As an insurance agency specializing in Guardianship Bonds, we’re often asked questions about guardianships that are well beyond the scope of issuing a probate bond. We are not attorneys and cannot answer legal questions or give legal advice.
Our #1 recommendation is always to obtain an attorney familiar with Ohio Guardianships and Ohio Probate Law. The Ohio State Bar Association has a great list of Estate Planning Certified Specialist Lawyers.
Our #2 recommendation is to ask the Clerk of Court in the jurisdiction of filing for updated Guardianship instruction materials, most current Probate Court Forms, most up-to-date Local and State Court Rules and Probate Statutes.
There is a lot of information published by a variety of organizations involved with Ohio Guardianships. Each organization has information relative to their particular jurisdiction or a specific type of guardianship. Please note some may have old court forms, outdated information on statues or rules.
Considering the above limitations of this list, we feel Guardian’s Handbook by Judge Mark J. Bartolotta of Lake County Probate Court currently has the most comprehensive single point of reference. It includes applicable Guardianship Court Rules, Guardian Statutes/Ohio Revised Code, and samples of forms and how to complete them. Reference should always be made to the most current Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Court Rules and Probate Court Forms, and your local forms.
Comparison Chart of Ohio Guardianship Guidebooks Available
| Title | Author | Publisher | Date of Publication | Pages | Direct Link | Page Link | Local Rules | State Rules | Statutes | Sample Forms | Blank Forms |
| Fundamentals of Adult Guardianship Participant Manual | Derek Graham and Paula M. Taliaferro | Supreme Court of Ohio | November 2017 | 186 | Link | None found | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Guardian’s Handbook | Judge Alice O. McCollum | Montgomery County Probate Court | Filename Fall 2017 | 48 | Link | Link | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Guardian’s Handbook | Judge Kathleen L. Giesler | Ottowa County Probate Court | November 2013 | 25 | Link | None found | No | No | No | No | No |
| Guardian’s Handbook | Judge Mark J. Bartolotta | Lake County Probate Court | Filename 5/16/2014 | 116 | Link | Link | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Guardianship Training Manual | Judge Jack R. Puffenberger | Lucas County Probate Court | Downloaded 9/2019 | 72 | Link | Link | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Planning for Bright Tomorrows | Logan K. Philips and William K. Root | Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council | Dated 3/2019 | 40 | Link | Link | No | No | No | No | No |
Understanding Your Role As Guardian: Guardianship Handbook | Ohio Judicial Conference | Downloaded 9/2019 | 20 | Link | Link | No | No | No | No | No | |
| List updated 9/15/2019 | |||||||||||
Ohio Guardianship Guidebook Sources:
Fundamentals of Adult Guardianship Participant Manual by Derek Graham, Attorney and Paula M. Taliaferro, MGS, LSW, Published by The Supreme Court of Ohio, Dated November 2017, 186 pages, direct link https://www.ohiochannel.org/Assets/Files/UserContent/40/155679.pdf
Guardian’s Handbook by Judge Alice O. McCollum, Published by Montgomery County Ohio Probate Court, Undated but filename indicates Fall 2017, 48 pages, Find download, bottom of page at https://www.mcohio.org/government/courts/common_pleas_court_-_probate_division/guardianship.php
Guardian’s Handbook by Judge Kathleen L. Giesler, Published by Ottowa County Ohio Probate Court, Dated November 2013, 25 pages, No reference page found, direct link http://ottawacountyprobatecourt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/04-Guardians-Handbook.pdf
Guardian’s Handbook by Judge Mark J. Bartolotta, Published by Lake County Ohio Probate Court, Undated but file indicates 5/16/2014, 116 pages, https://www.lakecountyohio.gov/Portals/71/Forms/GUARDIANS_HANDOUT.pdf
Guardianship Training Manual by Judge Jack R. Puffenberger, Published by Lucas County Ohio Probate Court, Undated but downloaded September, 2019, 72 pages, http://lucas-co-probate-ct.org/guardianships Find Lucas County Probate Court Guardianship Training Manual.
Planning for Bright Tomorrows by Logan K. Philips, Esq., & William K. Root, Esq., Published by Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, Dated March 2019, 40 pages, Find download at https://ddc.ohio.gov/guardianship-estate-planning
Understanding Your Role As Guardian: Guardianship Handbook, Published by Ohio Judicial Conference, Undated but downloaded 9/3/2019, 20 pages, Find download at http://www.ohiojudges.org/Resources/publications Find Guardianship Guidebook.
Ohio Guardianship Additional Resources:
Additional Education and Training Opportunities – The Supreme Court of Ohio & The Ohio Judicial System https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Boards/judCollege/adultGuardianship/resources/default.asp
ONLINE 6 HOUR COURSE AVAILABLE – Ohio Adult Guardianship Education Program – The Supreme Court of Ohio & The Ohio Judicial System
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Boards/judCollege/adultGuardianship/default.asp
