Clark County Court Records

The Ohio Rules of Superintendence for the Courts defines Ohio court records as both case and administrative documents, regardless of their physical form. A case document is an information or paper such as exhibits, pleadings, dockets, orders, journals, motions, indices, and judgments filed with a court clerk in a judicial proceeding. An Administrative document is any information or document created, received, or maintained by a court that records the court's activities. The Court of Common Pleas Clerk of Courts and the Municipal Clerk of Courts are the custodians of court records in Clark County. They allow the public access to the following court records information online and in person:

• Case information (case status and number, file date, action, case judge’s name, next event)
• Party information (plaintiff, defendant, and attorney’s names and addresses, party type, and date of birth)
• Docket information (date and docket text)
• Events (date, type event judge, and result)
• Party charge information (charge number, count, and charge)
• Hearing (date, time, type, and presiding judge)
• Fines and costs (amount owed, paid to date, and balance due)

Are Court Records Public in Clark County?

Yes. The Ohio Public Records Act and State Rules of Superintendence for the Courts Rule 45 presume court records to be open to public access. This permits a Clark County court or clerk of court to make a court record available for inspection and copying upon receiving a request. In Clark County, some court records are not available for public perusal. Examples of such records are:

• Juvenile records
• Guardian ad litem reports
• Home investigation reports
• Asset appraisals and evaluations
• Ohio Courts Network information
• Domestic violence risk assessments
• Child custody evaluations and reports
• Supervised parenting time, companionship, or visitation records and reports
• Financial disclosure statements of property, debt, taxes, income, and expenses
• Judicial officers and court staff’s drafts, recommendations, notes, advice, and research
• Software owned or entrusted to a court, such as computer programs, codes, and filing systems
• Assessments for drug and alcohol use and reports from pre-disposition treatment facilities
• An administrative or technical document for security record-keeping or information management
• Health care documents such as physical, psychological, psychiatric and mental health, and counseling documents
• A document or information in a document describing the type or level of a court facility’s security, including a court security plan and a court security review.
• Scoring keys, test questions, and certification, licensing, or court employment examination documents before administering or readministering the examination.
• Personal identifiers such as employer and employee identification numbers, social security numbers (excluding the last four digits), financial account numbers (debit charge and credit card numbers), and a juvenile’s name in an abuse, neglect, or dependency case.

Clark County Court Records Search

Most court records are available for public perusal when a search is conducted via these methods:

• Online through third-party websites
• Online through the court’s database
• In-person at the court where the case was heard

Clark County Court Records Search by Name

Clark County Courts have various online portals where individuals can conduct court record searches by name. For example, the Municipal Court’s Case Search and Inquiry tool permits searches by a person’s last or first name or business name. The Court of Common Pleas’ CourtView Search portal makes a last name search mandatory, but first and middle names are optional. The Probate Court’s Case Search tool provides access to court records when a last name with space and a first or middle name is entered into the search box.

Individuals can also conduct a court record search by name in person at any court in Clark County. The record staff will show the requester a list of names bearing the search name available on the computer. The requester can then use other criteria to locate the desired record. Copies of court records attract a search fee.

Clark County Courts

The Clark County court system comprises a Court of Common Pleas with various divisions and a Municipal Court. Below are the addresses of all courts in Clark County:

Clark County Court of Common Pleas
14 East Main Street, Third Floor
Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-1680

Clark County Probate Court
50 E. Columbia St.
5th Floor
Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-1845
Fax: (937) 328-2589
Email: probate@clarkcountyohio.gov

Second District Court of Appeals of Ohio
41 N. Perry Street, Fifth Floor
Dayton, OH 45422
Phone: (937) 225-4464, (800) 608-4652
Fax: (937) 496-7724
Email: OhioSecondDistrict@mcohio.org

Clark County Superior Court Case Search

Clark County does not have a Superior Court. It is part of the Second District Court of Appeals and has a Court of Common Pleas and a Municipal Court. The Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court Clerks maintain and disseminate all court records.

Clark County District Court Records

Clark County is part of the Second District Court of Appeals of Ohio. Record seekers can find District Court records online via the Clark County Court of Appeals portal. Enter a party's name or case year, type (CA), and number to find appropriate records. Copies of District Court records can be obtained in person at the courthouse. This service is provided during regular business hours from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court closes from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. daily. Copies of records attract a small fee.

Clark County Criminal Records

The Clark County Sheriff's Office has a WebCheck program through which individuals can conduct civilian background checks (criminal records checks). The processing time takes three (3) days. Requesters must visit the east district office located at 3130 East Main Street to enjoy this service. The staff will want to see the record seeker’s photo ID, the business name and address of the agency that is sending the requester, and the contact person who will receive the report. The service costs $35, payable by money order, bank check, or certified check. The report will state if a person has a criminal history but does not provide a detail of it.

Record seekers can also check a person’s Clark County arrest records to determine their criminal record. The Sheriff’s Office has a Who is in Custody portal where arrest information of incarcerated individuals can be found. Alternatively, individuals can visit the office in person from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to request arrest records. The office is located at:

Clark County Sheriff's Office
120 N. Fountain Ave.
Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-2050
Fax: (937) 328-2515

Clark County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Municipal Court’s criminal/traffic division handles all misdemeanor and traffic cases and preliminary hearings on felony cases in Clark County. The Clark County Clerk of Courts Criminal Department has jurisdiction over all felony cases. Both courts welcome criminal court case requests in person during office hours. They charge fees for copies of records.

The Municipal Court disseminates criminal court records to the public online via the Case Search and Inquiry tool. Select the Traffic or Criminal box to conduct a search. The search parameters are name, year/case/count number, social security number, citation number, driver's license number, or license plate number. Individuals can also use the CourtView Search portal on the Clerk of Courts’ website to find criminal court records. The search parameters are by name, case number, or case type.

Get Clark County Civil Court Records

The Clerk of Courts Civil Department handles all civil cases in Clark County. The Clark County Municipal Court civil division hears civil cases such as small claims not exceeding $6,000, eviction, contract or personal injury for claims not exceeding $15,000, landlord/tenant, and appeals of state license suspension cases.

Civil court records can be viewed online through the Municipal Court’s Case Search and Inquiry tool. Select the civil box and conduct a search by name, year/case/count number, or social security number. The Clerk of Courts provides civil court records online via the CourtView Search portal. A search can be conducted by name, case number, or case type.

Alternatively, requesters can visit the court where the case was heard to request copies of civil court records. The record staff will require a name or case number to begin the search. The desired record will only be released when appropriate fees are paid. Certified copies of civil court records cost $1 per copy. Contact the Clerk of Courts Civil Division by phone at (937) 521-1697 to inquire about other methods of obtaining civil court records.

Clark County Family Court Records

The Clark County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Department handles all family cases relating to annulment, divorce or dissolution of marriage, spousal support, legal separation, and allocation of parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children. Residents can view some family court records for free online using the Case Search and Inquiry tool or CourtView Search portal. When using the Case Search and Inquiry tool, select the civil box and enter a name, year/case/count number, or social security number in the appropriate search field. The search criteria for accessing family court records on the CourtView Search portal are name, case number, or case type.

Individuals can also visit the Municipal Court or Clerk of Courts office during business hours to find family court records. Basic information about the record will be required to process the requests. Copies of family court records cost $1 per copy.

Clark Dissolution of Marriage Records

The Clark County Court of Common Pleas provides dissolution of marriage records online and in person at the courthouse. Online requests can be made using the CourtView Search portal. The search criteria are by name, case number, or case type. Users searching for records by name or case type can select “Dissolution” from the case type dropdown to narrow their search. Alternatively, inquirers can visit the courthouse from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to obtain copies of dissolution of marriage records.

Clark County Marriage and Divorce Records

Clark County public records include marriage and divorce records. The Probate Court makes marriage records available to members of the public online and in person. The Case Search tool is a free portal that provides marriage records for free. The search criteria are by name or case number. Users can streamline the search by checking the “Marriage” box in the case type section. In-person requests can be made from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the courthouse. Individuals seeking Clark County marriage records must provide the record staff with the couple’s name or marriage date. The staff will charge fees for copies of such records. Certified copies of Clark County marriage certificates from before 1991 cost $5 for the first copy and $2 for additional copies. Certified copies for records after 1991 cost $2.

Divorce records can be found online using the Case Search and Inquiry tool and CourtView Search portal. Users must enter the appropriate search criteria to view the desired records. The CourtView Search portal allows individuals to select “Divorce” from the case type dropdown to streamline the search. This is only possible when the user is conducting a search by name or case number. Copies of divorce records can be obtained in person at the Clark County Court of Common Pleas. The record staff will need a name or divorce date to locate the record. Copies of divorce records cost a small fee.

Clark Birth and Death Records

Clark County vital records of birth and death are freely available online through the Probate Court database. Requesters can use the Birth Record Search portal to find Clark County birth records. The search criteria are by name. Users can streamline the search by providing other search criteria like birth date, birth year, mother’s maiden name, or father’s last name. The Death Record Search portal also permits name searches. Users can narrow their requests by providing a death date and death year.

The Clark County Probate Court also issues birth and death records from 1867 to 1908 in person. Copies will contain information like name, birth/death date, birth/death place, parent's names and residence, age, who reported birth/death, marital status, occupation, color, cause of death, and place of residence. The court charges $6 for a copy of a birth or death record.

Clark County Combined Health (CCCHD) has certified copies of birth and death records from 1908 to the present. These records cost $24 each. The CCCHD partners with a third-party vendor to issue customers online records. This service attracts extra shipping and processing fees from credit and debit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa). Requesters can also mail in a completed Birth or Death Certificate Request Form and a cashier’s check or money order to the office. Once the request is received, the desired record will be delivered by mail the next business day. Walk-in requests are also acceptable at the office. Customers must visit during office hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The office is located at:

Clark County Combined Health District
529 E Home Road
Springfield, OH 45503
Phone: (937) 390-5600
Fax: (937) 342-5503
E-Mail: vitalstatistics@ccchd.com

Clark County Probate Court Records

The Clark County Probate Court has jurisdiction over probate cases, including wills, estates, guardianships, and trusts. All probate court records comply with the Court of Common Pleas Probate Division Rules. Individuals can find probate court records online via the Case Search tool. Enter a name or case number in the appropriate search box. Users can streamline the search by checking the appropriate case type box and providing a file date. Alternatively, record seekers can visit the court during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to obtain copies of probate court records. Copies of these records are $0.25 per page with an additional $3 fee for closed files. Original copies of old probate court records from 1818 to 1985 are available at the Clark County Historical Society.

Clark County Property Records

Clark County has several custodians that maintain property records. Residents interested in viewing or obtaining copies of property documents can do so at the following offices:

• Clark County Auditor’s Office: Property records can be viewed for free through the website's Search tool or map. Users can find property information by entering a parcel ID, address, or name in the search box. The Auditor’s office also attends to property records requests in person from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Customers must provide criteria to conduct the search. Records may be viewed for free from the office’s computer, but copies of records attract a free. The office is located at:

Clark County Auditor’s Office
31 N Limestone St
Springfield, OH 45502
Phone: (937) 521-1860
Email: auditor@clarkcountyohio.gov

• The Clark County Treasurer: Property tax information can be retrieved in person at the office. Requests should be made during business hours. For more information about property tax requests, contact the office by phone at (937) 521-1832, fax at (937) 328-2661, or email at treasurer@clarkcountyohio.gov.
• Clark County Recorder: It has an Online Portal where users can find property information. The search criteria are grantor/grantee name, subdivision, document type, or document number. Click the Advanced Search link to search by more criteria, like recorded date range and book/page.

Clark County Court Records Online

Many third-party websites, such as ohiocourtrecords.us, offer access to Clark County court records. These platforms typically allow searches by name or case number, with name searches enabling users to locate court records across various jurisdictions. Users can find court information for free at the basic level, but full court reports attract a small fee. All court information retrieved from third-party sites should be verified at the Clark County Court, where the case was handled during business hours.