About Application for Family Allowance
To request a court order allowing a surviving spouse or single minor child to receive a statutory family allowance from the decedent's estate for support purposes.
When you'd use it: When the fiduciary seeks to provide a surviving spouse with no excluded minor children, or a single minor child with no surviving spouse, with a statutory allowance of $25,000 or $40,000 depending on the decedent's date of death.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Application for Family Allowance 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:
Download Application for Family Allowance (PDF) →
Source: probate.cuyahogacounty.gov
Link last checked: May 30, 2026
How to file Application for Family Allowance in Ohio
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Application for Family Allowance (7.1) when when the fiduciary seeks to provide a surviving spouse with no excluded minor children, or a single minor child with no surviving spouse, with a statutory allowance of $25,000 or $40,000 depending on the decedent's date of death. 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 Family Allowance 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 Family Allowance 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).