2107.71 Civil action to contest validity of will.
2107.71 Civil action to contest validity of will.
(A) A person interested in a will or codicil admitted to probate in the probate court, which will or codicil has not been declared valid by judgment of a probate court pursuant to section 2107.084 of the Revised Code, or which will or codicil has been declared valid by judgment of a probate court pursuant to section 2107.084 of the Revised Code, but which has been removed from the possession of the probate judge, may contest its validity by a civil action in the probate court in the county in which such will or codicil was admitted to probate.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, no person may contest the validity of any will or codicil as to facts decided if it was submitted to a probate court by its maker during his lifetime and declared valid by judgment of the probate court and filed with the judge of the probate court pursuant to section 2107.084 of the Revised Code and if the will was not removed from the possession of the probate judge. A person may contest the validity of such a will, modification, or codicil as to such facts if the person is one who should have been named a party defendant in the action in which the will, modification, or codicil was declared valid, pursuant to section 2107.081 or 2107.084 of the Revised Code, and if the person was not named a defendant and properly served in such action. Upon the filing of an action contesting the validity of a will or codicil that is authorized by this division, the court shall proceed with the action in the same manner as if the will, modification, or codicil had not been previously declared valid under sections 2107.081 to 2107.085 of the Revised Code.
(C) No person may introduce, as evidence in an action authorized by this section contesting the validity of a will, the fact that the testator of the will did not file a petition for a judgment declaring its validity under section 2107.081 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 01-01-1979