Adams County Court Records Search
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Adams County, Ohio, is a rural Appalachian community in the southwestern corner of the state, anchored by its county seat of West Union. The county's judicial system generates a broad range of official records — felony criminal case files, civil judgments, probate inventories, vital documents, and more — all maintained by designated court offices. Attorneys tracking case history, researchers examining legal patterns, members of the public monitoring judicial transparency, and individuals with a personal stake in a specific proceeding all rely on these records.
If you're starting a court records search in Ohio, OhioCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information, connect you with the correct clerk offices, and point you toward online portals and public access terminals. Adams County records are accessible through official court websites, in person at the courthouse, by mail, and through several online tools maintained by the county's courts system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Adams County?
The Adams County court system maintains a centralized records search portal at adamscountycourts.com, with separate online search tools for the Court of Common Pleas, County Court, and Probate Court. Each interface lets you query cases by party name, case number, or filing date. Keep in mind that the portal reflects what's in the court's computer system and may not be real-time — for the most current status on a case, it's worth contacting the clerk directly.
| Court | Online Record Search |
|---|---|
| Common Pleas Court | Common Pleas Record Search |
| County Court | Available through the county courts search portal |
| Probate Court | Probate Record Search |
For in-person access to case files, start with the Adams County Clerk of Courts, whose office maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas and the Fourth District Court of Appeals:
Adams County Clerk of Courts
Address: 110 West Main Street, Room 207, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2344
Email: lheller@adamscountycourts.com
Clerk: Larry Heller
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed on legal holidays)
For County Court records specifically, the clerk's office is in Room 25 of the same building, with the same business hours, reachable at (937) 544-2011. Mail requests to either office should include the party's name or case number, the approximate filing date, the type of document needed, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or instructions for return delivery.
Are Court Records Public in Adams County?
Ohio's Public Records Act, codified at Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, sets the default rule: public offices — including courts — must provide any person with access to public records for inspection and copying. Unlike many states, Ohio does not require you to explain your purpose or show identification simply to inspect a record.
That said, the Act and related statutes carve out several categories that courts must withhold or redact:
- Juvenile court records — protected under Ohio Revised Code § 2151.14; the Juvenile Court's website explicitly states it cannot provide specific case information due to the confidential nature of these proceedings
- Sealed or expunged records — removed from public view by court order
- Active law enforcement investigatory files — withheld while investigations are ongoing
- Medical and psychiatric records included in case files
- Attorney-client privileged documents
- Personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, which are redacted from public copies
- Adoption records — sealed and accessible only to parties with court authorization
When a record is only partially exempt, the custodian must redact just the exempt portion and release the rest. If access is denied, requesters may seek a writ of mandamus in the Ohio courts to compel production. The Ohio Attorney General's Public Records Act guidance provides a thorough overview of rights and procedures under the statute.
Adams County Criminal Court Records
Serious criminal matters — felony charges against adults, grand jury proceedings, and criminal appeals — go before the Adams County Court of Common Pleas, General Division, at the courthouse in West Union. The Common Pleas Court is Ohio's constitutionally created trial court, established by Article IV, Section 4 of the Ohio Constitution and codified in Ohio Revised Code § 2301.01. It hears all felony allegations, including violent offenses, drug charges, and property crimes exceeding misdemeanor thresholds.
Misdemeanors and traffic offenses for adult defendants are handled by the Adams County Court (also called the County Court):
Adams County Court of Common Pleas / General Division
Address: 110 West Main Street, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2344
Adams County Court
Address: 110 West Main Street, Room 25, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2011
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Criminal case records — including indictments, charging documents, warrants, bail records, plea agreements, sentencing entries, and court minutes — are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and are searchable online through the court's case portal. The Common Pleas Record Search covers General Division criminal filings.
For arrest records, incident reports, and detention information, contact the Adams County Sheriff's Office:
Adams County Sheriff's Office
Address: 110 West Main Street, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2314
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Sheriff: Kenny Dick
Website: Adams County Sheriff
Statewide criminal history background checks are processed separately through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and are not obtained from the county Clerk. The Sheriff's Office is the right local contact for arrest logs, jail rosters, and incident reports. The county also has five Municipal and Mayor's Courts handling local ordinance violations:
| Mayor's Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 400 Pike Street, Manchester, OH 45144 | (937) 549-3330 |
| Peebles | 1 Simmons Avenue, P.O. Box 430, Peebles, OH 45660 | (937) 587-3191 |
| Seaman | 17806 SR 247, P.O. Box 248, Seaman, OH 45679 | (937) 386-2980 |
| West Union | 33 Logans Lane, P.O. Box 395, West Union, OH 45693 | (937) 544-6122 |
| Winchester | 24 W. Washington Street, Winchester, OH 45697 | (937) 695-0880 |
Adams County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Adams County is split between two courts based on the dollar amount and complexity of the dispute. The Court of Common Pleas, General Division handles contract disputes, personal injury claims, foreclosures, and other civil matters where the amount or complexity exceeds the lower court's jurisdiction. The Adams County Court handles smaller civil matters, including small claims and disputes within its statutory monetary limits.
Adams County Court civil filing fees:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Claims — up to $6,000 | $151.00 |
| Regular Civil — up to $15,000 (personal injury, property, contracts) | $251.00 |
| Driving Privileges / BMV | $151.00 |
| Forcible Entry & Detention (eviction) | $251.00 |
| Executions | $151.00 |
| Replevin/Property | $251.00 |
| Action for Judgment by Confession | $251.00 |
| Motion to Vacate or Revive Judgment | $141.00 |
| Preparation of Certificate of Judgment | $46.00 |
| Filing Certificate of Judgment with Common Pleas | $30.00 |
| Release Fee of Certificate of Judgment | $5.00 |
| Jury Deposit (with filing) | $300.00 |
| Certified Copies | $2.00 |
| Record Check Request (must be in writing) | $10.00 |
| Expungement | $76.00 |
| Filing Appeal to Court of Appeals | $158.00 |
| Sheriff's Service of Summons | $75.00 |
| Garnishment (Personal Earnings) | $216.00 |
| Bank Garnishment | $131.00 + $1.00 |
| Summons Reissued by Certified Mail | $15.00 |
| Summons Reissued by Regular Mail | $10.00 |
Civil case records — including complaints, answers, motions, and court orders — are available for public inspection at the Clerk of Courts Office and through the online search portal. The Clerk of Courts also files and maintains tax liens, judgment liens, and administers oaths. For Common Pleas civil matters, court forms are available through the Adams County Common Pleas Court forms page. Appeals from Adams County courts go to the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals, which covers Adams County along with several neighboring counties.
Adams County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Adams County are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas, which handles divorce, dissolution of marriage, child custody and visitation, spousal and child support, and related family matters. The Juvenile Court handles custody and support cases where the parties were never married, as well as cases involving children alleged to be delinquent, unruly, abused, neglected, or dependent.
Adams County Juvenile Court
Address: 110 West Main Street, West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2921
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Judge: Brett M. Spencer
Juvenile case records are confidential under Ohio Revised Code § 2151.14 and are not available to the public. The Juvenile Court website explicitly confirms that it cannot provide specific case information online. Anyone with a legal right to juvenile records — parties, their attorneys, or authorized agencies — must contact the court directly.
Divorce and dissolution records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and are searchable through the Common Pleas online portal. Divorce decrees, dissolution entries, custody orders, and support orders are generally public, though personal identifiers and sensitive financial information are redacted. For certified copies of divorce records, contact the Clerk at (937) 544-2344 or visit Room 207 at 110 West Main Street.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Adams County Probate Court. Both applicants may apply online at any time or in person Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed on legal holidays). The Probate Court's marriage application portal is available on the court's website. Contact the Probate Court at (937) 544-2344 for current fee information, as marriage license fees vary by county in Ohio.
Birth and death certificates are maintained locally by the Adams County Health Department and statewide by the Ohio Department of Health:
Adams County Health Department — Vital Statistics
Address: 560 Rice Drive, West Union, Ohio 45693
Phone: (937) 544-5547, ext. 101
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Fee: $25.00 per certified copy
The Health Department can issue certified birth certificates for births from any Ohio county, not just Adams County. Photo identification is required for all requests. Mail requests should include a completed application form and a $25.00 check or money order payable to the Adams County Health Department, along with a photocopy of valid ID. As of January 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Health charges $21.50 for a statewide vital records search, per ODH fee schedules. Certified copies of birth or death records obtained through the Ohio Department of Health's Vital Statistics program are available for qualifying individuals by mail or online order.
Adams County Probate Court Records
The Adams County Probate Court is a division of the Court of Common Pleas and handles a wide range of non-adversarial legal matters that arise around life events. Its jurisdiction covers estate administration and last wills and testaments, minor and adult guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, name changes, trust administration, miscellaneous civil cases, mental illness proceedings, marriage licenses, correction of birth records, minor settlements, and disinterment of graves.
Adams County Probate Court
Address: 110 West Main Street, Room 221, West Union, Ohio 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2344
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed on legal holidays)
Probate records are searchable online through the Probate Court Record Search on the county courts website. In-person requests are handled at Room 221 of the courthouse during business hours. Mail requests should include the decedent's or subject's full name, the approximate year of filing, and the type of record or document needed.
Payment methods accepted by the Probate Court:
- Cash
- Debit and credit cards
- Money orders
- Personal checks are not accepted
The Probate Court strongly encourages anyone navigating estate or guardianship proceedings to consult an attorney experienced in probate law. Deputy Clerks are prohibited by law from providing legal advice on probate proceedings. Probate forms for Ohio courts are available through the Ohio Supreme Court's forms resources, and the Adams County Common Pleas Court website links to additional local forms through its Google Sites forms page.
Adoption records handled by the Probate Court are sealed and not available for public inspection without a court order. All other standard probate case filings — wills offered for probate, inventory and appraisal documents, estate accountings, guardianship reports, and court orders — are public records subject to the Ohio Public Records Act. Ask the Clerk's office at the Probate Court about availability, fees for certified copies, and turnaround times for specific records.