Crawford County Court Records Search
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Crawford County, Ohio occupies the north-central part of the state, with Bucyrus serving as the county seat. The county courthouse at 112 East Mansfield Street houses the bulk of the county’s judicial operations — including the Court of Common Pleas, Municipal Court, Probate Court, and Juvenile Court — all under one roof. Anyone pursuing a court record in Crawford County, whether for personal background research, legal verification, or a pending matter, needs to understand which court division maintains the specific records they need, since each division operates independently with its own clerks, hours, and procedures.
For those beginning a search remotely, Ohio court records can be located through official clerk websites, courthouse public access terminals, and state-supported online tools. OhioCourts.us may help users identify relevant Ohio court case information and connect with official judicial resources for the county they’re researching.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Crawford County?
Crawford County offers two primary online search platforms for case lookups, each covering a different court:
- Crawford County Municipal Court record search — accessible at crawfordcountymuni.org, this portal covers traffic, criminal, civil, and small claims cases. Users can search by name/company, case number, file date, or ticket number. The system notes that data reflects courthouse records with some processing delay, so verified copies should be requested directly from the clerk.
- Crawford County Common Pleas Court case inquiry — the Crawford County Common Pleas Court provides a case internet inquiry tool for civil, felony criminal, and domestic relations cases maintained by the Clerk of Courts.
- Crawford County Clerk of Courts — the Clerk of Courts website offers a case record search covering all case types in the Common Pleas General Division, including domestic relations and appeals to the Third District Court of Appeals.
For verified copies or records not available online, written requests or in-person visits are required. The main courthouse courts are located at:
Crawford County Court of Common Pleas (General Division)
Address: 112 E. Mansfield Street, Suite 200, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-5771
Fax: (419) 563-1914
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Crawford County Clerk of Courts
Address: 112 E. Mansfield Street, Suite 204, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-2766
Email: clerk@crawford-co.org
Crawford County Municipal Court — Bucyrus
Address: 112 E. Mansfield Street, Suite 100, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-2731
Fax: (419) 562-7064
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Crawford County Municipal Court — Galion
Address: 301 Harding Way East, Galion, OH 44833
Phone: (419) 562-2731, Ext. 8
Fax: (419) 468-6828
Hours: Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Note: The Galion office no longer accepts filings for evictions, small claims, or garnishments.
Crestline Mayor’s Court
Address: 100 N. Seltzer Street, Crestline, OH 44827
Phone: (419) 683-3636
Are Court Records Public in Crawford County?
Ohio’s framework for public access to court records is established by Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code, commonly known as the Ohio Public Records Act. This statute broadly defines “public record” to include documents kept by any public office and requires that such records be made available to any person upon request, within a reasonable time and at a reasonable cost. There is no requirement to state a reason when requesting public records in Ohio.
Despite this presumption of openness, the Act identifies specific categories that are exempt from disclosure:
- Adoption records, which are sealed under Ohio law and not accessible through general public records requests
- Medical records contained within court files, which are protected under Ohio privacy statutes
- Classified law enforcement investigatory records, including those that could identify an uncharged suspect, reveal a confidential source, endanger a witness, or impede an ongoing investigation
- Trial preparation records assembled by attorneys in anticipation of litigation
- Juvenile records, which carry heightened confidentiality protections to shield minors involved in delinquency and dependency proceedings
- Grand jury proceedings, which are conducted in secrecy under Ohio law
The Ohio Attorney General’s Public Records Act guidance notes that exemptions derive from Ohio statutes, case law, and federal statutes. When a portion of a record is exempt, the custodian must redact only the exempt information and release the remainder of the document. Requestors denied access to public records may seek a court order compelling disclosure.
Crawford County Criminal Court Records
Crawford County’s criminal court records span two court tiers. The Court of Common Pleas General Division handles all felony prosecutions, while the Municipal Court handles misdemeanors and traffic offenses within Crawford County, including cases from the City of Bucyrus, City of Galion, Village of Crestline, and Village of New Washington.
Felony criminal records — including indictments, plea records, sentencing orders, and judgment entries — are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at Suite 204 of the courthouse. The Crawford County Clerk of Courts website provides online case searches for felony matters. Misdemeanor and traffic case records are maintained by the Municipal Court clerk and are searchable through the Municipal Court’s online record search.
Effective January 1, 2025, Municipal Court criminal and traffic cost schedule:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Court Costs — Traffic Moving/Criminal | $125.00 |
| Basic Court Costs — Traffic Non-Moving | $106.00 |
| Community Control Sanctions | $150.00 |
| Expungement | $100.00 |
| Preparation of Bench Warrant | $50.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $1.00 |
| Jury Fee | $320.00 |
| Diversion — Criminal | $300.00 |
| Diversion — Traffic | $150.00 |
Arraignments in Bucyrus are held every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.; in Galion, every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Payments are accepted by cash, money order, or certified bank check (no personal checks). Credit and debit card payments can be made online or by calling (866) 895-0198.
For arrest records and active inmate information, the primary resource is the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office:
Crawford County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff Scott M. Kent)
Address: 3613 Stetzer Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820
Phone: (419) 562-7906
Fax: (419) 562-7912
Website: Crawford County Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff’s Office handles criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, county jail operations, and service of civil process. Jail-related inquiries can be directed to the Sheriff’s Office at (419) 562-7906 or (419) 563-2731.
Crawford County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Crawford County is split by claim amount. The Common Pleas Court handles cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $15,000, as well as appeals from lower courts. The Municipal Court handles civil actions with total damages of $15,000 or less, while the small claims division covers claims up to $6,000.
Common Pleas Court — Civil Filing Fees (Clerk of Courts):
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Complaint | $300.00 |
| Divorce | $300.00 |
| Dissolution | $200.00 |
| Motion to Reopen Closed Case | $200.00 |
Municipal Court — Civil Filing Fees (effective January 1, 2025):
| Case Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Civil Complaint — 1 Defendant | $160.00 |
| Each Additional Defendant | $20.00 |
| Eviction (FED) | $220.00 |
| Small Claims — 1 Defendant | $110.00 |
| Amended Complaint | $60.00 |
| Appeal to Common Pleas | $200.00 |
| Request for Jury Trial | $320.00 |
| Garnishment (Personal Earnings) | $70.00 |
| Bank Attachment | $70.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certifying Copy with Court Seal | $10.00 |
Municipal Court civil cases are filed at the Bucyrus location during regular hours. Defendants in civil actions have 28 days to answer after being served; failure to respond allows the plaintiff to seek a default judgment. For civil matters where legal assistance is needed but unaffordable, Legal Aid Services of Northwest Ohio can be reached at (800) 837-8908. The Municipal Court’s civil forms, including eviction complaints and notice to leave premises forms, are available on the Crawford County Municipal Court forms page. The Municipal Court accepts no personal checks; only cash, money orders, or certified bank checks are accepted in person.
Crawford County Family Court Records
Divorce and dissolution cases are filed with the Common Pleas Court General Division, with records maintained by the Clerk of Courts at Suite 204. The filing fee for divorce is $300.00; dissolution costs $200.00. Requestors seeking certified copies of divorce decrees should contact the Clerk of Courts at (419) 562-2766 or visit the office at Suite 204, 112 E. Mansfield Street, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Written requests may be submitted by mail to the same address. The online case search through CaseLook provides index-level information for Common Pleas cases.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Crawford County Probate Court. Under the Probate Court’s Local Rules (Local Rule 7), the deposit for a marriage license application is $100.00. The Probate Court is located at 112 E. Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820, Phone: (419) 562-8891, open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Birth and death certificates for Crawford County residents are available from multiple sources:
- Ohio Department of Health — Vital Statistics: handles records from 1971 to the present. The fee is $21.50 per certified copy (covering a five-year search whether or not the record is located), per ORC § 3705.24. Requests by mail must include the completed ODH application form, a photocopy of accepted identification, and a signed check or money order payable to the Treasurer, State of Ohio, mailed to Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, OH 43215-0098 (Phone: (614) 466-2531).
- Crawford County Public Health at crawfordhealth.org: issues certified birth and death certificates locally at $25.00 each copy.
- Galion City Health Department at galionhealth.org: handles records for events occurring within the City of Galion.
- Pre-1971 death records: available through Ohio History Connection.
Child custody, child support, and domestic violence matters arising within Crawford County are handled by the Common Pleas Court and, for juvenile-related proceedings, through the Juvenile Court division of the Common Pleas Court. Protective order information and procedures can be obtained directly from the Common Pleas Court clerk at (419) 562-5771.
Crawford County Probate Court Records
The Crawford County Probate Court is a division of the Court of Common Pleas, located at 112 E. Mansfield Street, Suite 103, Bucyrus, OH 44820, Phone: (419) 562-8891 The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. under Local Rule 5 of the Probate Division’s Local Court Rules (adopted January 26, 2024).
The Probate Court oversees a broad range of matters including estate administration, guardianships, trusts, adoptions, name changes, mental health commitments, and marriage licenses. Requestors with a valid government-issued ID and the case number or name of the parties involved may visit Suite 103 to request documents.
Crawford County Probate Court cost deposits (Local Rule 7, effective January 6, 2021):
| Proceeding Type | Deposit |
|---|---|
| Full Estate Administration | $200.00 |
| Release from Administration (with or without Will) | $200.00 |
| Summary Release (with or without Will) | $150.00 |
| Adult Guardianship | $200.00 |
| Adult Guardianship (ward over age 60) | $300.00 |
| Minor Guardianship | $200.00 |
| Application to Establish a Trust | $150.00 |
| Marriage License Application | $100.00 |
| Name Change (adult or minor) | $100.00 |
| Adoption | $170.00 |
| Adoption Placement | $150.00 |
| Deposit of Wills | $50.00 |
| Motions/Objections in Pending or Closed Cases | $150.00 |
| Complaints | $250.00 |
| Minor Settlement | $75.00 |
Digital copies of court proceeding recordings are available upon formal public records request at $5.00 per disc under Local Rule 3. Grievances regarding guardian conduct must be submitted in writing to the Probate Court Clerk at Suite 103 per Local Rule 11. Guardianship applicants are responsible for arranging criminal background checks at their own expense under Local Rule 11.04, consistent with ORC § 109.572.
The Probate Court’s published Local Court Rules are filed with the Ohio Supreme Court and are publicly available. All estate cases require notice to the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program under ORC § 2117.061 and must include filing of Ohio Supreme Court Standard Probate Form 7.0 with proof of service on the program. Estates remaining open beyond six months require filing Form 13.8 (Application to Extend Administration), and a written status report is required in all estates open more than thirteen months from the fiduciary’s appointment date.