Clinton County, Ohio Court Records
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Clinton County, Ohio, anchored by the county seat of Wilmington, operates a court system with several distinct divisions—the Common Pleas Court, Municipal Court, Juvenile Court, and Probate Court—each handling a specific category of legal matters. Court records from these proceedings document everything from criminal charges and civil judgments to estate filings and family law orders. These records carry real legal weight and are regularly consulted for background investigations, legal research, and personal record verification.
Ohio residents searching for court records have a range of tools available: official court websites, public access terminals at the courthouse, clerk offices, and online search portals maintained by individual courts. OhioCourts.us offers an additional resource for locating court case information across the state. The most important first step is knowing which court holds the record you need and which office to contact.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Clinton County?
Clinton County provides two separate online case search portals depending on which court handled the matter. The Clinton County Clerk of Courts record search covers Common Pleas Court cases, including civil, felony criminal, and domestic relations filings. The Clinton County Municipal Court record search covers misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and small claims. Both portals allow searches by name, company name, or hearing date.
If you need an in-person search or certified copies, direct your request to the appropriate clerk's office. Here are the primary courts and their contact details:
Clinton County Common Pleas Court / Clerk of Courts Legal Office
Address: 46 S. South Street, Suite 333, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 382-2316
Fax: (937) 383-3455
Email: cbailey@clintoncountycourts.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Clinton County Clerk of Courts Title Office
Address: 180 E. Sugartree Street, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 382-0375
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Clinton County Municipal Court
Address: 69 North South Street, P.O. Box 71, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 382-8985
Fax: (937) 383-0130
Email: bbrown@clintonmc.org (Clerk Blaire Brown)
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Clinton County Probate Court
Address: 46 S. South Street, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 382-2280
Fax: (937) 383-1158
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Clinton County Juvenile Court
Address: 46 S. South Street, Suite 218, Wilmington, OH 45177
Phone: (937) 382-2391
Fax: (937) 383-0823
Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Are Court Records Public in Clinton County?
Ohio's public records framework, codified under Chapter 149 of the Ohio Revised Code, establishes that government records—including court records—are presumptively open to public inspection. Under Ohio Revised Code 149.43, public bodies must make records promptly available upon request, and agencies cannot demand that a requester reveal their identity or explain why they want the records.
That said, several categories of Clinton County court records are restricted from general disclosure:
- Juvenile records are generally sealed under Ohio Revised Code 2151.358 and are only accessible to parties with a court order or specific statutory authorization
- Expunged and sealed criminal records are removed from public access under Ohio Revised Code 2953.32
- Certain family law records—including adoption proceedings and sensitive domestic matters—may be restricted under Ohio Revised Code 3109.04
You can submit records requests in person, by mail, or by contacting the relevant clerk's office directly. The online portals maintained by both the Clerk of Courts and the Municipal Court provide free access to case information, though data may be delayed up to 24 hours or more from actual filings and judicial actions. If you need verified, certified information, contact the clerk's office directly rather than relying solely on the online search.
Clinton County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases in Clinton County—including indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and post-conviction motions—are filed with and maintained by the Clinton County Clerk of Courts at the Common Pleas Court. This office is responsible for filing, docketing, indexing, and preserving all felony criminal case records under Ohio Revised Code 2301.01.
Misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and OVI charges are handled by the Clinton County Municipal Court, and its online record search covers those cases by defendant name or case number.
Common Pleas Court copy fees:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies (per page) | $0.10 |
| Certified copies (per page, plus) | $2.00 per document |
| Expungement petition | $50.00 |
| Record search / background check | $10.00 |
| Fax fee (plus $1.00 per page) | $2.00 |
Municipal Court copy fees:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies (first 5 pages) | $1.00 per page |
| Additional pages | $0.25 per page |
Arrest records, active warrant information, and jail rosters are maintained by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office, headed by Sheriff Douglas A. Eastes. The Sheriff's Office holds law enforcement records that exist separately from court case files. For inmate information, call (937) 383-4813 or (937) 383-3292.
For a comprehensive criminal history background check—particularly for employment or licensing purposes—requests must go through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Individuals can request their own criminal history from BCI through the Ohio Attorney General's Office at (614) 752-7500. Under Ohio Revised Code 109.572, BCI conducts fingerprint-based criminal history checks for authorized purposes.
Clinton County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Clinton County is split between two courts based on the dollar amount at stake and the nature of the dispute. The Common Pleas Court handles major civil cases—contract disputes, personal injury litigation, foreclosures, and other matters involving significant sums or equitable relief. The Municipal Court covers smaller civil claims, including small claims cases and landlord-tenant matters.
Common Pleas Court civil filing fees:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Case | $250.00 |
| Foreclosure Complaint (incl. Real Auction fee) | $850.00 |
| Foreign Judgment | $75.00 |
| Execution | $50.00 |
| Writ of Possession | $100.00 |
| Garnishment | $50.00 |
| Judgment Debtor Exam | $100.00 |
| Motion Reopening Case | $100.00 |
| Jury Demand | $200.00 |
| Notice of Appeal | $225.00 |
Municipal Court civil filing fees:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Complaints | $150.00 |
| Small Claims | $75.00 |
| Forcible Entry and Detainer | $150.00 |
| Wage Garnishments | $150.00 |
| Jury Trial | $600.00 |
| Appeals | $225.00 |
The Municipal Court also offers eFiling and online payments through its website. Civil case records from the Common Pleas Court are searchable through the Clerk of Courts online portal, while Municipal Court civil records are searchable through the Municipal Court record search. The Common Pleas Court accepts cash, check, or credit card, with convenience fees of $2.00 for debit and $2.00 or 3% (whichever is greater) for credit cards.
Clinton County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Clinton County are divided between the Common Pleas Court and the Juvenile Court. The Common Pleas Court's domestic relations division handles divorce, dissolution of marriage, child support, spousal support, and related property division orders. The Juvenile Court, operating under Ohio Revised Code 2151.03, handles delinquency matters, abuse, neglect, dependency cases, custody disputes involving children under state supervision, and adult contributing charges.
Divorce and dissolution filing fees at the Common Pleas Court:
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce/Dissolution without Children | $300.00 |
| Divorce/Dissolution with Children | $400.00 |
| Motion to Reopen with Children | $175.00 |
Divorce records are maintained by the Clinton County Clerk of Courts and are generally accessible to the public under Ohio Revised Code 3105.71. Copies cost $0.10 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee per document. You can search for them online through the Clerk's case search portal or visit the Legal Office in person during business hours.
Marriage licenses in Clinton County are issued by the Probate Court. The total cost is $60.00 cash or $62.00 by credit card. Out-of-state resident couples obtaining a license in Clinton County pay a higher fee. More information is available through the Clinton County Probate Court. Historical marriage records from 1810 through 1928 are held in the County Archives; records after 1928 are maintained by the Probate Court, reachable at (937) 382-2280.
Birth and death records for Clinton County events are maintained by the Clinton County Health District and the Ohio Department of Health under Ohio Revised Code 3705.12. Access is restricted to the individual named in the record, immediate family members, and authorized representatives. Certain historical birth records and corrections to birth records fall under Probate Court jurisdiction—the court charges $42.00 for a correction of a birth record and $42.00 for a delayed registration of birth.
Juvenile court records are largely confidential under Ohio law. The Juvenile Court is located at the courthouse at Suite 218, and all inquiries about accessible records in that division must be directed to the court clerk.
Clinton County Probate Court Records
The Clinton County Probate Court, presided over by Judge Chad L. Carey, handles a broad range of matters beyond estate administration—including guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, mental illness proceedings, trusts, name changes, marriage licenses, and corrections to birth records. Probate cases are governed by Ohio Revised Code 2101.11.
Probate case records that are not confidential can be searched through the Clinton County Probate Court record search portal or reviewed in person at the Probate Court offices at 46 S. South Street during regular hours, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Probate Court filing fee schedule:
| Matter | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate/Administration | $150.00 |
| Guardianship (Incompetent or Minor) | $140.00 |
| Conservatorship | $140.00 |
| Trusts | $115.00 |
| Adoptions | $91.00 |
| Will Only Admitted to Probate | $55.00 |
| Will for Record Only | $40.00 |
| Will Contest (without jury) | $65.00 |
| Will Contest (with jury) | $175.00 |
| Reopen Estate | $20.00 |
| Name Change (Adult or Minor) | $86.00 |
| Correction of Birth Record | $42.00 |
| Wrongful Death | $40.00 |
| Minor's Claim | $65.00 |
| Guardianship (school purposes only) | $75.00 |
Historical wills from 1810 through 1979 are held in the County Archives. Wills recorded after 1979 must be requested from the Probate Court directly at (937) 382-2280. The Probate Court strongly encourages anyone with estate matters to retain an attorney experienced in Ohio probate law—court staff are prohibited by law from providing legal advice or helping determine which forms apply to a given case. Court forms related to probate proceedings are available on the Probate Court's forms page.