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Ohio Court Records

Ohio court records refer to legal documents like pleadings, dockets, motions, orders, memoranda, briefs, and testimonies. Under the Ohio Revisesd Code, court records are public and accessible for inspection and reproduction when needed. However, some records may not be available for public inspection if they are sealed due to confidential information, like juvenile records. 

 

Which Ohio Courts Maintain Publicly Accessible Records?

The court clerk is the record custodian of publicly accessible Ohio court records. Under sections 1901 and 1907 of the Ohio Code, the clerk of court has the following duties, including making court records accessible to the public.

  • Keep account of all receipts and disbursements in criminal and civil cases
  • Take note of complaints, issued commons, returns, and any other pleadings
  • Enter all reports, orders, judgments, verdicts, and court proceedings
  • Specify relief grants or charges in every court action
  • Take affidavits
  • Issue judgment executions from the county court 
  • Issue and sign all subpoenas, writs, process, and court-issued papers
  • File and safely keep all books, papers, journals, and records that belong to the court

 

What are the Common Public Court Records in Ohio?

Below are the most common public court records in Ohio:

Criminal records

Criminal records contain information about a person’s criminal history in Ohio. While criminal records are available at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and other law enforcement agencies like the sheriff’s office, requesters may also find criminal information from the Clerk of Courts. The Supreme Court may also handle criminal record information for cases involving death penalties. 

Civil court records

Civil court records are cases involving disputes or complaints between two parties or more. An example of a person who got hurt in a traffic accident is a civil court case. Since civil cases are common, different courts handle them depending on the gravity of the case. Minor civil cases are typically handled by the mayor’s court, the court of claims, county courts, or by municipal courts. 

Small claims records

Small claims cases are disputes over small amounts of money of up to $6,000. Usually, the court appoints a lawyer to hear the claims in either a municipal or county court. 

Bankruptcy filings

Bankruptcy filings involve records of partnerships, corporations, or even individuals who went bankrupt in Ohio. Bankruptcies are filed at every bankruptcy court available in every district in the state and can be accessed through the clerk’s office during business hours. Bankruptcy filings are also available using PACER. 

Probate records

Probate records in Ohio refer to all types of proceedings, which involve guardianship and administration of estates entitled to heirs. Every county in Ohio has a probate court, and a beneficiary or beneficiaries must submit their probate records within a year, or else, they will lose their right to inherit. 

 

Requesters can use the platform known as PACER, or Public Access to Court Electronic Records, to access Ohio court records. To perform a search, requesters must have a username and password and identify which of the following case search they want to access:

 

  • PACER case locator
  • Court CM/ECF lookup
  • U.S. Appellate Courts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals and the appropriate circuit
  • U.S. District Courts
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
  • National Courts

 

Litigants can receive one free copy of their court records electronically, which they can print or save. Additional copies are available for $0.10 per page and a maximum of 30 pages or $3.00 worth of additional copies. In-person requests and copying of court records are more expensive at $0.50 per page. Certified copies are available for $11.00 per copy. Requesters also need to file a request form and wait for the clerk’s staff to call regarding the total payment required and the payment options available for each record request.

 

Case searches of Ohio court records are also available via third-party sites, though the available information may vary.

 

Counties in Ohio

Courts in Ohio

Westlake Municipal Court27300 Hilliard Boulevard, Westlake, OH
Bedford Municipal Court165 Center Road, Bedford, OH
East Cleveland Municipal Court14340 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland, OH
Fairview Park Municipal Court20777 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH
Berea Municipal Court11 Berea Commons, Berea, OH
Lyndhurst Municipal Court5301 Mayfield Road, Lyndhurst, OH
Rocky River Municipal Court21012 Hilliard Blvd, Rocky River , OH
South Euclid Municipal Court1349 South Green Road, South Euclid, OH
Shaker Heights Municipal Court3355 Lee Road , Shaker Heights , OH
Euclid Municipal Court585 East 222nd St., Euclid, OH

List of Content

  1. Which Ohio Courts Maintain Publicly Accessible Records?
    1. What are the Common Public Court Records in Ohio?
      1. Criminal records
      2. Civil court records
      3. Small claims records
      4. Bankruptcy filings
      5. Probate records
    2. Does Ohio Have a Case Search?