Ohio Court Records

The Ohio courts website is designed to help provide an accessible guide to the framework of the state’s multi-tiered judicial system, which relies on both trial and appellate courts to handle legal matters.

At the trial level, the system includes the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas, Municipal Courts, County Courts, Mayor’s Courts, and the Ohio Court of Claims. The Courts of Common Pleas exercise general jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters and typically handle cases that exceed the authority of the lower courts. The appellate structure consists of the Ohio Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Ohio, which review decisions issued by lower courts to ensure the correct application of the law.

Public access to court records is governed by Rules 44 through 47 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio. These rules establish public access to copies of court records. However, certain records are excluded from public access, including juvenile case records, sealed or expunged files, and records made confidential under state or federal law. The Ohio court records website has no affiliation with government agencies. It is for informational purposes only.