Ohio court rules farm sale proceeds go to heirs after owner's unexpected death

An Ohio court has decided that money from the sale of a 62-acre farm belonging to Eleanor M. Hovanick must be distributed to her heirs according to her will. Hovanick died unexpectedly after agreeing to sell the property for $350,000. She had also set up a transfer-on-death deed naming beneficiaries for the land. However, the court found that the binding sale contract had already converted her ownership interest into a right to receive payment. This shift changed how the estate was to be handled under inheritance rules.