court also shall forward the certificate  2,430        

to the auditor.  When satisfied that the estate taxes under        2,431        

section 5731.02 or division (A) of section 5731.19 of the Revised  2,432        

                                                          52     


                                                                 
Code, that are shown to be due in the return, have been paid in    2,433        

full, the auditor shall stamp the certificate so forwarded to      2,434        

verify that payment.  The auditor then shall return the stamped    2,435        

certificate to the probate court.                                  2,436        

      (5)(a)  The certificate described in division (A)(1)(b) of   2,438        

this section is a public record subject to inspection and copying  2,439        

in accordance with section 149.43 of the Revised Code.  It shall   2,440        

be kept in the records of the probate court pertaining to the      2,441        

decedent's estate and is not subject to the confidentiality        2,442        

provisions of section 5731.90 of the Revised Code.                 2,443        

      (b)  All persons are entitled to rely on the statements      2,445        

contained in a certificate as described in division (A)(1)(b) of   2,446        

this section if it has been filed in accordance with that          2,447        

division, forwarded to a county auditor and stamped in accordance  2,448        

with division (A)(4) of this section, and placed in the records    2,449        

of the probate court pertaining to the decedent's estate in        2,450        

accordance with division (A)(5)(a) of this section.  The real      2,451        

property referred to in the certificate shall be free of, and may  2,452        

be regarded by all persons as being free of, any lien for estate   2,453        

taxes under section 5731.02 and division (A) of section 5731.19    2,454        

of the Revised Code.                                               2,455        

      (B)  An estate tax return filed under this section, in the   2,457        

form prescribed by the tax commissioner, and showing that no       2,458        

estate tax is due shall result in a determination that no estate   2,459        

tax is due, if the tax commissioner, within three months after     2,460        

the receipt of the return by the department of taxation, fails to  2,461        

file exceptions to the return in the probate court of the county   2,462        

in which the return was filed.  A copy of exceptions to such a     2,463        

return OF THAT NATURE, when the tax commissioner files them        2,464        

within that period, shall be sent by ordinary mail to the person   2,465        

who filed the return.  The tax commissioner is not bound under     2,466        

this division by a determination that no estate tax is due, with   2,467        

respect to property not disclosed in the return.                   2,468        

      (C)  If the executor, administrator, or other person         2,470        

                                                          53     


                                                                 
required to file an estate tax return fails to file it within      2,471        

nine months of the date of the decedent's death, the tax           2,472        

commissioner may determine the estate tax in such THAT estate and  2,474        

issue a certificate of determination in the same manner as is                   

provided in division (B) of section 5731.27 of the Revised Code.   2,475        

Such A certificate of determination OF THAT NATURE has the same    2,477        

force and effect as though a return had been filed and a           2,478        

certificate of determination issued with respect to the return.    2,479        

      Section 2.  That existing sections 319.54, 1109.07,          2,481        

1339.411, 1339.68, 2101.12, 2101.16, 2101.24, 2106.10, 2106.13,    2,484        

2106.18, 2107.501, 2113.03, 2113.61, 2131.10, 5111.11, 5302.01,    2,485        

5302.02, and 5731.21 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.      2,486        

      Section 3.  Sections 2101.16 and 5111.11 of the Revised      2,488        

Code are amended by this act and also by H.B. 471 of the 123rd     2,490        

General Assembly (effective July 1, 2000).  The amendments of      2,491        

H.B. 471 are included in this act in lower case to confirm the     2,492        

intention to retain them, but are not intended to be effective                  

until July 1, 2000.                                                2,493