Cuyahoga County Court Records

Cuyahoga County court records provide a detailed account of judicial proceedings, including both civil and criminal cases, conducted within the county. These records serve as a repository of essential information pertaining to legal actions, serving various stakeholders, including attorneys, litigants, researchers, and the general public.

Ohio court records contain a wide range of information, including, but not limited to, case details, pleadings and motions, court orders and judgments, hearing schedules, transcripts, exhibits, and dockets. Access to Cuyahoga court records may vary depending on the type of case and the court’s policies. Generally, court records are part of Cuyahoga public records, unless exempted by law.

Are Court Records Public in Cuyahoga County?

Under the Ohio Public Records Act, most of the court records created in Cuyahoga County are considered public, and therefore accessible to members of the public. Cuyahoga court records are generally presumed to be open to the public unless specifically exempted by statute or court rule. This means that individuals can typically access a wide range of court records. However, there are certain restrictions or limitations on accessing certain types of court records in Cuyahoga County and throughout Ohio, including confidential, sealed, and expunged records.

Cuyahoga County Court Records Search

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts maintains the records of the county’s Court of Common Pleas and makes public court records available online through the Case Docket webpage. This portal can be used to search for civil, criminal, and domestic case documents.

To request copies of Cuyahoga County court records from the Clerk of Court’s Office, record seekers may need to visit the office at 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113. The office opens to the public between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. You can also call the docket information line at (216) 443-7950 to obtain case information.

Cuyahoga County Court Records Search by Name

Interested persons can perform a name-based search for Cuyahoga County court records at the Clerk of Court’s Office or through the Case Docket webpage. The clerk maintains the court docket, which contains a list of cases handled by the court in alphabetical order. The address of the clerk’s office is at:

1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113.

The office opens to the public between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Cuyahoga County Courts

Cuyahoga County has a Court of Common Pleas (with four divisions), 13 Municipal Courts, and 30 Mayor’s Courts.

• The Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas: This is a court of general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. It handles cases that are not within the jurisdiction of the other lower courts in the county. The court is divided into four divisions - General, Juvenile, Domestic Relations, and Probate Divisions.
• Municipal Courts: They have limited jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases. They hear civil matters where the disputed claim is between $500 and $15,000 and criminal misdemeanors, felony preliminary hearings, violations of township resolutions, and certain parking violations.
• Courts of Claim: They have original jurisdiction over civil cases filed against the state or its agencies, including contract disputes, property damage, personal injury, work discrimination, and wrongful imprisonment.
• Mayor’s Courts: They hear certain types of criminal and quasi-criminal cases in territory that is not within the jurisdiction of a Municipal Court. This includes violations of municipal ordinances, some criminal traffic cases including operating while under the influence, and some parking violations.

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Records

The Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas is a court of general jurisdiction with four divisions, namely General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate.

The General Division hears criminal felony cases and civil lawsuits that involve more than $15,000. The Domestic Relations Division handles cases regarding dissolution of marriage (divorce), annulment, legal separation, child and spousal support, and allocating parental responsibilities and rights.

In comparison, the Juvenile Division handles cases involving individuals under 18 charged with crimes and cases dealing with unruly and neglected children. The division also hears cases about child abuse, paternity, failure to send children to school, and nonsupport. The Probate Division has jurisdiction over estates and wills, supervises various guardianship, handles adoptions, determines sanity and competency, and issues marriage licenses.

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts is the primary custodian of Court of Common Pleas Records and makes these public records available to interested persons. To obtain a copy of a court record, visit the clerk’s office or send a mail or email request to:

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Court
Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street, 1st Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us

The office opens between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. You can also call the docket information line at (216) 443-7950 to obtain case information. Alternatively, you can carry out an online search using the Case Docket webpage. This portal contains case information for civil, criminal, and domestic cases.

Cuyahoga County Criminal Records

Cuyahoga County criminal records contain information about the criminal activities and convictions of persons within the county. It includes Cuyahoga County arrest records, charges, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) is the central repository for criminal records information in Ohio.

Residents of Cuyahoga County can obtain their own criminal history record checks online, through livescan, or card scan. The Computerized Criminal History Records provides this service and requires the following information:

• Name of the record owner
• Current address
• Other identifying or personal characteristics of the record owner

The record owner’s complete set of fingerprints and signed consent are required. Requesters must also provide a valid photo ID and pay the $22 cost with credit/debit cards, checks, or money order to the “Treasurer of the State of Ohio”. The request may be submitted to any of the BCI offices:

BCI London
1560 State Route 56 SW
London, OH 43140

BCI Richfield Office
4055 Highlander Parkway
Richfield, OH 44286

BCI Bowling Green Office
750 North College Drive
Bowling Green, OH 43402

BCI Youngstown Office
20 West Federal Street
Youngstown, OH 44503

Alternatively, Cuyahoga County criminal records can be obtained by making walk-in requests at the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office to carry out fingerprint scans. The Sheriff’s Office will transfer the request for Cuyahoga criminal records to any of the BCI offices.

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office maintains records like incident reports and criminal background checks and provides them to the public. These records may be requested in person and by mail. For in-person requests, visit the Records Division of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office located at 1215 West 3rd Street, Cleveland, OH and make an in-person inquiry during office hours (8:30 am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Friday).

Mail requests can be sent with a self-addressed, stamped envelope and payment ($10 per record) to:

Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Records Division
1215 West 3rd Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Cuyahoga County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts maintains the Cuyahoga criminal case records and they can be obtained through in-person, mail, email, telephone, or online search. In-person, mail, and email requests can be made to:

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Court
Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street, 1st Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us

The Case Docket web page allows interested persons to carry out online criminal case searches. Alternatively, a call can be placed to the docket information line at (216) 443-7950 to obtain case information.

Get Cuyahoga County Civil Court Records

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts is the custodian of civil court records in Cuyahoga County. Persons interested in obtaining civil court records may make in-person inquiries or submit a mail or email request to:

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Court
Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street, 1st Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us

An online search can be conducted for free using Case Docket webpage or make a telephone request by calling (216) 443-7950.

Cuyahoga County Family Court Records

The Domestic Relations Division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas oversees matters related to family law, such as divorce, dissolution, child custody, support, and cases involving parental rights and child abuse. However, certain records and information within the Family Court are exempt from public access. They include details of abuse victims and minors, financial account numbers, state identification numbers, and social security numbers of involved parties, child services records, and medical records.

To obtain Cuyahoga County Family Court records, individuals can either visit the Clerk of Courts office in person or submit a request via mail or email. Below is the contact information for the Clerk of Courts:

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Court
Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street, 1st Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 443-7977
coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us

Cuyahoga Dissolution of Marriage Records

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts provides all records of divorces within the county. To request a divorce record, prepare a written request with information to get divorce records such as:

• The names of estranged persons
• The date of divorce
• The relationship between the requester and the record owners
• The purpose of requesting the record

Submit the written request to the office of the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts at:

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Court
Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street, 1st Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 443-7977
coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us

Cuyahoga County Marriage and Divorce Records

Cuyahoga County marriage records and divorce records are maintained by the Probate Division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas and the Clerk of Courts, respectively.

The Probate Division processes applications for copies of Cuyahoga County marriage certificates. A requester should provide the following information:

• The full names of the couple
• The date of marriage
• The relationship of the requester to the record owners

And submit the request by mail or in person to:

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas - Probate Division
Cuyahoga County Courthouse
1 West Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 443-8764
(216) 443-8785

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts provides all Cuyahoga County divorce records. To request a divorce record, prepare a written request with the following information:

• The names of divorced persons
• The date of divorce
• The relationship between the requester and the record owners
• The purpose of requesting the record

Submit the written request to in person or by mail or email to:

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Court
Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street, 1st Floor
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 443-7977
coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us

Cuyahoga Birth and Death Records

The Cleveland Department of Public Health maintains Cuyahoga County vital records, including birth and death records. Vital records are part of Cuyahoga public records and anyone requests them by providing sufficient information about the record.

Cuyahoga County birth certificates and death records are available to interested individuals by mail, internet, telephone, and in-person requests. To submit a mail request, complete the applicable Application for a Certified Copy of Birth Record or Certified Copy of Death Certificate, including payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail the application to:

Office of Vital Records
601 Lakeside Ave. Room 122
Cleveland, OH 44114

The completed forms can also be submitted in person to the address below:

601 Lakeside Ave.
Cleveland City Hall

The office is open from Monday to Friday at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Internet requests can be made using the Request for Vital Records portal, while telephone requests can be made by calling (866) 691-1914.

The Office of Vital Records charges $25 for each certified copy of a birth or death record.

Cuyahoga County Probate Court Records

The Probate Division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas processes applications for copies of probate court records. Persons interested in obtaining such records may submit a mail or in person request to:

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas - Probate Division
Cuyahoga County Courthouse
1 West Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 443-8764
(216) 443-8785

Cuyahoga County Property Records

The Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer maintains a central database for land and property records. It provides online access to property records from 1810 until the present day. Interested individuals can find records for general deeds, as well as deeds for specific parcels of property. Interested parties may search for property records for free using the official records search portal using AFN number, book number, the individual or company’s name, parcel number or specific document type. Requesters may contact the Cuyahoga County Recorded Documents Office for copies of property records. Copies cost $2 per page and certification costs $1.

Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters
2079 East Ninth Street
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 443-7010

Cuyahoga County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources like courtrecords.us provide convenient access to Cuyahoga County court records, offering advantages such as easy accessibility from anywhere with an internet connection, saving time and effort for individuals who cannot visit the courthouse in person. These platforms often provide user-friendly interfaces, allowing users to search for specific cases or individuals quickly.

However, there are limitations to consider. Third-party online resources may not always provide comprehensive or up-to-date information, as they rely on data obtained from public records. Additionally, some platforms may require payment or subscription fees for access to certain records or advanced search features. Users should also be cautious of inaccuracies or outdated information that could affect the reliability of the records obtained through these platforms.

Below are addresses and contact information of the courts of Cuyahoga County, Ohio:

Cuyahoga County Courts of Common Pleas

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Relations Division
Cuyahoga County Courthouse
1 W Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 443-8800

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas - General Division
Cuyahoga County Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 443-7951 (Civil)
Phone: (216) 443-7999 (Criminal)

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas - Juvenile Division
Juvenile Justice Center
9300 Quincy Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: (216) 443-8400

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas - Probate Division
Cuyahoga County Courthouse
1 West Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 443-8785

Cuyahoga County Municipal Courts

Bedford Municipal Court
165 Center Road
Bedford, OH 44146
Phone: (440) 232-3420
Fax: (440) 232-2510

Berea Municipal Court
11 Berea Commons
Berea, OH 44017
Phone: (440) 826-5860

Cleveland Heights Municipal Court
40 Severance Circle
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Phone: (216) 291-4901
Fax: (216) 291-2459

Cleveland Municipal Court
Cleveland Justice Center
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: (216) 664-4870

East Cleveland Municipal Court
14340 Euclid Avenue
East Cleveland, OH 44112
Phone: (216) 451-5900
Fax: (216) 681-2829

Euclid Municipal Court
555 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123
Phone: (216) 289-2888
Fax: (216) 289-8254

Garfield Heights Municipal Court
5555 Turney Road
Garfield Heights, OH 44125
Phone: (216) 475-1900
Fax: (216) 475-3087

Lakewood Municipal Court
Lakewood City Hall
12650 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
Phone: (216) 529-6700
Fax: (216) 529-7687

Lyndhurst Municipal Court
5301 Mayfield Road
Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Phone: (440) 461-6500

Parma Municipal Court
Parma Justice Center
5555 Powers Boulevard
Parma, OH 44129
Phone: (440) 887-7400
Fax: (440) 887-7481

Rocky River Municipal Court
21012 Hilliard Boulevard
Rocky River, OH 44116
Phone: (440) 333-0066
Fax: (440) 356-5613

Shaker Heights Municipal Court
3355 Lee Road
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
Phone: (216) 491-1300
Fax: (216) 491-1314

South Euclid Municipal Court
1349 South Green Road
South Euclid, OH 44121
Phone: (216) 381-2880
Fax: (216) 381-1195

Cuyahoga County Mayor’s Courts

Beachwood Mayor’s Court
2700 Richmond Road
Beachwood, OH 44122
Phone: (216) 464-2343

Bratenahl Mayor’s Court
411 Bratenahl Road
Bratenahl, OH 44108
Phone: (216) 681-3086
Fax: (216) 681-3078

Brecksville Mayor’s Court
9069 Brecksville Road
Brecksville, OH 44141
Phone: (440) 526-2620

Broadview Heights Mayor’s Court
9543 Broadview Road
Broadview Heights, OH 44147
Phone: (440) 526-4895, extension 4
Fax: (440) 717-4002

Brook Park Mayor’s Court
6161 Engle Road
Brook Park, OH 44142
Phone: (216) 433-7061
Fax: (216) 433-4183

Brooklyn Heights Mayor’s Court
345 Tuxedo Avenue
Brooklyn Heights, OH 44131
Phone: (216) 749-4300
Fax: (216) 741-3753

Brooklyn Mayor’s Court
7619 Memphis Avenue
Brooklyn, OH 44144
Phone: (216) 635-4255
Fax: (216) 635-4287

Chagrin Falls Mayor’s Court
21 West Washington Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: (440) 247-7321
Fax: (440) 247-1037

Cuyahoga Heights Mayor’s Court
4863 East 71st Street
Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44125
Phone: (216) 641-7020
Fax: (216) 641-6744

Glenwillow Mayor’s Court
29555 Pettibone Road
Glenwillow, OH 44139
Phone: (440) 232-8788
Fax: (440) 735-9298

Highland Hills Mayor’s Court
3700 Northfield Road
Highland Hills, OH 44122
Phone: (216) 283-3000, extension 233
Fax: (216) 283-3005

Independence Mayor’s Court
6800 Brecksville Road
Independence, OH 44131
Phone: (216) 524-7719
Fax: (216) 524-3878

Maple Heights Mayor’s Court
5353 Lee Road
Maple Heights, OH 44137
Phone: (216) 587-9006
Fax: (216) 587-9047

Middleburg Heights Mayor’s Court
Middleburg Heights City Hall
15700 East Bagley Road
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
Phone: (440) 234-6907
Fax: (440) 234-7095

Newburgh Heights Mayor’s Court
4000 Washington Park Boulevard
Newburgh Heights, OH 44105
Phone: (216) 641-4650
Fax: (216) 641-2712

North Olmsted Mayor’s Court
5200 Dover Center Road
North Olmsted, OH 44070
Phone: (440) 716-4156
Fax: (440) 777-8007

North Randall Mayor’s Court
North Randall Village Hall
21937 Miles Rd
North Randall, OH 44128
Phone: (215) 518-3130
Fax: (216) 662-8749

North Royalton Mayor’s Court
14000 Bennett Road
North Royalton, OH 44133
Phone: (440) 582-6224
Fax: (440) 582-1914

Oakwood Mayor’s Court
24800 Broadway Avenue
Oakwood Village, OH 44146
Phone: (440) 232-4151
Fax: (440) 232-6728

Olmstead Falls Mayor’s Court
26100 Bagley Road
Olmsted Falls, OH 44138
Phone: (440) 235-5552
Fax: (440) 235-8900

Orange Mayor’s Court
4600 Lander Road
Orange, OH 44022
Phone: (440) 498-4401
Fax: (440) 498-4412

Parma Heights Mayor’s Court
6281 Pearl Road
Parma Heights, OH 44130
Phone: (440) 884-9603

Seven Hills Mayor’s Court
7325 Summitview Drive
Seven Hills, OH 44131
Phone: (216) 524-4421
Fax: (216) 524-0523

Strongsville Mayor’s Court
18688 Royalton Road
Strongsville, OH 44136
Phone: (440) 580-3155
Fax: (440) 238-8458

Valley View Mayor’s Court
6899 Hathaway Road
Valley View, OH 44125
Phone: (216) 524-9687

Walton Hills Mayor’s Court
7595 Walton Road
Walton Hills, OH 44146
Phone: (440) 786-2963

Woodmere Mayor’s Court
27899 Chagrin Boulevard
Woodmere, OH 44122
Phone: (216) 831-3432
Fax: (216) 292-4109