Probate and Estate Insurance in Cincinnati

Being named executor of a parent's estate can feel like a quiet act of trust. Then the probate court hands you a list of requirements, and one of them is a bond. Until it is posted, the court may not give you authority to touch a bank account, sell a car, or pay a single bill. Bob Shropshire Sons provides probate and estate insurance, in the form of fiduciary bonds, for executors, administrators, and guardians handling matters in Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

What a Probate Bond Does

A probate bond, also called a fiduciary bond, protects the people with a stake in an estate. If the person managing it misuses money, pays the wrong creditor, or fails to distribute assets as the law or the will requires, the bond provides a way for beneficiaries and creditors to recover the loss.


The bond is not coverage for the executor. It protects everyone else from the executor. That is why courts ask for it, and why the surety that issues it looks closely at who is applying.


Three roles commonly need one:


  • An executor named in a will, unless the will waives the bond
  • An administrator appointed when someone dies without a will
  • A guardian placed in charge of the money or property of a minor or an adult who cannot manage their own affairs

How the Amount Is Set in Ohio

Ohio law generally sets the bond at no less than double the probable value of the estate's personal property, plus the annual rents from any real estate. A modest estate with $40,000 in bank accounts and a car could therefore call for a bond of $80,000 or more.


Courts have room to adjust. If some assets are placed in a restricted account that cannot be withdrawn without court approval, the judge may lower the required amount. The final figure appears in the court's order, and the bond is written to match it.

The Application and What Comes After

Applying for a fiduciary bond usually involves the court case number, the bond amount the court ordered, the estimated value of the estate, and personal information about the person being appointed. Sureties review the applicant's credit and background because they are vouching for that person's honesty and care.


Once the bond is issued and filed, the court can grant authority to act. From there, the duties are ongoing. In Ohio, an inventory of the estate's assets is generally due within three months of appointment, and the court expects accurate accounts until the estate closes. When the final account is approved and the estate is closed, the bond is released.


An estate often includes a house that sits empty for months while all of this unfolds. Vacant homes can lose some insurance protection, so it is worth reviewing the property insurance on an inherited home at the same time. Businesses that need other kinds of surety, such as license or janitorial bonds, can find them on the commercial and janitorial bonds page.

Families Handling Estates Near Downtown

The office on Main Street is close to the courts that handle Hamilton County estates, which helps when a deadline is near. Clients include families from Norwood, Elmwood Place, and neighborhoods across Cincinnati. Estates opened in another Ohio county go through that county's probate court, which sets its own bond amount, but the same general rules apply.

Probate Bond Questions

  • Why does the probate court require a bond at all?

    The bond protects beneficiaries and creditors if the person managing the estate mishandles its money or property. It gives them a way to recover losses without having to sue the executor personally and hope that person can pay.

  • Can a will waive the bond requirement?

    Yes. An Ohio will can waive the bond for the executor it names, and courts generally honor that. When someone dies without a will, the court-appointed administrator usually must post a bond.

  • Who pays the bond premium?

    The premium is usually treated as an expense of administering the estate and paid from estate funds, much like court costs. Check with the estate's attorney on how it should be recorded in the accounts.

  • Do guardians need a bond too?

    A guardian of the estate, meaning someone who manages a minor's or incapacitated adult's money and property, is generally required to post a bond. A guardian of the person only, who makes care decisions but does not handle assets, often is not.

  • When does a probate bond end?

    The bond stays in force until the court approves the final account and closes the estate or guardianship. At that point the bond is released.


    The full list of services is on the Bob Shropshire Sons home page.