Search Ohio court records online. Access criminal cases, civil suits, small claims, family law, probate, and appellate decisions through official Ohio court portals.
Access Ohio Courts online directly. Search court records; from Ohio county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Ohio dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state web sites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to Ohio probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Ohio state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.
Access court case information through official Ohio portals and county clerk offices.
Access Ohio Courts Network (free) to search statewide case records. You can typically search by party name, attorney, case number, or filing date. Criminal and civil cases are usually searchable without charge.
Ohio courts include: Trial Courts (circuit, district, superior), Appellate Courts (Court of Appeals), and the Ohio Supreme Court. For local matters — misdemeanors, traffic, small claims — search at the county or municipal court level.
For older records or certified copies, contact the county court clerk in the county where the case was filed. Fees for certified copies vary by county (~$1–$5 per page). Clerks can also confirm whether a case is sealed or restricted.
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal criminal, civil rights) are available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER charges $0.10/page but the first $30/quarter is free for casual users.
As there may be more one source to obtaining Ohio criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.
The Ohio supreme court has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, capital criminal, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, disciplinary, and original proceeding cases. The supreme court has discretionary jurisdiction in civil, non capital criminal, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases. The Ohio court of appeal has mandatory jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases. The court of appeal has no discretionary jurisdiction. The Ohio court of common pleas has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights ($500/no maximum), appeals of administrative agency cases, and miscellaneous civil cases. The court of common pleas has exclusive mental health, and estate jurisdiction. The court of common pleas also has exclusive domestic relations jurisdiction. The Ohio court of common pleas also has jurisdiction over felony, and miscellaneous criminal cases. The court of common please also hears traffic/other violation (juvenile cases only). The Ohio court of common pleas has exclusive juvenile jurisdiction. The court of common pleas has jury trials in most cases. The Ohio county court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights ($0 to $15,000), small claims up to $2,000, and miscellaneous civil cases. The Ohio county court also hears felony, misdemeanor, DWI/DUI, and criminal appeals cases. The county court has jurisdiction over traffic/other violation, except for parking cases. The county court handles preliminary hearings. The county court has jury trials in most cases. The Ohio municipal court has jurisdiction over tort, contract, real property rights ($0 to $15,000), small claims up to $2,000, and miscellaneous civil cases. The Ohio municipal court also hears felony, misdemeanor, DWI/DUI, criminal appeals, and traffic/other violation cases. The municipal court handles preliminary hearings. The municipal court hears jury trials in most cases. The Ohio court of claims has jurisdiction over miscellaneous civil, actions against the state; victims of crime cases. The court of claims has jury trials. The Ohio mayor's court has jurisdiction over DWI and DUI, traffic and other violation cases. The Ohio major's court has no jury trials.Most Ohio court case information is free to view online through the official court portal: Ohio Courts Network (free). Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1–$5 per page when requested from the county clerk. Federal court records through PACER cost $0.10/page after the $30/quarter free threshold.
Public Ohio court records include: criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors), civil lawsuits, small claims, family court (divorce, custody, support), probate (wills, estates), traffic cases, and appellate decisions. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and domestic violence protective orders may be restricted.
Request certified copies in person, by mail, or through the court's online portal from the county court clerk where the case was filed. Provide the case number, parties' names, and the type of document needed. Fees typically range from $1–$10 per page plus certification fees. Processing time is usually 1–5 business days.