
A Dayton, Ohio-based legal professional with 15 years of experience as a general practice attorney, Kyle T. Kirts has served Elsevier as an account manager since 2020. Kyle Kirts has worked in several areas of law during his career, including probate.
Probate is a legal process that involves the distribution of a person’s wealth and other assets following the individual’s death. In the state of Ohio, the process typically takes approximately 9 months from start to finish, though processes may be significantly shorter or longer depending on whether or not the person left behind a valid will and estate plan. The assistance of an attorney with probate experience can further streamline the process.
Probate processes in the state of Ohio begin with the naming of an executor of the decedent’s will. Ideally, this person has been named by the decedent in their will. They will often be a family member or legal professional. If no executor is named, or if the person in question has not left a legally recognized will, the courts must appoint an executor. This can be a serious issues for families, as the executor will be tasked with distributing assets according to state law and likely have no knowledge of, or professional interest in, the decedent’s wishes.
Before assets are distributed, the executor must take inventory and subsequently use available assets to settle the decedent’s remaining debts. Not all assets are subject to probate processes in Ohio. Joint bank accounts, retirement plants, and assets held in a trust are all examples of assets exempt from probate.








