Puritas Springs Software
For years, Basic Ohio Probate Forms (BOPF) has been Ohio’s number one application for preparing probate forms. Although the form set was standardized by the Ohio Supreme Court years ago, there have evolved more than a few county specific forms. In response, we put together a new Cuyahoga County version of BOPF which has been substantially rewritten to provide more user friendliness, better worksheets, and print-shop-perfect printed forms. You'll find a complete listing of included forms below--almost 150 pages worth!
Cuyahoga County Probate Forms - Version 4 (Cuyahoga4) has a look you’re going to like. The Main Window presents a hierarchical outline to guide you through the process of completing your probate from beginning to end.
No Learning Curve. Cuyahoga4 is a stand-alone, standard Windows and Mac OSX application. It is not a simple template, HotDocs, or script, but instead is a true 32-bit application. What this means is that opening, saving and printing files is done just like in your word processor. You won’t need to learn odd or complex new ways to do things.
Free Web Forms. If you're curious about the advantages of Cuyahoga4 over the court's PDF web forms, click here.
Over half the standard probate forms involve the spouse, kin and legatees, so you’ll be wanting your probate application to fully complete all the necessary notices, consents and waivers. Cuyahoga does just that! For example, if you have 40 beneficiaries or parties that must each receive a separate Form 2.2 Notice of Probate, Cuyahoga4 completes all the copies automatically based on your worksheet entries. No work-arounds or cutting and pasting.
If it's installed, all previewing and printing is performed through Microsoft Word. That means any of Word's advanced editing functions can be applied to your probate forms (Word is recommended but not required for the Windows version of Cuyahoga4, but it is required for the Mac OSX version)--
saving your forms as PDF files that can be attached to emails
making marginal notes or interlineations to provide the court with additional information
doing any desired additional text editing and formatting
spell checking legal descriptions, etc.
accessing advanced print functions such as non-sequential page printing, duplex printing, or any other advanced function supported by your printer and Word.
Handles calculations automatically; many forms entirely complete themselves!
Exports probate files to our U.S. Estate Tax application for a true single entry system that eliminates re-typing.
Multiple forms. When you need it, you'll find that most forms come in multiple copies. Therefore, if there are 40 kin, in 40 different states, and each needs a particular notice, you can print all 40 notices with one click.
Saves and loads probate estates as ordinary text files. There is no need to follow time-wasting and ill-advised procedures like saving each form or page individually. Your entire set of forms is saved and opened from one file just as you would in your word processor.
Every form you print is fully formatted, picture perfect, and ready to file. Cuyahoga4 complies with the typographical specification set forth in Rules 51 and 52 of the Supreme Court Rules for Superintendence for Courts of Common Pleas assures acceptability. All forms were designed for two reasons: to comply with the Supreme Court typographical specification, and to be easier to read and understand (larger print/more white space).
You enter basic information one time. Cuyahoga4 completes the forms based on your single entry (i.e., decedent's name, address, date of death; applicant or fiduciary's name, address and telephone number; attorney's name, address, telephone number and registration number; surviving spouse's name, address and telephone number; all court information, county name, court title, presiding judge, etc.). This is true of the estate assets and liabilities as well as basic information. Once entered, simply direct the items to the appropriate forms by pointing and clicking. That means you type lengthy legal descriptions a single time and merely direct it to the various forms by clicking.
Another great feature is Cuyahoga4's compatibility with our U.S. Estate Tax (P706) application. Cuyahoga4 files can be converted into nearly complete estate tax files that you need only review and print. This, in itself, saves hours of time and reduces errors that may otherwise occur when transferring or retyping information. The process is extremely easy. Simply mark an asset or debt to direct it to a particular schedule of the estate tax return. Our P706 application can import the contents of your probate file. It's no harder than opening a file!
When we say we use a standard interface, it means that Cuyahoga4 looks and feels familiar. It has a File menu with saving and printing commands in the customary locations. For you this means that you can dive right in instead of having to learn new ways to do things you already know how to do in your experience with other applications. Unconventional controls and interface gimmickry are okay for games, but business and legal software should stick to the the standard interface you're familiar with.
When you realize that the cost of other legal software (i.e., bankruptcy packages, probate software, office management systems, etc.) can start at about $500 and up, you can appreciate the price-conscious value of Cuyahoga4. There are no subscription fees, maintenance charges, update expenses, technical support costs or other related or hidden charges. For the life of the application (typically 4 to 6 years), everything's included. Like all the other software in the Puritas Springs Software legal library, we designed and priced Cuyahoga4 to give you maximum bang for the buck! No other legal software gives you the same specialized, comprehensive assistance so inexpensively.
* The Mac Version requires Microsoft Word for Mac word processor. The Windows version does not.