OHIO COUNTY-BY-COUNTY GUARDIANSHIP BREAKDOWN
MAJOR METROPOLITAN COUNTIES
FRANKLIN COUNTY (Columbus)
Franklin County Probate Court
- Address: 373 S. High Street, 22nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
- Phone: (614) 525-3841
- 24/7 Info Line: (614) 525-3858
- Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday
- Judge: Jeffrey D. Mackey
- Special Requirements:
- Ohio BCI background check mandatory
- 7-day pre-hearing investigator visit
- Forms: PC-G-17.0A (Adult), PC-G-16.0 (Minor)
CUYAHOGA COUNTY (Cleveland)
Cuyahoga County Probate Court
- Address: 1 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113
- Phone: (216) 443-8761
- Special Requirements:
- Guardian willingness statement required
- Bond documentation mandatory
- Medical evaluation for incompetent ward cases
HAMILTON COUNTY (Cincinnati)
Hamilton County Probate Court
- Address: 230 E. 9th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Phone: (513) 946-5600
- Special Requirements:
- 6-month Ohio residency requirement
- Standardized application process
CENTRAL OHIO COUNTIES
DELAWARE COUNTY
Delaware County Probate Court
- Address: 91 N. Sandusky Street, Delaware, OH 43015
- Phone: (740) 833-2690
- Special Requirements:
- Guardian training through court personnel or Supreme Court
- Adult & Protective Services coordination available
LICKING COUNTY
Licking County Probate Court
- Judge: Deborah G. Lang
- Address: 1 North Park Place, Newark, OH 43055
- Phone: (740) 670-5808
- Special Features:
- Combined Probate-Juvenile Division
- Online record search available
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Fairfield County Probate Court
- Address: 224 E. Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130
- Phone: (740) 652-7170
- Special Requirements:
- Standard Ohio guardianship procedures
- Local form variations
NORTHERN OHIO COUNTIES
SUMMIT COUNTY (Akron)
Summit County Probate Court
- Address: 209 S. High Street, Akron, OH 44308
- Phone: (330) 643-2756
- Special Requirements:
- Metropolitan area procedures
- Enhanced documentation standards
LORAIN COUNTY
Lorain County Probate Court
- Address: 226 Middle Avenue, Elyria, OH 44035
- Phone: (440) 329-5536
- Special Requirements:
- Standard state compliance
- Local administrative procedures
ERIE COUNTY
Erie County Probate Court
- Address: 323 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, OH 44870
- Phone: (419) 627-7705
- Services: Guardianships of minors and incompetent persons
- Special Features: Birth registration corrections
SOUTHWESTERN OHIO COUNTIES
MONTGOMERY COUNTY (Dayton)
Montgomery County Probate Court
- Address: 41 N. Perry Street, Dayton, OH 45422
- Phone: (937) 225-4657
- Special Requirements:
- Urban area enhanced procedures
- Standardized documentation
BUTLER COUNTY
Butler County Probate Court
- Address: 101 High Street, Hamilton, OH 45011
- Phone: (513) 887-3278
- Special Requirements:
- Standard Ohio procedures
- Local court rules apply
SOUTHEASTERN OHIO COUNTIES
MUSKINGUM COUNTY
Muskingum County Probate Court
- Address: 401 Main Street, Zanesville, OH 43701
- Phone: (740) 455-7104
- Services: Guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions
- Special Features: Comprehensive estate services
GUERNSEY COUNTY
Guernsey County Probate Court
- Address: 627 Wheeling Avenue, Cambridge, OH 43725
- Phone: (740) 432-9262
- Fax: (740) 439-5278
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-12:00 PM, 1:00-4:00 PM
NORTHWESTERN OHIO COUNTIES
LUCAS COUNTY (Toledo)
Lucas County Probate Court
- Address: 1 Government Center, Toledo, OH 43604
- Phone: (419) 213-4789
- Special Requirements:
- Metropolitan procedures
- Enhanced case management
SANDUSKY COUNTY
Sandusky County Probate Court
- Judge: Brad Smith
- Address: 100 N. Park Avenue, Fremont, OH 43420
- Phone: (419) 334-6161
- Services: Estates, guardianships, adoptions, trusts
- Website: sanduskycountyprobatecourt.com
EASTERN OHIO COUNTIES
PORTAGE COUNTY
Portage County Probate Court
- Address: 203 W. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266
- Phone: (330) 297-3644
- Special Forms Available:
- Application for Appointment of Guardian of Minor
- 16.1 Affidavit
- 16.2 Selection of Guardian by Minor over Fourteen
- 16.3 Notice of Hearing
MAHONING COUNTY (Youngstown)
Mahoning County Probate Court
- Address: 120 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503
- Phone: (330) 740-2330
- Special Requirements:
- Guardian of person vs. estate distinctions
- Natural person requirement for person guardianship
REMAINING 68 COUNTIES - STANDARDIZED INFORMATION
All remaining Ohio counties follow these standard procedures:
Universal Requirements Across All Counties:
- Application Filing: In county where ward resides
- Residency: 6-month Ohio residency (unless exceptions met)
- Background Check: Ohio BCI required for all applicants
- Training: Rule 66 compliance (6 hours initial, 3 hours annual)
- Court Supervision: Quarterly visits, biennial reports
Standard Forms (May have county variations):
- Application for Appointment of Guardian
- Guardian Willingness Statement
- Bond Documentation
- Medical Evaluation (when required)
- Annual Reports
Contact Pattern for Smaller Counties:
- Phone Format: (Area Code) + County-specific number
- Address Format: County Courthouse, Main Street
- Hours: Typically 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday
FAMILY FIRST OHIO COUNTY OPERATION STRATEGY
Tier 1 Counties (Primary Operations):
- Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Montgomery, Summit
- Full-time staff presence
- Established court relationships
- Comprehensive service delivery
Tier 2 Counties (Regular Service):
- Delaware, Licking, Lucas, Butler, Lorain
- Regular service visits
- Established procedures
- Local partnership development
Tier 3 Counties (On-Demand Service):
- All remaining 78 counties
- Case-by-case service delivery
- Travel coordination required
- Standardized procedures