About Application for Authority to Administer Estate
To apply for court appointment as executor or administrator of a decedent's estate in Ohio probate court.
When you'd use it: When a person seeks to be appointed to administer a decedent's estate, whether under a will or by intestate succession.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Application for Authority to Administer Estate is published as a PDF by the Ohio courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Verified official PDF
Download Application for Authority to Administer Estate (PDF) →
Source: supremecourt.ohio.gov
Link last checked: May 30, 2026
How to file Application for Authority to Administer Estate in Ohio
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Application for Authority to Administer Estate (4.0) when when a person seeks to be appointed to administer a decedent's estate, whether under a will or by intestate succession. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Ohio probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Application for Authority to Administer Estate carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Application for Authority to Administer Estate to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Ohio county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).