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Ohio · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Clerk of Courts (county level - each of Ohio's 88 counties) / Ohio Supreme Court / Ohio Courts of Appeals (12 districts)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Common Pleas Court (felonies, civil over $15,000, domestic relations/divorce, probate/estate, juvenile); Municipal Court (misdemeanors, traffic, civil up to $15,000); or Ohio Supreme Court / Courts of Appeals
  2. Search online:
  3. OHIO COURTS NETWORK (OCN): No single statewide unified case search portal equivalent to some states; Ohio is working toward integration; individual county courts maintain their own case management systems
  4. COUNTY COURT WEBSITES: Many Ohio county courts have online case searches; search "[County Name] County Ohio Clerk of Courts case search" or "[County Name] County Ohio Municipal Court case search"
  5. OHIO SUPREME COURT: supremecourt.ohio.gov - case information and opinions
  6. OHIO COURTS OF APPEALS: 12 districts; each has its own website with case information
  7. OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL COURT RECORDS: Some aggregated information available at psa.courts.state.oh.us
  8. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed
  9. In-person access: visit the courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online case searches: free for basic information where available; certified copies: typically $1-$2 per page; contact specific county Clerk of Courts for current schedule
Processing Time
Online: immediate where available; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
County-specific; many Ohio counties have online case search; no single statewide system for trial courts
Where to Go
Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed; Probate Court Clerk (marriage license records); Domestic Relations Court Clerk (divorce records)
County-specific variations apply

Ohio's 88 counties each maintain their own court systems and record access. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Franklin County (Columbus), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Summit County (Akron), Montgomery County (Dayton), and Lucas County (Toledo) have the largest court systems and best online access. Many smaller Ohio counties have limited online access. Marriage license records: County Probate Court. Divorce records: County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations division).

Ohio Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Ohio Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals opinions: supremecourt.ohio.gov.
  • Criminal history background checks: Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) - ohioattorneygeneral.gov/individuals-and-families/ohioans/background-checks; fee-based.
  • Ohio Sex Offender Registry: sor.ohioattorneygeneral.gov - searchable online.
  • Marriage records: County Probate Court (not ODH and not the Clerk of Courts in most cases).
  • Divorce records: County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations or Common Pleas Court).
  • Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules.
  • Ohio Public Records Law (ORC Chapter 149): presumption of public access; agencies must respond promptly.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Ohio Supreme Court - supremecourt.ohio.gov | (614) 387-9000; Ohio BCI (criminal records) - ohioattorneygeneral.gov | (877) 224-0043; Ohio Sex Offender Registry - sor.ohioattorneygeneral.gov