Cuyahoga County Court of Appeals states new version of Ohio probate jurisdiction statute should provide probate court with jurisdiction over intentional interference with expectation of inheritance claims

The Eighth District Court of Appeals upheld a Cuyahoga County Probate Court decision to dismiss an intentional interference with an expectation of inheritance claim. The Appellate Court held that the former version of O.R.C. 2101.24, which sets forth the probate courts jurisdiction, did not grant the probate court the authority to hear the intentional interference with expectation of inheritance claim. The appellate court, however, speculated that the new version of O.R.C. 2101.24, which became effective on March 27 after the subject suit was filed, 2013, possibly would grant the probate court authority to hear the intentional interference with expectation of inheritance claim. Accordingly, the appellate court ruled the trial court properly dismissed the intentional interference with an expectation of inheritance claim.