Trumbull County Court Records Search
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Trumbull County is located in northeastern Ohio, with its county seat in Warren. The county’s judicial system includes multiple courts spread across several locations, serving communities from Cortland and Brookfield to Girard, Niles, and Newton Falls. Trial-level matters are handled by the Court of Common Pleas (General Division and Probate Division), the Family Court (Domestic Relations and Juvenile Divisions), two county courts, four municipal courts, and several mayor’s courts. Each court’s clerk office is responsible for maintaining, organizing, and providing access to its own case records.
For anyone researching court records in Ohio, a useful starting point is OhioCourts.us, which can help users identify courts and locate publicly available case information statewide. Within Trumbull County, the Clerk of Courts manages records for the Common Pleas General Division, while the Family Court and Probate Court each maintain separate filing systems. Several of these courts offer online search portals, and all accept in-person record requests at their respective offices. Public access terminals at the Trumbull County Courthouse in Warren allow visitors to search case data without charge during regular business hours.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Trumbull County?
The first step in locating a Trumbull County court record is determining which court handled the case. Felony criminal matters and civil claims exceeding $15,000 are filed in the Court of Common Pleas General Division. Family law and juvenile cases go through the Family Court. Probate, estate, guardianship, and marriage matters fall under the Probate Division. Misdemeanors, traffic violations, and smaller civil claims may be filed in one of the county or municipal courts depending on geographic jurisdiction.
Online Case Search Options
Several Trumbull County courts provide free electronic case lookups:
- Common Pleas General Division — The Clerk of Courts maintains the Courtview portal, which allows searches by party name, case number, attorney name, case type, or filing date range.
- Central District Court — The Caselook search system supports searches by name, case number, and ticket number.
- Eastern District Court — A separate Courtview portal offers similar name-based and case-number searches.
- Probate Court — Case records can be searched through the Probate Court’s online search page.
In-Person Searches
Public computer terminals are available at the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts offices located inside the Trumbull County Courthouse at 161 High Street NW, Warren, and in the Passport Office on the 5th floor of the Administration Building at 160 High Street NW, Warren. Visitors can search Common Pleas and Domestic Relations records by party name or case number at no charge.
Requesting Copies
Copies of public record documents cost $0.05 per page. Certification of a copy costs an additional $1.00 per document, and exemplified copies are $5.00 each. The Clerk of Courts office does not permit files to be signed out; all copies must be produced on-site. If requesting a formal name search conducted by clerk staff, the fee is $5.00 per name searched. Self-service searches using the public terminals are free.
Mail Requests
Written requests can be sent to the appropriate clerk division. Include the case number or full party name, the time period to be searched, and payment by certified check or money order (personal checks are not accepted). A self-addressed, stamped envelope should accompany any mail request.
Are Court Records Public in Trumbull County?
Ohio law strongly favors public access to court records. The Ohio Public Records Act (R.C. 149.43) requires that records maintained by public offices, including courts, be made available for inspection and copying upon request. In addition, the Ohio Supreme Court’s Rules of Superintendence (Rules 44 through 47) specifically govern access to court records and establish a presumption that case documents are open to the public.
Under these rules, any person may inspect and obtain copies of court records without demonstrating a particular interest or purpose. The Trumbull County Clerk of Courts, Probate Court, and Family Court are all obligated to respond to records requests and provide copies at the statutory fee rates.
Records That Are Not Publicly Accessible
Certain categories of case records are exempt from public access:
- Sealed records — Any record that a judge has ordered sealed is removed from public view and can only be accessed with court authorization.
- Juvenile case records — Most juvenile court proceedings are confidential, with access limited to the parties, their attorneys, and authorized individuals.
- Adoption records — Adoption files are confidential and are not available for public inspection.
- Mental health proceedings — Records related to involuntary commitment and related mental health matters are restricted.
- Protected personal information — Social security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar sensitive identifiers are redacted from publicly available documents.
- Child custody evaluations and certain domestic abuse records — Portions of family court files may be restricted when they involve evaluations, investigative reports, or safety-sensitive information.
Individuals who believe they have a right to access a restricted record may file a motion with the court requesting disclosure. The judge will evaluate the request against applicable statutes and rules before granting or denying access.
Trumbull County Criminal Court Records
Felony criminal cases in Trumbull County are prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas General Division. Misdemeanor and traffic cases may be heard in the municipal courts (Warren, Girard, Niles, or Newton Falls) or the county courts (Central and Eastern Districts), depending on where the offense occurred. Each court’s clerk maintains the official records for cases within its jurisdiction.
Searching Criminal Case Records
The Courtview portal for Common Pleas provides online access to felony case dockets, charges, and dispositions. Searches can be conducted by defendant name or case number. The Central District Court’s Caselook system and the Eastern District Court’s Courtview portal cover misdemeanor and traffic cases in their respective jurisdictions.
In-person searches can be conducted at any of the following locations:
Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas — General Division
Address: 161 High Street NW, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2557
Warren Municipal Court
Address: 141 South Street SE, Warren, OH 44483
Phone: (330) 841-2525
Girard Municipal Court
Address: 100 North Market Street, Girard, OH 44420
Phone: (330) 545-0069 (Criminal), (330) 545-3049 (Traffic)
Niles Municipal Court
Address: 15 East State Street, Niles, OH 44446
Phone: (330) 652-5863
Newton Falls Municipal Court
Address: 19 North Canal Street, Newton Falls, OH 44444
Phone: (330) 872-0232
Bonds and Criminal Costs
Ohio law requires a $25.00 fee from bond depositors, which is not refunded upon a guilty finding. Bonds may be posted at the Clerk of Courts office during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). After-hours bond posting is coordinated through the jail at (330) 675-2508. The clerk accepts cash bonds, 10% bonds, insurance bonds, and property bonds (property must be in Trumbull County and meet specific equity requirements).
Expungement
A motion to expunge a criminal record in Common Pleas costs $50.00. Expungement of a domestic violence record filed through the Family Court also costs $50.00. In the Juvenile Division, expungement carries no filing fee.
Sheriff’s Office Records
The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement files. Authorized individuals may submit a Public Record Request through the county’s online request portal. The Sheriff also hosts a sex offender search page that is publicly accessible.
Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 150 High Street NW, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2508
Fax: (330) 675-7023
Lobby Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Trumbull County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Trumbull County is distributed among several courts based on the nature and amount of the claim. The Common Pleas General Division handles civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $15,000, including foreclosures, professional torts, product liability, workers’ compensation appeals, and other civil actions. The county and municipal courts preside over smaller civil claims, small claims matters, and eviction proceedings.
Civil Filing Fees — Common Pleas General Division (Effective April 1, 2019)
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Foreclosure complaint | $653.00 |
| All other civil complaints | $253.00 |
| Cognovit (without precipe) | $213.00 |
| Cognovit (with precipe) | $233.00 |
| Counterclaim / amended complaint | $0.00 |
| Counterclaim with service requested | $60.00 |
| Judgment lien (from other court) | $25.00 |
| Judgment lien (from Trumbull County) | $27.00 |
| Foreign judgment | $25.00 |
| Garnishment | $25.00 |
| Execution | $25.00 |
| Debtor exam | $25.00 |
| Appeal of arbitration | $180.00 |
| Order of sale by Sheriff | $500.00 |
An additional surcharge applies to certified mailings involving more than five defendants, ranging from $50.00 for 6–10 defendants up to $250.00 for 26–30 defendants. This surcharge must be paid upfront.
Copy and Search Fees
All copy fees are $0.05 per page. Certification costs $1.00 per document. A clerk-conducted name search costs $5.00. Self-service searching on public terminals is free.
Filing and Procedures
Civil complaints must be captioned with the specific type of action (Administrative Appeal, Foreclosure, Product Liability, Professional Tort, Other Civil, Other Torts, or Workers’ Compensation). Filers must submit an original with an original signature and enough copies for service on all defendants. The Clerk of Courts office accepts payment by cash, certified check, money order, or credit card in person or by phone at (330) 675-2557.
Standardized forms for filing appeals and other actions are available at the Clerk of Courts office or can be downloaded from the clerk’s website.
Central and Eastern District Courts
The two county district courts handle civil claims, small claims, and traffic cases:
Trumbull County Court — Central District
Address: 180 North Mecca, Cortland, OH 44410
Phone: (330) 675-2280
Trumbull County Court — Eastern District
Address: 7130 Brookwood Drive, Brookfield, OH 44403
Phone: (330) 675-7900
Both courts provide online record searches through their respective portals and accept in-person requests during business hours.
Trumbull County Family Court Records
The Trumbull County Family Court is housed in its own building and is divided into two operational divisions: Domestic Relations and Juvenile. The Domestic Relations Division handles divorce, dissolution, annulment, legal separation, and post-decree matters involving custody, visitation, and support. The Juvenile Division has jurisdiction over delinquency, unruly behavior, dependency, neglect, abuse, parentage, and juvenile custody and support.
Domestic Relations Division
Trumbull County Family Court — Domestic Relations
Address: 220 Main Avenue SW, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2625
Fax: (330) 675-7907
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Domestic Relations filing fees (effective May 1, 2025):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce / legal separation / annulment complaint | $301.00 |
| Dissolution petition | $301.00 |
| Foreign complaint (reciprocal, custody, support, visitation) | $301.00 |
| Answers and counterclaims (with or without service) | $105.00 |
| Any post-decree motion | $105.00 |
| Motion for continuance | $25.00 |
| Motion to reinstate | $55.00 |
| Objections to Magistrate’s decision | $55.00 |
| Mediation fees (per party, first four hours) | $100.00 |
| Parenting coordination fees | $100.00 |
| Certificate of dissolution/divorce | $2.00 |
| Copies per page | $0.05 |
| Certified copy | $1.00 |
Domestic violence petitions carry no filing fee. Victims can contact Someplace Safe at (330) 393-3003 or visit the Clerk of Courts office for a packet of forms and instructions on obtaining a civil protection order.
Copies of divorce decrees are $0.05 per page plus $1.00 for certification, and requesters must provide a self-addressed stamped envelope. Credit card payments are accepted in person or by phone at (330) 675-2625. Personal checks are not accepted.
Juvenile Division
Trumbull County Family Court — Juvenile Division
Address: 220 Main Avenue, P.O. Box 1209, Warren, OH 44482
Phone: (330) 675-2600
Juvenile Clerk: (330) 675-2375
Fax: (330) 675-2322
Juvenile filing fees (effective January 1, 2022):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Parentage / custody / visitation complaint | $140.00 |
| Unruly / delinquency complaint | $75.00 |
| Motions | $100.00 |
| Objections or motion to set aside | $50.00 |
| Appeals | $181.00 |
| Motion for continuance | $20.00 |
| Expungement | No charge |
Juvenile case records are generally confidential. Public access is limited, and most records are available only to case parties, their attorneys, and authorized personnel. The Juvenile Court does not accept personal checks.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued exclusively by the Trumbull County Probate Court. The fee is $44.00, payable in cash (exact change) or by credit card with a $3.00 processing fee. Licenses are issued by appointment only; applicants should call (330) 675-2521 to schedule. Both applicants must appear in person with birth certificates, photo identification, and — if previously married — a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. Documents must be emailed to marriage@trumbullprobate.org no later than 2:00 p.m. on the business day before the appointment. A marriage license is valid for sixty calendar days after issuance.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are vital records maintained by the Warren City Health Department and the Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. The Probate Court may have access to certain death records that intersect with estate proceedings.
Trumbull County Probate Court Records
The Trumbull County Probate Court handles a wide range of matters beyond estate administration, including guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, name changes, mental health commitments, marriage licenses, and wrongful death claims. Judge James A. Fredericka presides over this division.
Trumbull County Probate Court
Address: Trumbull County Courthouse, 161 High Street NW, Warren, OH 44481
Phone: (330) 675-2521
Fax: (330) 675-3024
Searching Probate Records
The Probate Court offers an online case search where users can look up records by case number, party name, company name, or attorney name. In-person searches can be conducted at the courthouse during regular hours. Copy fees align with the county standard of $0.05 per page.
Estate Administration
When an Ohio resident passes away, any probate assets not transferred automatically by contract or joint ownership must go through the Probate Court. The court appoints a fiduciary (executor if there is a will, administrator if there is not) and oversees the collection, maintenance, and distribution of assets. The average estate requires an initial deposit of approximately $161.00 in court costs, though the total varies with the complexity of the case.
Key stages of estate administration include:
- Filing a notice of death and application for authority (with will probate, if applicable)
- Appointment of the fiduciary
- Gathering assets and filing inventory (due within 90 days of appointment)
- Payment of creditors
- Filing and payment of applicable taxes
- Distribution of assets
- Closing the estate with a final accounting (due within six months of appointment)
Fiduciary fees are set by Ohio statute: 4% of the first $100,000 in personal property and real estate sold under the will, 3% on the next $300,000, 2% on the remainder, and 1% on unsold real estate transfers.
Release from Administration
For smaller estates, three expedited options exist at the Trumbull County Probate Court:
- Short Form Release (estates up to $20,000 for surviving spouse/minor children, or up to $10,000 for others) — Filing fee: $30.00 plus service expenses
- Summary Release (assets up to $45,000 when the surviving spouse qualifies, or up to $5,000 otherwise) — Filing fee: $60.00
- Full Release (up to $100,000 for surviving spouse, or up to $35,000 otherwise) — Filing fee varies; contact the court for details
Guardianship and Conservatorship
The Probate Court appoints guardians for incompetent adults and minors without suitable parents. Applicants must file a guardianship application, a statement of willingness to serve, a bond, and — for adult wards — a statement of mental and physical condition from a licensed physician or licensed clinical psychologist. A Webcheck criminal background check is required before the hearing. The court conducts an investigation and formal hearing before any appointment. Guardians must file annual accountings and reports, and all fees require prior court approval.
Conservatorships serve competent but physically infirm adults who voluntarily petition the court for assistance managing their affairs. The conservatee selects the conservator and determines the scope of authority granted.
Adoption Records
Adoption records are confidential under Ohio law. Finalized adoption files are sealed and not available for public inspection. Access is restricted to authorized parties and requires a court order.