Fairfield County Court Records Search
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Fairfield County sits in south-central Ohio with its county seat in the city of Lancaster. The county’s court system consists of four distinct courts: the Court of Common Pleas (General Division and Domestic Relations Division), the Fairfield County Municipal Court, the Juvenile Court, and the Probate Court. The Common Pleas General Division adjudicates felony criminal cases and major civil disputes, while its Domestic Relations Division handles divorce, dissolution, custody, and civil protection orders. The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and small claims up to $6,000. The Juvenile Court hears matters involving minors, and the Probate Court manages estates, guardianships, trusts, marriage licenses, name changes, and birth registration corrections.
Court records generated by these divisions are maintained by their respective clerks. Ohio provides several avenues for locating case information, including clerk offices, courthouse public-access terminals, and web-based lookup tools. The OhioCourts.us website can help users identify which court holds a given record and direct them toward publicly available case data. Many Fairfield County records can also be searched remotely through the county’s own online portals described below.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Fairfield County?
Fairfield County maintains free online search portals for each of its major courts. No registration is required, and basic docket information can be viewed at no charge. Certified or authenticated paper copies must still be obtained through the relevant clerk’s office.
Online Search Portals
- Common Pleas Case Inquiry Search — covers General Division and Domestic Relations cases. Search by party name or case number.
- Municipal Court Civil Case Search — look up civil filings including small claims and evictions.
- Municipal Court Criminal/Traffic Case Search — search misdemeanor and traffic records.
- Probate Court Case Inquiry Search — covers estate, guardianship, trust, and miscellaneous probate filings from approximately 1991 to present, with an additional index covering records from approximately 1803 to 1995.
Sealed or confidential records will not appear in any online portal and must be requested directly from the appropriate clerk, subject to statutory restrictions.
In-Person and Phone Requests
The Clerk of Courts Records Division accepts walk-in and telephone inquiries during regular business hours. To request copies, contact:
Clerk of Courts — Records Division
Address: 224 E. Main Street, 4th Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7358
Email: ClerkRecords@FairfieldCountyOhio.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Requesters do not need to identify themselves or state a reason for the request under Ohio’s public records law. However, providing case details such as a name or case number helps the clerk locate records more efficiently.
Mail Requests
Send a written request specifying the record sought (including party names, case number if known, and the type of copy needed) along with payment to:
Fairfield County Clerk of Courts
224 E. Main Street
Lancaster, OH 43130
Make checks or money orders payable to the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts. The requestor may receive copies in person, by mail, or by email depending on the record format.
Copy Fees (Clerk of Courts — Common Pleas / Domestic Relations)
| Copy Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Public records copies | $0.10 per page |
| Certified copy | $5.00 + $0.10 per page |
| Authenticated/exemplified copy | $6.00 + $0.10 per page |
| Copy of Local Rules | $10.00 |
Online payments can be made through the Clerk of Courts payment portal. Credit and debit card payments are also accepted by phone at (740) 652-7360. To set up a payment plan, contact the Administrative/Fiscal Department at (740) 652-7356.
Are Court Records Public in Fairfield County?
Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, court records are classified as public records. Any person may request to inspect them without identifying themselves, explaining their intended use, or providing a justification for the request. This right of access applies to records held by the Clerk of Courts, the Municipal Court Clerk, and the Probate Court.
The Fairfield County Common Pleas Court’s Local Rules of Court (Rule 2.9) define a court record as any document filed with or prepared by the Clerk in relation to a judicial proceeding, including exhibits, pleadings, motions, judgments, orders, indices, and dockets.
Records that are publicly accessible typically include:
- Party names, addresses, and dates of birth
- Docket entries and case disposition information
- Charges and sentencing details in criminal cases
- Fines, costs, and payment records
- Service records and event logs
Certain documents are excluded from public access and maintained in a confidential “family file” under the Domestic Relations Division’s Local Rules. These restricted items include:
- Health care documents (physical, psychological, psychiatric, mental health, counseling)
- Drug and alcohol assessments, treatment reports, and drug test results
- Guardian ad litem reports and attached collateral documents
- Home investigation reports
- Child custody evaluations
- Domestic violence risk assessments
- Financial disclosure statements regarding property, debt, taxes, income, and expenses
- Asset appraisals and health insurance affidavits
Additional restrictions apply to juvenile records, social security numbers (except the last four digits), financial account numbers, driver’s license numbers, and the identity of sexual offense victims. Ohio Rules of Superintendence Rule 44©(2)(h) and Rule 45(D) govern the redaction of personal identifiers from case documents.
Only court personnel, guardians ad litem, parties to the case, attorneys of record, the Child Support Enforcement Agency, and Child Protective Services representatives may review family file contents. Others must obtain a court order demonstrating good cause.
Fairfield County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Fairfield County are split between two courts based on offense severity. The Common Pleas General Division handles felony prosecutions, and the Municipal Court handles misdemeanors and traffic violations. Records for both can be searched online.
Online Criminal Case Searches
Felony case records are available through the Common Pleas Case Inquiry Search. Users can enter a defendant’s name or case number to view charges, docket activity, and disposition information.
Misdemeanor and traffic case records are accessible through the Municipal Court Criminal/Traffic Case Search. Searches can be conducted by name or case number with additional filtering options to narrow results.
Requesting Criminal Record Copies
Certified copies of felony case records are obtained from the Clerk of Courts at $5.00 per certified copy plus $0.10 per page. Municipal Court records can be requested from the Municipal Court Clerk at 136 West Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130, by calling (740) 687-6621.
Record Sealing (Expungement)
Applications for sealing of criminal records in the Common Pleas Court carry a filing fee of $100.00. Sealed records are removed from public search portals and cannot be accessed without a court order.
Sheriff’s Office Criminal History and Background Checks
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office Civil Unit Records Section handles civilian background checks, arrest records, incident and accident reports, and fingerprinting services.
Sheriff’s Office — Civil Unit / Records Section
Address: 345 Lincoln Avenue, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7320
Fingerprinting appointments: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (call to schedule)
Electronic fingerprinting fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| BCI/I (State only) | $35.00 |
| BCI/I and FBI (State and Federal) | $55.00 |
| FBI (Federal only) | $35.00 |
| Manual fingerprint cards | $5.00 per card |
Requirements for fingerprinting include a valid driver’s license or state ID, an original Social Security card, a completed BCI WebCheck form (for electronic prints), and the name, address, and phone number of the recipient of results. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order.
The Sheriff’s Office also maintains an online database of registered sexual offenders in Fairfield County, which is searchable by name, city, internet identifier, or phone number.
Fairfield County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Fairfield County are filed with either the Court of Common Pleas General Division or the Municipal Court depending on the nature and amount in dispute. The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over civil matters involving $15,000 or less, eviction and landlord-tenant proceedings, and small claims actions up to $6,000. The Common Pleas Court handles larger civil disputes, foreclosures, and other general civil matters.
Common Pleas Civil Filing Fees (Revised February 2026)
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil complaint | $250.00 |
| Foreclosure complaint | $700.00 |
| Cross, counter, or third-party complaint | $130.00 |
| Foreign judgment | $80.00 |
| Foreign subpoena | $80.00 |
| Motion in contempt | $80.00 |
| Reopen case | $80.00 |
| Petition for court-ordered title | $250.00 |
| Personal service by Sheriff (per party) | $50.00 |
| Actions with over 5 defendants | Add $10.00 per defendant |
| Jury deposit (due the Friday before trial) | $2,000.00 |
The full deposit and fee schedule is published on the Clerk of Courts website and includes executions, garnishments, and certificates of judgment.
Municipal Court Civil and Small Claims
The Fairfield County Municipal Court accepts civil complaints and small claims filings at its Lancaster location. The small claims filing fee is $90.00 for one defendant plus $10.00 for each additional defendant. Key details about small claims:
- Maximum recovery is $6,000 (exclusive of interest and court costs)
- Jurisdiction applies when the incident occurred in Fairfield County or the defendant resides or conducts business there
- Hearings are typically scheduled 30–45 days from filing and held in Courtroom #2
- Transfer from Small Claims to the regular civil docket costs $115.00
- Counterclaim filing fee is $115.00
- Garnishment of personal earnings costs $165.00 (for judgments of $500 or more) or $90.00 (under $500)
- Financial statement request costs $65.00; add $50.00 if the debtor is outside Fairfield County
Civil case records for both courts can be searched online. The Common Pleas portal covers general civil filings, and the Municipal Court civil case search covers smaller claims, evictions, and landlord-tenant matters.
Property Records
Real estate information is maintained by the County Auditor, whose office provides a Real Estate Search portal for online property lookups by owner name, address, parcel number, or legal description. The Recorder’s Office maintains an online deed database covering August 1996 to the present, searchable by name, date range, document number, or subdivision. Older deeds (1800–July 1996) require an in-person visit to the Recorder’s Office at 210 East Main Street, Suite 205, Lancaster, OH 43130; Phone: (740) 652-7100; open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Fairfield County Family Court Records
Domestic relations matters in Fairfield County are heard by the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas. This division handles divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, annulment, child custody, child support, parentage actions, and civil protection orders. Judge Laura B. Smith presides over the division, supported by magistrates.
Domestic Relations Division
Address: Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, 4th Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7440 (Court) / (740) 652-7357 (Clerk — Domestic Relations)
Fax: (740) 652-7399
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Domestic Relations Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce without children | $350.00 |
| Divorce with children | $400.00 |
| Dissolution without children | $300.00 |
| Dissolution with children | $350.00 |
| Annulment or legal separation without children | $300.00 |
| Annulment or legal separation with children | $350.00 |
| Custody and/or support complaint | $300.00 |
| Parentage, custody, parenting time, and/or support | $300.00 |
| Counterclaim or cross-complaint (divorce, annulment, separation) | $250.00 |
| Post-decree motion (custody, support, visitation, transfer) | $200.00 |
| Motion for contempt (pre- or post-decree) | $200.00 |
| UIFSA (CSEA only) | $150.00 |
| Registration of foreign order | $150.00 |
Petitions for civil protection orders are accepted Monday–Friday starting at 8:00 a.m., and filers should arrive no later than 3:00 p.m. to allow same-day processing. The filer must provide the name, address, and date of birth of the respondent.
Family court records are searchable through the Common Pleas Case Inquiry Search tool. However, many documents in domestic cases are maintained in a confidential family file under Local Rule 2.7 and cannot be viewed online or by the general public.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Fairfield County Probate Court. Certified copies of recorded marriage records cost $2.00 each. To request a copy by mail, send both parties’ names before the marriage, the wedding date, a contact phone number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Probate Court at 224 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130. Payment may be made by cash, check, money order (payable to Fairfield County Probate Court), or credit card by calling (740) 652-7485.
Birth and Death Records
The Vital Statistics Division of the Fairfield Department of Health is the custodian of birth, death, and fetal death records from 1908 to the present.
Fairfield Department of Health — Vital Statistics
Address: 1550 Sheridan Drive, Suite 100, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-2836
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Requests can be made in person by completing the Application for Birth or Death Records, by mail (include a check payable to the Fairfield County Department of Health), or by phone using a credit card. Each order carries a non-refundable fee of $32.00. Payment is accepted in cash, certified or personal check, and money order. Certificates are provided in person or by mail only — the division does not transmit vital records by email. A newborn’s birth certificate is available approximately two weeks after birth. Under Ohio Revised Code § 3705.23, a decedent’s Social Security number is withheld from death certificates for five years following death and may only be released to eligible individuals such as the surviving spouse, direct descendants, legal representatives, or authorized professionals who provide proper identification.
Birth and death records predating 1908 are held only by the Fairfield County Probate Court.
Fairfield County Probate Court Records
The Fairfield County Probate Court handles the administration of decedent estates, probate of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, guardianships for adults and minors, conservatorships, trusts, adoptions, name changes, and birth registration corrections. Judge Terre L. Vandervoort serves as both Judge and Clerk of the Probate Court.
Probate Court Location
Address: Hall of Justice, 224 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7485
Email: juvenileprobate@fairfieldcountyohio.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Searching Probate Records
The Probate Court’s record search portal provides free online access to estate, guardianship, trust, and miscellaneous case records from approximately 1991 to the present. An additional historical index covers records from approximately 1803 to 1995. Searches can be conducted by case number or party name, with advanced filters available to narrow results. Confidential probate records (such as adoption files) do not appear in the online database.
Forms and Filing
The Probate Court publishes downloadable forms organized by category on its Probate Forms page:
- Estate Forms — applications for authority to administer, inventories, accounts, and related filings
- Guardianship Forms — applications for guardianship of person, estate, or both
- Adoption Forms — available on the main Probate Forms page
- General and Miscellaneous Case Forms — name changes, trusts, and other proceedings
Court rules and the complete fee schedule are also posted under the Probate Rules/Fees section of the court’s website. Probate case payments can be made in person at the Hall of Justice (8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), by mail to 224 E. Main Street, Room 308, Lancaster, OH 43130, or online.
Requesting Copies
Copies of probate records are available at the courthouse. Persons seeking certified copies or specific documents not available online should contact the Probate Court by phone at (740) 652-7485 or by email to confirm availability and applicable fees before visiting. The Juvenile Court, which shares the same building and administrative structure, can be reached at (740) 652-7463 for matters involving minors.