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Will Contest Deadline in Ohio

In Ohio, an action to contest a will must be filed within 3 months after the certificate of service of notice of the will's admission to probate is filed with the court.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Ohio at a glance

Deadline to contest
3 months
A person under a legal disability may sue within 3 months after the disability is removed.
Clock starts
Filing of the certificate of notice of probate
The clock runs from the filing of the certificate described in R.C. 2107.19(A)(3) showing notice of the will's admission to probate.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Ohio

How long do you have to contest a will in Ohio?

Deadline to contest in Ohio: 3 months. A person under a legal disability may sue within 3 months after the disability is removed.

When does the deadline to contest a will start in Ohio?

Clock starts in Ohio: Filing of the certificate of notice of probate. The clock runs from the filing of the certificate described in R.C. 2107.19(A)(3) showing notice of the will's admission to probate.

Where do the Ohio will contest deadlines come from?

The rules above come from Ohio Rev. Code 2107.76. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Deadlines for will contests are often short and strictly applied. Knowing exactly which event starts the clock in the state where the will is probated, such as the date of admission, the date notice was mailed, or the date of publication, matters as much as knowing the length of the period.

Only people with a legal stake in the estate can usually contest a will, such as heirs who would inherit without the will or beneficiaries named in an earlier will. A contest also needs a recognized legal ground. Being disappointed with the amount left to you is generally not enough on its own.

A no-contest clause (also called an in terrorem clause) says a beneficiary who challenges the will loses their gift. Whether such a clause is enforced, and whether there is an exception for challenges brought with probable cause or in good faith, depends on state law. Anyone weighing a challenge, and anyone drafting a will, can check the state statute and may want to talk to a probate attorney.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.