Ohio court rules $350,000 farm sale proceeds go to heirs named in woman's will, not deed beneficiaries

Detailed summary

In Ohio, the unexpected death of Eleanor M. Hovanick has led to a court ruling that the proceeds from her farm sale must go to her heirs as stipulated in her will. Despite having…

An Ohio woman who agreed to sell her 62-acre farm to a land conservancy for $350,000 died just one day after the sale agreement took effect, leaving a legal dispute over who should receive the money. In a ruling issued on 5 October 2026, Ohio’s Eleventh District Court of Appeals held that the proceeds belong to the heirs named in Eleanor M. Hovanick’s will, rather than the beneficiaries listed on her transfer-on-death deed, according to the court’s opinion.The decision resolves a question of first impression in Ohio appellate courts: Whether a valid transfer-on-death designation survives when the property owner signs a binding sale contract before dying.

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