Defiance County Court Records

According to Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio Rule 44, Defiance County court records are case and administrative documents in the custody of the Defiance County Clerk of Courts. These records pertain to judicial cases heard within county limits. They are released to the public according to the Local Court Rules, and they contain the following information:

• Case information (case number and status, file date, action, case judge's name, and subsequent event)
• Party information (plaintiff and defendant's names and addresses, alias, the party attorney's name, bar code, address, and phone number, disposition, and disposition date)
• Docket information (date and docket text)
• Party charge information (charges and charge number)

Are Court Records Public in Defiance County?

Yes. The Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio, Rule 45, presumes court records are open to the public. Consequently, the Defiance County Clerk of Courts provides direct and remote access to court records. The Clerk will deny access to court records or information exempt from public disclosure. The Ohio Public Records Act highlights some of these confidential records. Some examples include:

• Juvenile records
• Trial preparation records
• Driver's license numbers
• Employer and employee identification numbers
• Social security numbers, excluding the last four digits
• Financial account numbers such as bank account and credit and debit card numbers
• A criminal offense victim's name when redaction has been requested by or on behalf of the victim in court.
• Adoption proceeding records, including adoption file contents maintained by the Department of Health.
• A sexual offense victim's name, excluding the victim's initials or a generic term or abbreviation like "Victim 1" or "V1"

Defiance County Court Records Search

Persons seeking to conduct a Defiance County records search can access them online or in person at the Defiance County Clerk of Courts. Those who access the records online can use the CourtView tool to search by name, case number, advanced case number, or case type. In-person requests should be made at the courthouse during business hours.

Defiance County Courts

The Defiance County judicial system comprises a court of Common Pleas as well as Probate, Juvenile, and Municipal Courts. These courts are located at the following addresses:

Defiance County Common Pleas, Probate, and Juvenile Courts
221 Clinton Street
Defiance, OH 43512

Defiance Municipal Court
665 Perry Street
Defiance, OH 43512

Defiance County Criminal and Civil Records

The Defiance County Common Pleas Court's General Division has original jurisdiction over criminal felony cases and civil cases where the amount of controversy exceeds $500. The Division also has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases where the amount in controversy is greater than $15,000.

The Defiance County Clerk of Courts is the custodian of all criminal and civil court records. Record seekers can access them at the office from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for a fee. The Clerk also has a CourtView tool where individuals can find criminal and civil records for free. Searches can be conducted by name, case number, advanced case number, or case type.

Defiance County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Defiance County Probate Court issues certified copies of marriage certificates to interested and eligible members of the public. To obtain these records, inquirers may send a written request to the court clerk containing details of the record being sought. Requests will be charged $3 for each Defiance County marriage certificate requested. Individuals who cannot afford this fee can view marriage information online via the Record Search portal at no cost. Users may enter a name, case number, or file date to initiate the search. To narrow-down search results, click on "Marriage" under the case type area to view only Defiance County marriage records.

The Defiance County Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Division provides divorce records online and in person to members of the public. The CourtView tool can be used to process an online search. The search criteria to be used include the name, case number, advanced case number, or case type of the record of interest. Copies of divorce records can be obtained in person at the office during business hours. The record staff typically charge a small fee for searching and copying the record.

Defiance County Birth and Death Records

Defiance County public records comprise birth and death certificates. Therefore, anyone can request copies of these certificates online, by mail, or in person at the Defiance County Health Department (DCHD). Applicants can obtain birth and death records from 1908 with a valid ID. The Department redacts the social security numbers on a death certificate from the public for the first 5 years after the death of the subject of the record. Certified copies of Defiance County vital records (birth and death) cost $25 per copy, payable by cash, money order, checks, and credit/debit cards. Card transactions attract a $2 additional fee.

The DCHD partners with a third-party vendor to issue birth and death certificates online. To enjoy same-day services, customers should place their orders by 3:00 p.m. Individuals who want to submit a request by mail should complete the Birth or Death Certificate Request Form and send it to the DCHD with a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope and the necessary fee. Record seekers can also visit the Department during business hours to complete an application form. The office is located at:

Defiance County Health Department
1300 East Second Street, Suite 100
Defiance, OH 43512
Phone: (419) 784-3818

Defiance County Property Records

Individuals seeking property records can visit the Defiance County Auditor, Treasurer, or Recorder during business hours. The custodians may permit customers to view records at the office for free, but copies of records cost a small fee. This fee may vary by custodian, but the Recorder changes $0.25 per copy for copies of property records made by the public and $2 for copies made by staff (ORC 317.32(I)). Property record custodians also have online portals where individuals find property information for free. For example:

• The Auditor's Real Estate Search: Users can access property information by using the search bar or SEARCH link on the upper right of the website. Conduct a search by name, parcel number, or address.
• The Recorder makes property records available online to the public through the Plat Books and Document Index Search tool. The search parameters are name, date range, document number, document types, book, page, address, subdivision, parcel, or tract.

Defiance County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like ohiocourtrecords.us provide access to court records from multiple jurisdictions. The search criteria required to use these databases include the parties' names, case numbers, or case types. These portals typically yield results instantly or within minutes. Although third-party platforms offer broader search options than official court databases, they may not always have the most up-to-date or comprehensive data.