Probate History

The First Courthouse, Belmont County, Ohio

The Belmont County Probate Court was first established in the year 1852 under the guidance of the Court’s first Probate Judge, David Harris. Judge Harris began his term in March of 1852 and served the Court faithfully for nearly six years. Since the establishment of the Probate Court there have been eighteen successors to Judge Harris, with Judge Harry L. Albright of Shadyside serving the longest with a term of 34 consecutive years. Judge Edmund A. Sargus served the shortest term of only 24 days due to his untimely death in 1967.

The Probate Court oversees a variety of matters that includes, but is not limited to, the handling of Estates, Guardianships, Trusts, Adoptions, Marriage Licenses, Changes of Name, Birth Records, and Actions involving Wrongful Deaths.

Each of the Belmont County Probate Judges and their terms are as follows:

David HarrisMarch 3, 1852 – February 8, 1858
Robert CloudyFebruary 9, 1858 – February 8, 1864
David HarrisFebruary 9, 1864 – February 8, 1867
C.W. CarrollFebruary 9, 1867 – February 8, 1870
A.W. AndersonFebruary 9, 1870 – February 8, 1873
C.W. CarrollFebruary 9, 1873 – February 8, 1879
Thomas CochranFebruary 9, 1879 – February 8, 1885
Isaac H. GastonFebruary 9, 1885 – February 8, 1891
James F. TallmanFebruary 9, 1891 – February 8, 1897
William F. SmithFebruary 9, 1897 – February 8, 1903
John S. CochranFebruary 9, 1903 – February 8, 1909
John C. NicholsFebruary 9, 1909 – February 8, 1921
Edward D. MeekFebruary 9, 1921 – February 8, 1925
Lawrence ImhoffFebruary 9, 1925 – February 8, 1933
Harry L. AlbrightFebruary 9, 1933 – February 8, 1967
Edmund A. SargusFebruary 9, 1967 – March 4, 1967
Wilbur Y. ArmstrongMarch 31, 1967 – February 8, 1979
C. Kenneth HenryFebruary 9, 1979 – February 8, 1991
John J. MalikFebruary 9, 1991 – November 30, 1998
J. Mark CostineDecember 24, 1998 – May 4, 2018
Albert E. DaviesAugust 6, 2018 – Present