Ohio Court Records
Ohio court records are public files kept by the Clerk of Courts in each of the state's 88 counties. You can search them online or go to the courthouse in person. The Clerk of Courts in every county handles civil, criminal, and domestic relations case files for the Court of Common Pleas. Many counties now have free online search tools that let you look up case dockets, party names, and hearing dates from home. If you need a certified copy of a judgment or want to see the full case file, you can reach out to the Clerk's office at the county courthouse. Ohio's public records law gives any person the right to ask for and get copies of these court records.
Ohio Court Records Overview
Where to Find Ohio Court Records
The Clerk of Courts is the main office for court records in Ohio. Each of the 88 counties has its own elected Clerk who keeps all case files for the Court of Common Pleas. That court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Ohio, and it handles felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits over $15,000, and domestic relations matters. The Clerk files, dockets, indexes, and preserves all court pleadings. They also collect fines and court costs, issue writs like summons and subpoenas, and carry out other court orders. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association has been helping Clerks in all 88 counties since 1940.
Ohio also has municipal courts in many cities and counties. These courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil claims up to $15,000. Each municipal court has its own clerk who keeps those records. If the case you need is a misdemeanor or a small civil claim, check with the municipal court first. For felonies and larger civil matters, the Court of Common Pleas is the place to look.
The Supreme Court of Ohio oversees the entire judicial system. It maintains a public docket for its own cases going back to January 1, 1985. The court provides live streaming of proceedings and lets you sign up for email alerts on pending cases. The Supreme Court also sets the rules that all Ohio courts must follow for records access and retention.
The screenshot below shows the Ohio Supreme Court's official website where you can look up opinions and case dockets.
From this portal you can search docket information for any case filed at the Supreme Court of Ohio, view recent opinions, and find quick links to resources like the E-Filing Portal and Case Inquiry Form.
How to Search Court Records in Ohio
Most Ohio counties now offer some form of online case search. The level of detail varies from county to county. Some have full docket sheets with downloadable documents. Others show just basic case info like party names and status. A few counties still lack online tools, so you have to visit or call the Clerk's office.
The biggest counties tend to have the best online systems. Franklin County runs the Case Information Online (CIO) system that covers criminal, civil, domestic relations, and appellate cases. The docket entries in CIO match the official court docket, though the site notes that its data is only a copy and not the official record itself. Cuyahoga County has a Public Access Portal that lets you search civil, criminal, traffic, domestic, and probate cases by name, case number, or date range. The portal has been upgraded with better mobile support and real-time case updates.
You can see the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association page below, which connects you to resources for all 88 counties.
The OCCA has helped county clerks serve the public since 1940. Their site provides links and info for the Clerk of Courts in every Ohio county.
Hamilton County offers one of the most thorough search systems in the state. The Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, led by Clerk Pavan V. Parikh, provides name searches across all court divisions, case searches by number, and even tools for looking up certified mail, notary names, and judgment interest rates. Montgomery County runs the Public Records Online (PRO) System that shows imaged documents for major case events. Copy fees there run $0.10 per page for regular copies, $1.00 for certified, and $5.00 for authenticated copies signed by a judge.
To search court records in Ohio, you will need:
- Full name of a party or parties in the case
- The county where the case was filed
- Case number if you have it
- Approximate date range of the filing
Note: Under Ohio Rules of Superintendence Rule 45, a clerk of court is not required to offer remote access to every case file, so some records may only be available in person at the courthouse.
Ohio Court Records and Public Access
Ohio has strong public records laws. Ohio Revised Code 149.43 says that public records must be made available for inspection to any person at all reasonable times during regular business hours. The law defines "public record" broadly to include records kept by any public office at the state, county, city, village, or township level. Court records fall squarely in this definition.
There are some things the Clerk will not hand over. Medical records, adoption files, sealed cases, and certain law enforcement investigative records are exempt. DNA database records and certain inmate records also stay private. But the vast majority of court filings are open to anyone who asks. You do not need to give a reason for your request. If a Clerk denies your request, they must cite a specific exemption in the law. Under ORC 149.43, you can file a mandamus action if your request is wrongly denied. The court may award damages of $100 per business day the office failed to comply, up to $1,000, plus attorney's fees.
Below is a screenshot of the Ohio Public Records Act statute page, which lays out all the access rules.
This statute is the backbone of court records access in Ohio. It was last updated in 2024 with Senate Bill 29 from the 135th General Assembly.
The Ohio Court of Claims handles disputes when a public office refuses to release records. Citizens who believe they were denied access can file a claim. The court first sends the matter to mediation. If that does not work, a judge or special master decides the case. The filing fee is $25.
The Court of Claims also handles civil cases against the state, but its public records dispute process is what matters most for court records access.
Ohio Court Records by County
Each Ohio county has its own Court of Common Pleas and Clerk of Courts. Some counties have put real effort into online access. Others still rely on in-person visits. The Stark County Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) merges data from four separate courts into one searchable database. You can look up cases from the Common Pleas Court and three municipal courts all in one place. The Clerk is Lynn M. Todaro, with offices at 115 Central Plaza North, Suite 101, Canton, OH 44702.
The image below shows the Stark County official website where court records can be searched.
Stark County's approach of merging multiple court databases sets it apart from most Ohio counties, where each court keeps its own separate system.
Summit County splits its Clerk's office into Legal and Title divisions. The Legal Division covers the Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Court, and Ninth District Court of Appeals. The office sits at 205 S. High St, Akron, OH 44308. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for regular copies and $1.00 for certified. Lucas County offers online dockets for its Common Pleas Court divisions. The Legal Division is at 700 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Case numbers there follow specific formats like G-4801-CR-0123456789-000-D1 for criminal cases.
Here is the Summit County Clerk of Courts portal for online case search.
The Summit County system lets you search by name, case number, or filing date for cases in the Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations Court, and Court of Appeals.
Lake County gives 24/7 online access to civil, criminal, domestic relations, and appellate cases going back to 1988. The system includes court calendars, quick indexes, general indexes, and full docket sheets. Clerk Carl DiFranco's office also handles passport applications and about 150,000 new vehicle titles each year. Public records requests can be emailed to coc@lakerecordrequest.org.
Lake County provides one of the more complete online record systems among Ohio's smaller counties.
Court Records and Background Checks in Ohio
Court records are not the only way to get case information in Ohio. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), which operates under the Ohio Attorney General, handles fingerprint-based criminal history checks. The fee for a BCI check is $22. You bring a valid photo ID to a WebCheck location and have your fingerprints scanned electronically. A BCI search covers Ohio only. An FBI check searches nationwide. County clerks do not run background checks. That is BCI's job.
The BCI process matches fingerprints against a database of criminal records from across the state. County court records can supplement this with case-level detail from specific counties.
If you want court records from a single county, go to that county's Clerk of Courts. They can pull up cases by name or number. But those records only cover that one county. For a broader picture, the BCI check is the better tool. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at (614) 387-0588 can give info about prison time, parole, or post-release control. The Department of Youth Services at (614) 466-4314 covers youth records.
Court Records Retention in Ohio
Ohio courts follow retention schedules set by the Supreme Court's Rules of Superintendence. Rule 26 spells out how long each type of record must be kept. The docket, index, journal, and administrative journal stay on file for 25 years. Civil case files get two years. OVI case files last 50 years. First through fourth degree misdemeanor criminal files stay for 50 years. Minor misdemeanors get five years. Search warrant records last five years. Auditor reports and yearly reports are kept permanently.
Courts can keep records beyond these minimum periods. If older records still exist, they are public and must be made available. But the court does not promise to hold on to them past the required time. Each Clerk must post the current retention schedule where the public can see it, as required by ORC 149.43(B)(2).
The Ohio Courts official website is a central hub for finding information about the state's judicial system, court rules, and records policies.
Online Court Records Portals in Ohio
Several of Ohio's largest counties run full-featured online portals for court records. These portals save time and let you search from home.
The Cuyahoga County Justice System Portal covers one of the biggest courts in the state. It handles civil, criminal, traffic, domestic, and probate searches. Documents are housed at 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113, and the docket information line is (216) 443-7950. Public terminals sit in the courthouse lobby for walk-in searches.
Cuyahoga County's portal has expanded its e-filing options, so attorneys and self-represented people can submit filings and pay fees online without visiting the courthouse.
The Montgomery County PRO System is another standout. It gives you imaged documents alongside docket entries, not just text summaries. The system covers traffic, criminal, and civil cases in Municipal Court, plus Common Pleas and Court of Appeals cases. Documents typically show up within 48 to 72 hours of filing.
Montgomery County's Records Section is at 41 N. Perry Street, Room 104, Dayton, Ohio 45422. You can email them at recordssection@mcohio.org for copy requests.
Lucas County and Hamilton County also stand out. The Lucas County Imaging Lab digitizes official documents for many county agencies, and its Central Records Center holds county public records in one location. Hamilton County's search system includes tools for looking up cases by name, case number, lien number, certified mail, and more.
Hamilton County is one of the few Ohio counties that lets you search across all court divisions with a single name query.
Lucas County's online docket system covers Common Pleas Court divisions and includes an online payment option for court costs.
Browse Ohio Court Records by County
Ohio has 88 counties. Each one has its own Clerk of Courts and Court of Common Pleas. Pick a county below to find local info on how to search and get court records in that area.
Court Records in Major Ohio Cities
City residents file court cases at the county level. Pick a city below to find out which county handles court records for that area and how to search them.