Putnam County, Ohio Court Records
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Putnam County's court system is centered in the county seat of Ottawa and generates records across the full range of legal proceedings — criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, family law matters, probate filings, and juvenile cases. Those records include dockets, filed motions, orders, judgments, hearing schedules, and supporting documentation. The Putnam County Clerk of Courts is the official keeper of most of these records, responsible for filing, docketing, indexing, and preserving all court pleadings across the Common Pleas and Municipal courts.
You can look up and request Putnam County court records in several ways: visiting clerk offices in person, contacting them by phone, fax, or email, using public access terminals at the courthouse, or searching online through the county's case lookup tool. OhioCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available case information across Ohio's court system.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Putnam County?
All of Putnam County's primary courts operate out of the Putnam County Courthouse at 245 East Main Street in Ottawa. The court system includes the Common Pleas Court — with General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate Divisions — the Municipal Court, and several mayors' courts in smaller cities throughout the county.
The main courts and their contact details are:
Putnam County Court of Common Pleas / Municipal Court
Address: 245 E. Main Street, Suite 301, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3110 | Fax: (419) 523-5284
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Public Records Email: Susan.Maag@putnamcountyohio.gov
Putnam County Probate & Juvenile Court
Address: 245 E. Main Street, Suite 201, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3012 | Fax: (419) 523-9291
Columbus Grove Mayors Court
Address: 113 E. Sycamore Street, Columbus Grove, OH 45830
Phone: (419) 659-2365
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
Address: 1035 Heritage Trail, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3208 | Fax: (419) 523-6598
There are four main ways to search for Putnam County case records:
- Online — Court View 2000 — The county offers a public access case search portal (Court View 2000) covering docket entries and case information required by law. Keep in mind that records filed before September 1992 are only available in person at the clerk's office.
- In person — Visit the Clerk of Courts office at Suite 301 during business hours. Staff and public terminals let you search by party name, case number, or filing date.
- By phone, fax, or email — Submit a public records request by calling (419) 523-3110, faxing (419) 523-5284, or emailing Susan.Maag@putnamcountyohio.gov. Provide as much detail as you can — case number, party names, and the approximate filing date all help.
- By mail — Send a written request to the Clerk of Courts at 245 E. Main Street, Suite 301, Ottawa, OH 45875.
Are Court Records Public in Putnam County?
Ohio's Public Records Act, codified at O.R.C. 149.43, establishes that records kept by public offices — including courts — are generally open to inspection and copying by any person. That said, the Ohio Attorney General's office notes that the statute includes many exemptions, and courts must weigh public access against privacy protections on a case-by-case basis.
In Putnam County, the following categories of records are restricted from general public disclosure:
- Juvenile court records — Proceedings involving minors are confidential. Under O.R.C. 2151.356, juvenile court records may be sealed, and sealed records become eligible for expungement five years after the sealing order or when the individual turns 23, whichever comes first.
- Adoption records — Sealed by statute and unavailable without a court order
- Mental health commitment records — Protected from public access
- Adult Protective Services records — Restricted under state law
- Confidential child custody information — Certain custody-related documents carry access restrictions
- Sealed or expunged records — Once a record is sealed or expunged, it is removed from public view
- Active law enforcement investigation records — Information tied to an ongoing investigation is generally withheld
- Attorney work product — Trial preparation materials are exempt from disclosure
If a public records request is denied, the requester may seek a writ of mandamus to compel disclosure or file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims.
Putnam County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Putnam County are divided between two courts based on the severity of the offense. The Common Pleas Court (General Division) handles felonies, while the Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic violations, driving under the influence charges, and certain local ordinance cases.
Felony Records — Common Pleas Court
The Clerk of Courts maintains felony criminal records, and you can search cases filed after September 1992 using the Court View 2000 online portal. For anything filed before that date, you'll need to visit the clerk's office in person at 245 E. Main Street, Suite 301. Criminal case files have been microfilmed as far back as 1974, with a digital scanning process in place since 2005 for more recent filings.
Misdemeanor and Traffic Records — Municipal Court
The Municipal Court's criminal division handles all misdemeanor cases. Traffic fines for eligible violations can be paid online through the court's website, in person, or by mail. Driving under the influence and certain other offenses require a court appearance and cannot be resolved by a waiver payment.
Arrest Records — Sheriff's Office
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and handles requests through its Records/CCW division. You can reach the records office at 1035 Heritage Trail, Ottawa, OH 45875. The sheriff also provides access to the statewide VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) offender search for tracking individuals in Ohio's corrections system.
Putnam County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Putnam County are split between the Common Pleas Court and the Municipal Court based on the dollar amount in dispute:
| Court | Civil Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Common Pleas Court | Claims of $15,000 or more |
| Municipal Court | Claims of $15,000 or less |
| Small Claims (Municipal) | Disputes of $6,000 or less |
The Putnam County Municipal Court also handles landlord-tenant disputes, evictions, rent escrows, garnishments, and appeals to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The clerk's office can help citizens file small claims, including furnishing forms and instructional materials.
To search or obtain civil case records:
- Online — Search the Court View 2000 portal for docket entries and case information
- In person — Visit the Clerk of Courts at Suite 301 during office hours; civil and domestic records have been microfilmed from the early 1950s forward
- By mail or email — Send a written request with party names and the case number (if known) to the Clerk's Office at 245 E. Main Street, Suite 301, Ottawa, OH 45875, or email Susan.Maag@putnamcountyohio.gov
- Payments — Court costs and fines can be paid online (full payments only), by mail with a certified check or money order, or in cash in person
The clerk's office collects all revenue for court costs, bonds, fines, and criminal restitution and distributes these funds to the appropriate county and state accounts.
Putnam County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Putnam County fall under two divisions of the Common Pleas Court: the Domestic Relations Division handles cases between adults, and the Juvenile Division handles matters involving minors. The Probate Court also plays a role in family-related proceedings — issuing marriage licenses and handling adoptions and guardianships.
Divorce, Dissolution, and Custody Records
The Domestic Relations Division of the Common Pleas Court handles all divorces, marriage dissolutions, and child custody disputes. The Clerk of Courts maintains records from these proceedings, and you can search them through Court View 2000 or request them directly at the clerk's office. Have party names ready, and bring the case number if you have it. The clerk's office also offers downloadable domestic relations forms from the Common Pleas Court webpage.
Marriage Licenses and Records
Marriage licenses in Putnam County are issued by the Probate Court. Both parties must appear in person to apply. To schedule a marriage license appointment, call the Probate Court at (419) 523-3012. Certified copies of marriage records can be requested the same way or by visiting Suite 201 at the courthouse.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death records for Putnam County are maintained by the Putnam County Health Department at 256 Williamstown Road, Ottawa, OH 45875, reachable at (419) 523-5608. Certified copies are available at the following rates:
| Record Type | Fee per Copy |
|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $27.00 |
| Death certificate | $27.00 |
You can request records in person (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), by phone with a credit card, or by mail with a completed request form, a check or money order payable to Putnam County Health Department, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Health Department can provide birth records for any Ohio-born individual regardless of the county of birth.
Juvenile and Adoption Matters
The Juvenile Division of the Common Pleas Court handles civil, criminal, traffic, and abuse/neglect/dependency cases involving persons under age 18. These records are confidential by statute. Adoption records handled by the Probate Court are similarly sealed and require a court order for access.
Putnam County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Putnam County Common Pleas Court — presided over by Judge Michael Borer — handles estate administrations, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and name changes, and issues marriage licenses. Probate Court records are maintained at Suite 201 of the Putnam County Courthouse.
To request probate records, contact:
Putnam County Probate & Juvenile Court
Address: 245 E. Main Street, Suite 201, Ottawa, OH 45875
Phone: (419) 523-3012 | Fax: (419) 523-9291
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
When you reach out, be ready to provide the name of the decedent or the subject of the proceeding, an approximate filing date, and a case number if you have one. Staff can search the court's records system and pull paper files for review. Copies of documents are available for a fee.
Certain probate records carry access restrictions. Adoption case files are sealed and only accessible by court order. Guardianship and conservatorship records involving minors may also carry confidentiality protections similar to those applied in juvenile proceedings under Ohio law.
If you're researching older Putnam County probate records, the clerk's office has microfilmed civil and domestic records dating to the early 1950s, with a scanning initiative launched in 2005 covering more recent filings. Contact the Clerk of Courts at (419) 523-3110 to ask about availability and copy fees for historical estate records. Ohio Legal Help also maintains a directory entry for the Putnam County Probate Court as a useful orientation point for anyone navigating the probate process for the first time.