Locate the original will
If one exists, keep the original safe. A copy is helpful, but the original may be needed by the court.
NEWARK-BASED • SERVING FAMILIES ACROSS OHIO
Ask for guidanceOHIO PROBATE · ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
You do not have to know what comes next.
You just need a clear first step.
After a loved one dies, even ordinary decisions can feel heavy. Based in Newark and serving families through EQUES offices across Ohio, our probate team helps you understand what needs attention now, what can wait, and which Ohio process fits the estate.
CALM, PLAIN-LANGUAGE GUIDANCENEWARK-BASED PROBATE TEAMSERVING EQUES OFFICES ACROSS OHIO
THE FIRST FEW DAYS
Protect first.
Sort second.
You are not expected to open an estate before the funeral or immediately master Ohio probate law. These practical steps preserve options while your family catches its breath.
Order death certificates
Certified copies are often requested by courts, banks, insurers, and other institutions.
Secure property and records
Protect homes, vehicles, mail, financial statements, valuables, and active business records. Keep careful notes.
Pause before distributing
Do not assume that property can be divided or debts paid immediately. The correct order can matter.
DOES PROBATE APPLY?
The answer usually begins with how the assets are titled.
Choose the statement that sounds closest. This is orientation—not a legal conclusion.
01
A POSSIBLE PATH
A court estate may not be needed.
Assets held in a trust, jointly with survivorship, or with valid beneficiary, transfer-on-death, or payable-on-death designations often pass outside probate. We still verify each asset before reaching that conclusion.
Let us review the factsWHAT WORKING TOGETHER LOOKS LIKE
A clear path through an unfamiliar process.
- 01
Listen and triage
We learn who died, who is calling, what documents exist, how property is titled, and whether anything needs immediate protection.
- 02
Choose the right lane
An attorney reviews whether the matter calls for no court filing, a smaller-estate procedure, full administration, ancillary administration, or a problem-estate strategy.
- 03
Build and file
We gather the death certificate, will, family information, asset values, debts, deeds, titles, and signatures needed for the opening package.
- 04
Keep the estate moving
Our team tracks the next action, responsible person, court dates, notices, inventory, claims, transfers, accountings, and the path to closure.
YOUR OHIO PROBATE TEAM · BASED IN NEWARK
Legal judgment and careful follow-through.
Probate is both law and logistics. Zacary makes the legal decisions and helps families understand the strategy. Leana keeps documents, communications, and next steps moving with care.
ATTORNEY
Zacary Colopy
Zacary approaches estate and probate-court matters with empathy, care, and a resolution-oriented mindset. A Licking County community advocate, he works from EQUES’s Newark office.Read Zacary’s biography
ESTATE ADMINISTRATION PARALEGAL
Leana Seymour
Leana helps families turn a difficult collection of papers, questions, and responsibilities into an organized matter with a visible next step.WHAT TO GATHER
Bring what you have.
We will identify the gaps.
Do not delay calling because something is missing. This list simply makes the first conversation more useful.
01
Core documents
- Certified death certificate, if available
- Original will and any codicils
- Trust or beneficiary documents
- Funeral bill or proof of payment
02
People
- Surviving spouse and children
- Other heirs and beneficiaries
- Person named as executor
- Current addresses and phone numbers
03
Property and obligations
- Bank and investment statements
- Deeds, vehicle titles, mineral interests
- Insurance and retirement information
- Known debts, loans, and creditor letters
COMMON FIRST QUESTIONS
A little clarity before we talk.
Every estate is different. These answers explain the landscape without pretending the details do not matter.
No. Some assets pass outside probate because of a trust, survivorship ownership, or a beneficiary designation. Other estates may qualify for a simplified court procedure. We identify how each asset is titled before recommending a path.
START THE CONVERSATION
Tell us about your loved one and how we can help.
Share a few basic details, and our probate team will review your information and help you understand the next steps.
Newark office1058 Mount Vernon Road
Newark, Ohio 43055614.324.3653Meetings by appointment.
Newark, Ohio 43055614.324.3653Meetings by appointment.