Beacon Journal business writer
Dates are set for the final meetings in Summit County Probate Judge Todd McKenney’s yearlong community awareness project.
The project began in January in an attempt to help county residents understand court procedures and avoid probate by examining residential deeds.
Residential deeds in participating communities are being checked to notify homeowners who could benefit from creating a Joint and Survivorship Deed or another document called a Transfer on Death Affidavit (often called a TOD or a TOD deed).
The transfer allows a property to go from a single person or widow or widower to heirs. Both scenarios would transfer property without probate court involvement, he said.
McKenney said these are recommended for people in a first marriage or those who are single with adult children and with a home as their largest asset. Single or divorced parents with minor children might not want to have a TOD to young children.
The project reached about half of the county’s communities and population. Whether the project continues after his term will be up to the next probate judge, though McKenney said he believes there is a volunteer network in place to find ways to help other communities that are interested.
Earlier Beacon Journal reports on the subject can be found at http://tinyurl.com/probateproject and http://tinyurl.com/probateprojectadvice or www.ohio.com/betty. Click on “probate project” for all previous stories on this project.
All meetings cover the same information. Meeting details:
• Bath Township: 6 p.m. Sept. 27, Bath Elementary School, 1246 Cleveland-Massillon Road.
• Village of Richfield: 6 p.m. Oct. 16, Town Hall, 4410 W. Streetsboro Road.
• Twinsburg Township: 6 p.m. Oct. 15, Township Hall, 1790 Enterprise Parkway.
• Twinsburg: Two meetings — 6 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, City Council Chambers, 10075 Ravenna Road.
• Green: 6 p.m. Nov. 8, The Chapel in Green, 1800 Raber Road.
