A Lifetime of Service
Dedicated to Families
Meet Judge Ralph Winkler
Judge Ralph Winkler has served as Hamilton County Probate Court Judge since 2015 and was reelected to a second term in November 2020. As Probate Judge, he presides over matters involving adoptions, estates, guardianships, mental health, marriage licenses, name changes, and other probate issues, many of which directly affect families during some of the most important moments of their lives.
Judge Winkler is honored to hold this position of public trust. His mission is to ensure that the Probate Court provides access to justice with dignity, fairness, and respect for every person who comes before the court.
Before joining the Probate Court, Judge Winkler served as a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge in the General Division from 2004 to 2015. In recognition of his faithful service, he received the Golden Gavel Award from the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association in 2015 and was named Trial Judge of the Year by the Hamilton County Trial Lawyers Association in 2008. He began his judicial career on the Hamilton County Municipal Court, where he served from 1999 until his election to the Common Pleas Court.
= 1,000 Legal Matters
200,000+ PROCEEDINGS
Since taking the bench in 1999, Judge Winkler has presided over more than 200,000 legal matters across Hamilton County’s courts. This experience has given him a deep understanding of the law and the impact legal decisions have on families and individuals. His decades of judicial service make him uniquely qualified to continue serving as Hamilton County Probate Court Judge.
4,000+ WILLS
Since 2015, Judge Winkler has supported Wills for First Responders, a program inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks. Through this effort, police officers, firefighters, and their families receive basic wills, living wills, health care powers of attorney, and other important documents at no cost. These events save families approximately $1,500 in attorney fees while providing peace of mind for their loved ones. Judge Winkler participates throughout the year and has proudly helped more than 4,000 first responders and their families.
= 100 Wills for First Responders
3,000+ ADOPTIONS
One of the most rewarding parts of Judge Winkler’s work is serving as Hamilton County’s Adoption Judge. He has proudly administered over 3,000 adoptions, helping bring children, parents, and families together in some of the most meaningful moments that take place in the courthouse. For Judge Winkler, each adoption is more than a legal proceeding. It is a celebration of love, stability, and the creation of forever families.
= 100 Adoptions
In the News
Making a Difference
WKRC | November 26, 2025
'Match made in Heaven': 4 local siblings adopted together in time for Thanksgiving
CINCINNATI — Just in time for Thanksgiving, four local siblings have had their biggest wish granted.
Chevy, Kaleb, Vida, and Zoey will get to stay together as they join their new family. In a courtroom filled with family and friends, Judge Ralph Winkler made it official: Nelson and Joni Janney adopted the children.
WLWT | November 3, 2025
National Adoption Day sees 19 children adopted to 13 Hamilton County families
CINCINNATI — It's one of the happiest days of the year-- National Adoption Day. And on Monday, it was all about love, family and new beginnings.
Nineteen children officially found their forever homes with 13 families in Hamilton County.
WLWT | August 4, 2025
Hamilton County judge places 5 kids with 3 families during adoption event
HAMILTON COUNTY — As back to school season nears, some kids are excited to get new backpacks and notebooks for the new school year, but five kids in Hamilton County were excited to get new forever families on Monday.
Hamilton County Probate Judge Ralph Winkler hosts a “Back to School Adoption Event” every year.
WKRC | November 1, 2024
'Lives are changing dramatically': 10 local children adopted on National Adoption Day
CINCINNATI — In a heartwarming celebration of National Adoption Day, ten children found their forever homes with six different families in Hamilton County.
The children, ranging in age from two to 16 years old, were officially adopted in a ceremony presided over by Judge Ralph Winkler in his courtroom.
WKRC | May 21, 2020
Hamilton County judge gives $100,000 back to county from his budget
CINCINNATI — The Hamilton County coffers are getting a boost from a county judge.
Hamilton County Probate Judge Ralph Winkler returned $100,000 in payroll funds to the county's general fund. This is in addition to other cost-saving measures he's made to his budget.
WKRC | March 27, 2020
Hamilton County's new probate magistrate is 1st Hispanic woman in role
CINCINNATI — Attorney Berti Garcia Helmick made history this week when she was sworn in as the first Hispanic woman to serve as a magistrate on Hamilton County’s Probate Court.
Garcia Helmick has been an attorney for 25 years and has represented people with mental illness in the courts as a member of the county’s mental health panel.
Fox19 | February 10, 2019
Local organization provides free wills for first responders
CINCINNATI — A special event was held on Saturday to provide free wills for firefighters, police and all other first responders.
The Pro Bono Committee of the Cincinnati Paralegal Association held “Remember: Wills For First Responders," an event where volunteer lawyers and paralegals came together to provide wills, living wills, and health care proxies to first responders and their spouses free of charge.
ABC News | August 1, 2017
Ohio couple becomes first-time parents by adopting 5 siblings
CINCINNATI — Julie and Will Rom of Cincinnati, Ohio, have been fostering children for nearly 10 years.
Julie Rom said she and her husband were never able to conceive a child of their own, so they decided to help children who were in need of care.
Cincinnati Enquirer | October 22, 2014
Endorsement: Ralph Winkler for probate court
This year’s high-profile race for Hamilton County Probate Court is – or should be – more than a popularity contest.
Better known for handling wills and marriage licenses, the court actually deals with some of society’s most intractable problems, including mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, broken families and aging.