Knowing how to search public records is helpful, especially if you or someone you know has been entered into the system. In Ohio, there are two ways to search for information: online and in person. Both methods are effective. However, the information available at each level differs.

Information Needed

To make your search as accurate as possible, you will need to have some information about the records you want ahead of time. Have the name of the person, age of the person, date of birth and race. Knowing the date of the arrest, indictment or court trial will also help. Ensure that you have the right spelling of the name, especially if this is the only information you have about the record. All of this will help you, or the court clerk, narrow down the options.

In Person

Court records are available at the county courthouse or offices, or, if the case you are looking for is at the Supreme Court level, at the Supreme Court office in Columbus. The court clerk at each courthouse will handle your request for records. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association website lists the Clerk of Courts for each of Ohio's 88 counties. Since not every court clerk has a website or online records search, some will require a visit in person. However, the website lists addresses, phone numbers and fax numbers for every court clerk in the association. Costs and procedures of obtaining records vary, so make sure to check with the court clerk in that county.

Online

While you can access most records at the Office of the Clerk of Courts in person, many counties allow you to search their records online. For the online search, you'll need the same information as for the in-person search. There are a variety of ways to search for records online, including by name, case number, attorney name and case classification. In these searches you can get information on the case dates and case histories, along with other information. You may also find that there are limits to the records available online, like in Hamilton County. Guidelines vary among counties for what information, if any, can be posted online. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association website lists the different websites for the Clerks of Courts, which gives you easy access to available records searches. Another website that may help you search for records is ohiocourtlinks.org. This website also has a list of the different courthouse websites, with direct links to record searches.

Source:

Clerk of Courts Policies Section

Ohio Clerk of Courts Association Homepage

More Information:

Ohio Clerk of Courts Association Listing by County

ohiocourtlinks.org Listing of Courts by County