Probate/Juvenile
Court
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Steven R. Bird,
Judge |
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David P. Rupp,
Jr., Magistrate |
Courthouse hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
E-mail: Probate Court: probate@wmsco.org
Juvenile Court:
juvcourt@wmsco.org
Juvenile Probation: juvprobation@wmsco.org
Staff E-mail Addresses
PROBATE OFFICE
Court Administrator
Holly A. Schlosser: hschlosser@wmsco.org
Deputy Clerks
Connie L. Simmons: csimmons@wmsco.org
Amy L. Kimpel: akimpel@wmsco.org
JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE
Probation Officers
Craig R. Rupp, Chief: crupp@wmsco.org
Carolyn L. Harrison: charrison@wmsco.org
Deborah L. Willis: dwillis@wmsco.org
Jon R. Ely, ACE Director: jely@wmsco.org
Alan L. Dietrich, Bailiff: adietrich@wmsco.org
Diversion Counselor
Nick E. Woodall: nwoodall@wmsco.org
Surveillance Officer:
Kyle J. Cogswell: kcogswell@wmsco.org
Deputy Clerks
Holly L. Doseck, Secretary: hdoseck@wmsco.org
Camilla G. Miller: cmiller@wmsco.org
Probate Court
Cases
Public Records
Sealed Records
CASES
HANDLED BY THE COURT
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Estates: When someone dies owning property, it is necessary for the Court
to appoint someone to handle the payment of their debts and the distribution
of their assets, either according to their will or in accordance with the
laws of the State of Ohio. The Probate Judge supervises the work of the
executor or administrator, by making sure all debts are paid and the heirs
receive what they are entitled to. |
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Guardianships: A guardian is someone
appointed by the probate court to be legally responsible for someone and/or
their property. Reasons for needing a guardianship could be because a
person is incompetent or a minor (under the age of 18). |
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Trusts: Generally created through an estate
by the decedent's will where either all or a portion of the assets are placed
in a trust which then directs how the money is spent. Accountings of
these funds are also required by the Probate Court every other year. |
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Birth Registrations and Corrections: For
people who have never had their birth recorded or if their birth was
inaccurately recorded, the probate court has the power, upon application, to
require recordings and corrections of birth certificates. |
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Marriage License: Only the Probate Court can
issue marriage licenses. In order to be married in the State of Ohio,
you must have a license. Both parties must be 18 years old to be
married without parental consent. Marriage licenses are obtained in the
county where one of the parties resides and then they can be married anywhere
in the State of Ohio. Each Court has their own requirements for obtaining
marriage licenses so it is necessary to call the Probate Court in the county
where you intend on getting the license to find out what is required. |
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Adoptions: All adoptions must be approved by
the Probate Court before they become final. Investigations are required
and fingerprints must be submitted for criminal records check of petitioners. |
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Name Change: Parental consent is
required for individuals under 18 years old. A valid reason is required
whenever changing a name. You cannot get rid of criminal records or debts by
changing your name. |
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Adult Protective Services: Department of Job
and Family Services become involved when they are informed that an adult over
age 60 is not taking proper care of himself or herself. It is the
court's responsibility to determine what is in that person's best interest.
Sometimes they need to be admitted to the hospital or put in a nursing home
because they are not or are not able to take care of their own needs. |
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Mental Commitments: The Court prepares the
necessary paperwork to have someone taken to the local hospital to have them
evaluated. The mental health agency involved does an assessment to
determine whether or not the individual needs mental health
treatment. |
PUBLIC
RECORDS
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Estates,
Guardianships & Trusts - The Probate Office has all open and pending files. All closed
record prior to 2000 are stored at the Williams County Records Center: |
Williams County Records Center
107 W.
Butler St.
Bryan,
OH 43506
Phone: 419
636-8253
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Name
Changes |
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TO THE TOP
SEALED RECORDS
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Adult
Protective Services |
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Mental
Commitments |
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Adoptions |
Marriage License
Requirements
Hours: 8:30 until 4:00 Monday-Friday
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Picture
Identification is required. |
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NO Blood
Tests are required in the State of Ohio. |
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Ohio
Residents must reside in Williams County and have proof of residency. |
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Both
parties must be over the age of 18 to apply without parental consent.
Applicants under 18 must meet other requirements, according to the State of
Ohio, prior to applying for a license and should contact the court for
requirements. |
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Previously
married people need final decree of divorce, judgment entry, or order
granting their divorce from EVERY prior marriage. This paperwork
must contain the following items: Case Number, date divorce granted (not
necessarily same day you were in court), and name of parties
divorced. If the divorce occurred in Williams County, you can
obtain the information from the Clerk of Court's office on the 3rd Floor of
the Courthouse prior to coming for you license. If a previous marriage ended
in the death of a spouse, you should bring a death certificate. |
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License
is good for 60 days and can be used anywhere is the State of Ohio by Williams
County Residents. People marrying in other states must obtain license in the
state where they are getting married. |
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Out of
State residents no longer have a waiting period but must be married in the
county where they obtain the marriage license. |
Juvenile Court
CASES
HANDLED BY THE COURT
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Parentage Actions: To establish
parent/child relationships, establish child support, and establish visitation
rights. |
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Custody: The Juvenile Court is responsible
for determining custody in paternity cases or in domestic relations cases
assigned by the General Division of Common Pleas Court after a divorce has
been finalized. We currently have a Magistrate who hears most of the
paternity and custody cases in Williams County. |
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Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency of Children: Complaints
are filed by the Department of Job and Family Services when they feel
children are not being properly cared for. The Judge determines what is
in the child's best interest. The Judge can order that children be
placed in foster homes, placed with a more appropriated relative, or order
protective supervision of the child. |
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Adult Contributing: When an adult is charged
with helping a juvenile commit an unruly or delinquent act. |
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Juvenile Unruly: A person under the age
of 18 who is ungovernable, truant from school, or violates curfew. |
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Juvenile Delinquent: A person under the age
of 18 who commits a crime. The Juvenile Court is responsible for determining the
disposition of the juvenile's case. |
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Juvenile Traffic: A driver under the age
of 18 who commits a traffic violation. |
COURT
COSTS
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Delinquency- |
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Felony |
$83.00 |
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Misdemeanor |
$62.00 |
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Unruly |
$62.00 |
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Traffics- |
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Moving Violation |
$62.00 |
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Non-Moving Violation |
$38.00 |
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Seat Belt/Driver |
$43.00 |
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Seat Belt/Passenger |
$33.00 |
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Neglected, Dependent, Abused |
None |
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Parentage, Support, Custody |
varies case to case |
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Supervision Fee |
$100 every 6 months on Probation |
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ACE Program Fee |
$30 |
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SECURITY
DEPOSIT FOR COSTS
IN THE PROBATE/JUVENILE COURT
WILLIAMS COUNTY, OHIO
Civil Actions, original filings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . $125.00
Motion with consent JE modifying a previous JE . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . $50.00
Incompetent Guardianship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . $350.00
Minor Guardianship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . $150.00
Change of Name Proceeding (does not include publication) . . . . .
. $125.00
Change of Custody Proceeding
(With consents) . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
(Contested: requires investigation at $250 per party, plus A-OK Program) $150.00
Trusts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
Land Sale Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . $100.00
Will Contests, Will Construction, Determination of Heirs . . . . .
. . . $100.00
Adoptions
Step Parent (includes
investigation of $150) . . . . . . . . . . . . $375.00
Each Additional
Child . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$200.00
Agency . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200.00
Private Adoption
(includes investigation of $900) . . . . . . . . . $1,125.00
*Note: Before filing motions for a change in any
prior case, please contact
the court to be sure
all prior costs owed by your client have been paid. You
must add the past due
costs to the current deposit when filing.
We will not
allow any new filings
until the old costs are paid.
**Changes
in costs began