Probate History
The First Courthouse, Belmont County, Ohio
The Belmont County Probate Court was first established in 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 term
at 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 including, but not limited to,
estates, guardianships, trusts, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes,
birth records, and wrongful death actions.
Belmont County Probate Judges and Their Terms:
| Judge | Term of Service |
|---|---|
| David Harris | March 3, 1852 – February 8, 1858 |
| Robert Cloudy | February 9, 1858 – February 8, 1864 |
| David Harris | February 9, 1864 – February 8, 1867 |
| C.W. Carroll | February 9, 1867 – February 8, 1870 |
| A.W. Anderson | February 9, 1870 – February 8, 1873 |
| C.W. Carroll | February 9, 1873 – February 8, 1879 |
| Thomas Cochran | February 9, 1879 – February 8, 1885 |
| Isaac H. Gaston | February 9, 1885 – February 8, 1891 |
| James F. Tallman | February 9, 1891 – February 8, 1897 |
| William F. Smith | February 9, 1897 – February 8, 1903 |
| John S. Cochran | February 9, 1903 – February 8, 1909 |
| John C. Nichols | February 9, 1909 – February 8, 1921 |
| Edward D. Meek | February 9, 1921 – February 8, 1925 |
| Lawrence Imhoff | February 9, 1925 – February 8, 1933 |
| Harry L. Albright | February 9, 1933 – February 8, 1967 |
| Edmund A. Sargus | February 9, 1967 – March 4, 1967 |
| Wilbur Y. Armstrong | March 31, 1967 – February 8, 1979 |
| C. Kenneth Henry | February 9, 1979 – February 8, 1991 |
| John J. Malik | February 9, 1991 – November 30, 1998 |
| J. Mark Costine | December 24, 1998 – May 4, 2018 |
| Albert E. Davies | August 6, 2018 – Present |