Hocking County Court Records Search
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Hocking County, Ohio sits in the southeastern part of the state, with Logan as the county seat. Whether you're tracking a civil judgment, researching a criminal case, locating a marriage record, or administering an estate, record-keeping responsibilities in Hocking County are spread across several distinct offices depending on case type. Knowing which office holds which records — and how each handles access requests — will save you a lot of time before you start searching.
Court records in Hocking County fall across the Hocking County Common Pleas Court, the Hocking County Municipal Court, the Hocking County Juvenile and Probate Court, and two mayor's courts in Laurelville and Murray City. Each court keeps separate dockets and filing systems, though most civil, criminal, and domestic records ultimately pass through the Clerk of Courts.
If you need a statewide starting point, OhioCourts.us offers a directory of courts and publicly available case information resources across all 88 Ohio counties, including Hocking. Beyond that portal, this guide walks through each court division's records, request procedures, fees, and online search tools available to the public.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Hocking County?
The most direct route to Hocking County case information is through the Clerk of Courts' online case lookup system. The Hocking County Clerk of Courts provides a public Internet Inquiry link that lets anyone view case filings for domestic relations, civil, and felony criminal matters originating in the Common Pleas Court, as well as Fourth District Court of Appeals cases and Certificate of Judgment filings. The online database covers cases filed from January 1, 1996, to the present. Certificate of Judgment records go back to January 1, 2003. Post-decree actions on older domestic cases are also included when a new filing has been added to a prior matter.
For Common Pleas Court case dockets, the Common Pleas online search provides an additional portal for case-level information. The Hocking County Municipal Court maintains its own record search tool for misdemeanor, traffic, and civil matters heard in that court.
For probate matters, the Hocking County Juvenile and Probate Court record search provides online access to probate case dockets. When contacting any office directly, have the following information ready to speed things along:
- Full legal name of a party to the case
- Case number, if known
- Approximate filing date or year
- Type of case (civil, criminal, domestic, probate)
Hocking County Courts — Directory
| Court | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Pleas Court | 1 East Main St., Suite 305, Logan, OH 43138 | (740) 385-4027 | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:00 PM |
| Clerk of Courts (Legal Division) | 1 East Main St., Logan, OH 43138 | (740) 385-2616 | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:00 PM |
| Municipal Court | 105 West Hunter St., Logan, OH 43138 | (740) 385-2250 | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM |
| Juvenile & Probate Court | 1 East Main St., Logan, OH 43138 | (740) 385-3022 | Mon–Fri (contact court) |
| Laurelville Mayor's Court | 18751 Main St., Laurelville, OH 43135 | (740) 332-4481 | Contact court |
| Murray City Mayor's Court | 13964 Locust St., Murray City, OH 43144 | (740) 762-2362 | Contact court |
Both the Clerk of Courts Legal Division and the Title Division close from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM daily for lunch.
Are Court Records Public in Hocking County?
Ohio law broadly treats government-held records as open to the public. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, any person may request inspection and copying of public records maintained by a public office — including courts and clerks. Records must be made available promptly and within a reasonable time. The statute does not require requesters to give a reason or identify themselves.
That said, several categories of records are specifically exempt from public disclosure:
- Juvenile records — cases involving minors are sealed from public inspection as a matter of state policy
- Adoption records — adoption proceedings and resulting documents are confidential
- Medical and mental health information — records containing protected health data are restricted
- Ongoing investigation materials — law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld
- Attorney-client communications — privileged legal correspondence is not subject to disclosure
- Certain financial information — personal financial data embedded in court filings may be redacted
When records contain both public and exempt information, the custodian redacts the restricted portions and releases the remainder. If a request is denied in whole or in part, the office must provide a written explanation citing the specific legal authority for that denial.
Hocking County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases in Hocking County are tried before the Hocking County Common Pleas Court, with Judge Jason Despetorich presiding. The court's administrative staff includes a criminal assignment commissioner who coordinates scheduling and case management. The Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of all felony criminal filings, including indictments, affidavits, motions, sentencing orders, and judgment entries.
To search felony criminal case records online, use the Internet Inquiry portal linked from the Hocking County Clerk of Courts website. In-person requests can be made at the Clerk's Legal Division office at 1 East Main Street during regular business hours. Standard copy fees apply: $0.25 per page for plain copies and $2.00 per page for certified copies. Subpoenas carry a filing cost of $3.00 per page, and documents requiring a judge's signature are $2.00 per page.
Misdemeanor criminal cases — including traffic offenses — fall under the jurisdiction of the Hocking County Municipal Court at 105 West Hunter Street. The Municipal Court handles State of Ohio cases on Mondays and Wednesdays, City of Logan cases on Tuesdays, and jury trials on Fridays. Arraignments take place on Wednesdays at 9:15 AM. A dedicated record search tool is available on the Municipal Court's website, though records may reflect a minimum 24-hour processing delay.
For arrest records and law enforcement incident reports, the Hocking County Sheriff's Office accepts public records requests in person on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, or by email submission through their website. Crash report copies are available for a flat fee of $4.00 per report. Video reproduction requests are charged at $75.00 per hour, up to a maximum of $750.00. The Sheriff's Office processes all requests under ORC 149.43 and will provide a cost estimate within five business days of receiving the request. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order.
Criminal history background checks (WebCheck fingerprinting) are available through the Hocking County Sheriff's Office WebCheck program.
Hocking County Civil Court Records
General civil matters in Hocking County are handled by the Common Pleas Court and, for lower-value disputes, the Municipal Court. The Clerk of Courts maintains all civil filings, including complaints, motions, judgments, garnishments, and civil appeals.
Common Pleas Court civil filing fees (effective July 1, 2025) include:
- Civil complaint (up to 5 parties): $200.00
- Civil complaint (6 or more parties): $225.00
- Foreclosure (including real auction): $1,205.00
- Garnishment (bank or payroll): $100.00
- Execution: $100.00
- Judgment Debtor Exam: $100.00
- Foreign Judgment: $50.00
- Replevin: $155.00
- Jury Demand: $500.00
- Writ of Possession/Partition: $100.00
- Motion to Reopen a Closed Case: $150.00
- Motion/Contempt filing: $150.00
- Sealing/Expungement of Non-Conviction: $50.00
Per-page costs also apply: $1.00 per page for most standard filings, $2.00 per page for documents requiring judicial or magistrate signature, and $3.00 per page for subpoenas. Certified copies are $2.00 per page. The complete, current Hocking County court fee schedule is posted on the Clerk's website and was last updated effective July 1, 2025.
The Municipal Court hears civil cases on Fridays and maintains a searchable online docket. Small claims matters, civil infractions, and local code violations are among the case types handled there. To pay judgments or fines online, the Municipal Court provides an online payment portal.
Property-related civil disputes often involve records held by the Hocking County Recorder's Office, located on the first floor of 1 East Main Street, Logan, OH 43138. The Recorder maintains land records dating back to 1818, with electronic indexing in place from January 1, 1992, forward. An online land records search is available through the Recorder's website. Document copy requests can be submitted by email to copyrequest@hocking.oh.gov. Recording hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, with the research room closing to the public at 3:45 PM. Tax-related property records are searchable through the Hocking County Auditor's Office.
Hocking County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Hocking County — including divorce, dissolution, child custody, child support, spousal support, and division of marital property — are handled within the Domestic Relations division of the Hocking County Common Pleas Court. Magistrate Joe Nemec conducts domestic relations hearings under the supervision of Common Pleas Judge Jason Despetorich.
Filing fees for domestic cases are as follows:
- Dissolution: $300.00
- Divorce without children: $300.00
- Divorce with children: $300.00
- Motion to Modify Parental Rights/Custody: $250.00
Standardized domestic relations forms are available through the Ohio Supreme Court's forms portal, including complaints for divorce with and without children. Hocking County–specific forms are listed on the Common Pleas Court forms page.
Divorce records are generally public unless sealed by court order. To search for divorce and domestic relations filings online, use the Internet Inquiry tool available via the Hocking County Clerk of Courts. If you visit in person, bring the names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and ideally the case number. Mail requests should go to the Clerk's Legal Division office with the applicable copy fee enclosed.
Protective orders and domestic violence matters are also filed through the Common Pleas Court, though emergency ex parte protection orders may also originate from the Municipal Court.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Hocking County Probate Court — see the Probate section below for full details.
Hocking County Probate Court Records
The Hocking County Probate Court operates as a division of the Common Pleas Court and is administered through the Hocking County Juvenile and Probate Courts office. The court handles estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, name changes, vital records amendments, and marriage license issuance. Contact the court at (740) 385-3022.
Probate court filing fees include:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage License | $60.00 (cash only) |
| Full Estate Administration (Deposit) | $150.00 |
| Filing Will for Record | $63.00 |
| Filing Will for Record with Tax Papers | $68.00 |
| Guardianship of Incompetent | $250.00 |
| Guardianship of Minor | $110.00 |
| Adult Adoption | $161.50 |
| Private Adoption (per child) | $165.00 |
| Change of Name | $120.00 |
| Deposit of Will | $25.00 |
| Registration of Birth | $67.00 |
| Correction of Birth | $65.00 |
| Minor Settlement | $95.50 |
Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and authorize marriage anywhere in the State of Ohio. Call (740) 385-3022 to schedule an appointment. The marriage license application is available online through the Probate Court's website.
To search probate case records online, the court provides a Probate Court record search portal where the public can access case docket information. For certified copies of probate records, visit the court in person or submit a written mail request. Older genealogical records maintained by the court — including estate records from 1847 forward, marriage records from 1847 forward, naturalization records from 1853 forward, and birth and death records from 1867 to 1908 — are not available through the online portal and require an in-person or mail request.
Vital Records Through the Hocking County Health Department
Birth and death certificates are not held by the court system. Instead, they are maintained by the Hocking County Health Department and the Ohio Department of Health at the state level. The Health Department is located at 350 State Route 664 North, Logan, Ohio, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The main vital statistics line is (740) 385-3030, extension 257.
Certified copies of birth and death records cost $25.00 per copy. You can request them in person with a valid ID, or by completing and mailing the birth and death certificate application form available on the Health Department's website. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, access to birth and death records is restricted to the record subject, their immediate family members, legal guardians, authorized representatives, and individuals with a demonstrable legal interest. Mail requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with the appropriate fee in cash or money order.
For statewide ordering options, the Ohio Department of Health vital records portal also processes requests for Ohio birth and death records.