Ohio Code § 2117.36

§ 2117.36.

No real property of a deceased person that has been aliened or encumbered by the decedent's

heirs prior to the issuing of letters testamentary or of administration shall be liable

while in the possession or under the control of a bona fide purchaser for value or

to the prejudice of a bona fide lessee or encumbrancer for value for debts of the

deceased person unless letters testamentary or of administration are granted within

four years from the date of death of the deceased person.  No real property of a deceased person that has been aliened or encumbered by the

decedent's heirs or devisees after the issuance of letters testamentary or of administration

shall be liable while in the possession or under the control of a bona fide purchaser

for value or to the prejudice of a bona fide lessee or encumbrancer for value for

debts of a deceased person unless suit is brought to subject the real property to

the payment of those debts prior to the settlement of the executor's or administrator's

final account or what purports to be the executor's or administrator's final account;

 provided that if the final account is not filed and settled within four years after

the granting of letters testamentary or of administration, but excluding for these

purposes the time that any action is pending against the executors or administrators

for the establishment or collection of any claim against the deceased, the real property

so aliened shall not be liable for the debts of the deceased unless suit is brought

to subject the real property to those debts within that four-year period.  The heir or devisee aliening the real property shall be liable for its value, with

legal interest from the time of alienation, to the creditors of the deceased in the

manner and within the limitations provided by law.  This section does not enlarge or extend the right of the creditors of any deceased

person against the deceased person's real property, repeal any limitations contained

in other sections of the Revised Code, or apply to mortgages or liens of record at

the time of the death of the deceased person.