About Ohio Official Records
Tracking down public records in Ohio can feel like a maze. The state has 88 counties, each with its own Clerk of Courts and court system. Records might be at the county courthouse, a state office in Columbus, or tucked away in a federal database. We put this site together so you can skip the runaround and go right to the source that has what you need.
The Reason This Site Exists
Ohio law treats most court records as open to the public. That part is straightforward. The tricky part is figuring out which office holds the specific document you want. Divorce files sit with the Clerk of Courts at the county level, usually in the Domestic Relations Division. Vital records like birth and death certificates go through the Ohio Department of Health. Some records are only available from a specific municipal court or a federal office. We gather all of that into one spot so you know exactly where to look.
If you need a divorce decree from Franklin County or a case filing from Cuyahoga County, we want to get you to the right place on your first try. No wasted phone calls.
What This Site Covers
- County Pages: Office addresses, phone numbers, and hours for the Clerk of Courts and Common Pleas Courts in all 88 Ohio counties
- City Pages: Which county court serves each major city and how to reach the clerk that handles case filings for that area
- Record Guides: Clear, plain-language info about how various record types work in Ohio, what you can access freely, and what might be sealed or restricted
- Search Tools: Links to third-party search services that pull data from public records databases
What We Cannot Do
We are a private website. We have no official connection to any Ohio government office, court, or agency. There are some things that fall outside what we can help with:
- Submitting records requests or filing court paperwork on your behalf
- Providing certified copies of any official document
- Offering legal advice or guidance on how to handle a specific case
- Guaranteeing that every phone number, address, or fee listed here is still current
Certified copies and documents with an official court seal have to come from the government office that issued them. We can point you to the right office, but the actual document must come directly from that agency or court.
Search Partners
Several pages on this site include links to paid search tools run by outside companies. Those companies handle their own pricing and billing. We may receive a referral fee when visitors click through and use one of those tools. That is how we keep this site free to use. We have no control over what those services charge or what turns up in their search results.
Accuracy and Updates
Court offices move. Phone numbers change. Hours get adjusted with little warning. We try to keep everything on this site current, but details can go stale. If you plan to visit a courthouse in person, a quick phone call ahead of time can save you the trip if something has changed.
Notice something that looks outdated or wrong? Drop us a message and we will get it corrected as fast as we can.
Reach Out
Have a question or a correction to share? Visit our Contact page and send a message. We check every submission that comes through.