Statement Of Expert Evaluation

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Statement Of Expert Evaluation is a commonly used form within Ohio. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Statement Of Expert Evaluation

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Statement Of Expert Evaluation:

• This form pertains to the State of Ohio

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Ohio’s Form 17.1 - Statement Of Expert Evaluation up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Ohio form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Ohio probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form 17.1, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in OH are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form 17.1 online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form 17.1 witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Statement Of Expert Evaluation to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Ohio.

5 reasons you should submit 17.1 as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Ohio can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Ohio. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Ohio is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Ohio probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Ohio probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form 17.1, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Statement Of Expert Evaluation is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Ohio probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Ohio.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form 17.1 - Statement Of Expert Evaluation f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Ohio probate court office.

Statement Of Expert Evaluation is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Ohio-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Ohio Form 17.1 - Statement Of Expert Evaluation. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

PROBATE COURT OF ________________ COUNTY, OHIO IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF __________________________________________ CASE NO. _______________________ STATEMENT OF EXPERT EVALUATION [Sup. R. 66 & R.C. 2111.49] Definition of Incompetent (R.C. 2111.01(D)): “Incompetent means any person who is so mentally impaired as a result of a mental or physical illness or disability, or mental retardation, or as a result of chronic substance abuse, that the person is incapable of taking proper care of the person’s self or property or fails to provide for the person’s family or other persons for whom the person is charged by law to provide, or any person confined to a correctional institution within this State.” The Statement of Evaluation does not declare the individual competent or incompetent, but is evidence to be considered by the Court. The fee for completing this evaluation WILL NOT be paid by the Probate Court. Each evaluator should secure payment from the Applicant/Guardian. 1. This Statement of Expert Evaluation is to be filed with or attached to: A. Guardianship Application: Completed by Licensed Physician or Licensed Clinical Psychologist prior to the filing and attached to the application. B. Guardian’s Report: Completed by Licensed Physician Licensed Clinical Psychologist Licensed Independent Social Worker Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor or Mental Retardation Team. The evaluation or examination shall be completed within three months prior to the date of the Report. R.C. 2111.49 C. Application for Emergency Guardian: of the person: a Licensed Physician shall complete the Supplement for Emergency Guardian, form 17.1A with specificity indicating the emergency, and why immediate action is required to prevent significant injury to the person. The Supplement shall be signed, dated, and attached as part of this completed Statement. 2. Statement completed by: Name & Title/Profession: _____________________________________________________________ Business Address: __________________________________________________________________ Business Telephone Number: _________________________________________________________ 3. Date(s) of evaluation: ________________________________________________________________ Place(s) of evaluation: _______________________________________________________________ Amount of time spent on evaluation: ____________________________________________________ Length of time the individual has been your patient: ________________________________________ 17.1 STATEMENT OF EXPERT EVALUATION CASE NO._______________________ 4. Is the individual presently under medication? Yes No If yes, what is the medication, dosage, and purpose? ______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Are there any signs of physical and/or mental impairments caused by the medications themselves? __ __________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Is the individual mentally impaired? Yes No If yes, indicate the diagnosis below: Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities: Profound Severe Moderate Mild Mental Illness: Type and Severity ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Substance Abuse: Description ______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Dementia: Description _____________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Other: Description ________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Please provide additional comments and test scores if available. (Continue comments on page 4): ___ __________________________________________________________________________________ 6. During the examination did you notice an impairment of the individual’s: a) Orientation Yes No Unknown b) Speech Yes No Unknown c) Motor Behavior Yes No Unknown d) Thought Process Yes No Unknown e) Affect Yes No Unknown f) Memory Yes No Unknown g) Concentration and comprehension Yes No Unknown h) Judgment Yes No Unknown 7. Please describe any impairments identified in question six. (Continue comments on page 4). __________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 CASE NO._______________________ 8. Is the individual physically impaired? Yes No If yes: Description __________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Are there any special characteristics of the individual which should be considered in evaluating the individual for guardianship: Yes No If yes: Explain __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 10. Are there any indication of abuse, neglect or exploitation of the individual? Yes No If yes: Explain _____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Do you believe the individual is capable of caring for the individual’s activities of daily living or making decisions concerning medical treatments, living arrangements and diet? Yes No If no: Explain ______________________________________________________________________ 12 Do you believe this individual is capable of managing the individual’s finances and property? Yes No If no: Explain __________________________________________________________________________________ 13. Prognosis: A. Is the condition stabilized? Yes No B. Is the condition reversible: Yes No 14. In my opinion a guardianship should be: Established/Continued Denied/Terminated I certify that I have evaluated the individual on _________________________________________, 20 ______. Date: _________________________________ _________________________________________ Signature of Evaluator GUARDIAN’S REPORT ADDENDUM (Not to be used with initial Application) It is my opinion, based upon a reasonable degree of medical or psychological certainty that the mental capacity of this ward will not improve. Date ______________________________ _________________________________________ Signature – Licensed Physician/Clinical Psychologist Page 3 CASE NO._______________________ ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Date ______________________________ _________________________________________ Signature – Licensed Physician/Clinical Psychologist Page 4