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Home ▸ Departments ▸ Probate Court

Civil Proceedings

Information and Procedure

A probate civil action begins by filing of a complaint with the Lake County Probate Court. A complaint is a pleading that contains a short and concise statement of the legal claim, request for relief, and a demand for judgment. The complaint must be prepared and filed by an attorney. As with all civil proceedings, the form of the complaint and all following pleadings must comply with Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure.

Initial Deposit

( Cash / Check / Money Order Only)

Appropriations $125.00
Land Sale  $175.00
Complaint to Contest Will $125.00
Structured Settlement $60.00
Declaratory Judgment $125.00

All forms can be mailed to:

Lake County Probate Court
P.O. Box 490
Painesville, Ohio 44077

Land Sales

Please Review Ohio Revised Code 2127, Rules of Superintendence, and Lake County Probate Court Local Rules.

After filing the Complaint, the following are the Forms to be used for a land sale action

They are listed in the GENERAL order of a land sale proceeding

Please file them in the correct order —THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED ALL AT ONE TIME

  1. Waiver of Summons on Petition to Sell Real Estate
  2. Application for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem & Answer of Guardian Ad Litem
  3. Finding Sale Necessary and Ordering Appraisement
  4. Order of Appraisement with Return and Oath of Appraisers and Appraiser’s Return
  5. Confirming Appraisement and Ordering Additional Bond
  6. Confirming Sale, Ordering Deed

The following forms are used when the situation warrants and should be substituted for the appropriate form or forms listed above

  1. Dispensing with a New Appraisement and Ordering Bond
  2. Dispensing with a New Appraisement and Bond, and Ordering Sale

Please be sure to file your Preliminary Judicial Report as early as possible in order to avoid delays in the sale of the property

Waiver of Summons on Petition to Sell Real Estate

Application For Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem with Answer

Finding Sale Necessary and Ordering Appraisement

Order of Appraisement with Oath of Appraiser and Appraiser’s Return

Confirming Appraisement /Ordering Additional Bond

Approving Additional Bond and Ordering Sale

Order of Private Sale With Return /Report Private Sale / Affidavit

Confirming Sale and Ordering Deed

Dispensing with New Appraisement and Ordering Bond

Dispensing with New Appraisement and Bond, and Ordering Sale