Fairfield County Court Records

Per Fairfield County Common Pleas Court Rules of Court 2.9(A), a court record is a document filed with or prepared by the Clerk of Court in relation to a judicial proceeding. This includes exhibits, pleadings, indices motions, judgments, orders, and dockets. Court records are created to keep a proper account of a hearing and are filed with the Clerk of Court. The Ohio judicial system uses these court records along with other Ohio court records in general to ensure the transparency and accountability of its operations. Court records can also be used as a base point for future cases should the need arise.

The following information are typically found in Fairfield County court records

• Plaintiff and Defendant information (name, date of birth, address)
• Docket information
• Party charge information
• Service records
• Case disposition
• Events
• Fines and costs

Information found in court records may differ depending on the type of record.

Court records do not include health reports, investigation reports child custody evaluations, drug assessments, and domestic violence risk assessments.

Are Court Records Public in Fairfield County?

Yes. In line with Ohio’s Revised Code, Section 149.43, court records are a part of Fairfield County public records. Members of the public can request to inspect court records in Fairfield County without identifying themselves, declaring the intended use of the record, or having to disclose the reason for the request. However, there are certain exceptions to this. Some court records or details contained within are classified as confidential under Ohio law or by court order. This is usually done to protect the identity, privacy, and/or rights of parties involved. These details include:

• Financial account numbers
• Drivers license number
• Social security numbers (excluding the last four digits)
• The identity of a sexual offense victim
• Employer and employee identification numbers
• Juvenile records

A limited number of individuals are legally authorized to retrieve confidential court records without receiving specific approval from the court. Unauthorized persons will need to acquire permission through a court order to have access to the records.

Fairfield County Court Records Search

Individuals can access Fairfield County court records through the following means:

• The Clerk of Court in custody of the record
• Official online databases
• Online third-party resources

Fairfield County Court Records Search by Name

Court records are typically retrieved using the subject’s name on the record or the case number. Researchers can conduct a name-based search for a court record by contacting the Clerk of Court’s office where the record was filed.

The Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas allows members of the public to place a name-based request for its court records in person, over the phone, or online. In-person requests must be made during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm). To place an online request, the inquirer is required to complete the form provided on the website and contact the Clerk of Court Records Division by phone at (740) 652-7358 or via email). The court records are released in compliance with provided state laws and may undergo a legal review before being handed out. Payments can be made in person, online, by Phone: (using a credit/debit card), or by mail. Payments by mail should be made payable to the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts and forwarded to the court’s address. The requestor may choose to receive the official copy of the court record in person, by mail, or by email.

A court record search by name for records maintained by the Municipal Court, the Juvenile, or the Probate Court can be done by visiting the appropriate Clerk of Court.

A court record request costs $5 per certified copy, $6 per authenticated copy, and $0.05 per page for paper photocopies.

Individuals can also name-search for court records on the various search portals provided by Fairfield County Courts. Below is a list of available online platforms individuals can use to search for court records categorized by the custodian and the type of record.

• The Court of Common Pleas Case Inquiry Search
• The Municipal Court Civil Case Search
• The Municipal Court Criminal Case Search
• The Municipal Court Traffic Case Search
• The Probate Court Case Inquiry Search

It is necessary to note that official copies of court records cannot be obtained through these online portals. Sealed court records will also not be available on the online database. They will have to be requested directly from the respective Clerk of Court.

Fairfield County Courts

Fairfield County's judicial system comprises four courts, including the Court of Common Pleas. Municipal court, Juvenile Court, and Probate Court.

• The Common Pleas Court handles major civil matters and felony criminal cases
• The Municipal Court is responsible for small claims, misdemeanor criminal cases, and traffic charges
• The Juvenile Court hears cases relating to minors
• The Probate Court is in charge of marriage licenses, change of name, estates, guardianship, registration/correction of birth, and trusts

The following are the addresses of Fairfield County courthouses:

Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, Hall of Justice
224 East Main Street
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7421

Fairfield County Municipal Court
136 West Main Street
Post Office Box 2390
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Phone: (740) 687-6621

Fairfield County Juvenile/Probate Court, Hall of Justice
224 East Main Street, 3rd floor
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Juvenile Court Phone: (740) 652-7463
Probate Court Phone: (740) 652-7485

Fairfield County Superior Court Case Search

Fairfield County does not have a Superior Court. The Court of Common Pleas. Municipal Court, Juvenile Court, and Probate Court handle all criminal and civil cases in the county. Inquirers can contact the relevant Clerk of Court, or utilize the provided portals to obtain these records online.

Fairfield County District Court Records

In addition to not having a Superior Court, Fairfield County does not have a District Court and so does not have court records categorized as District Court records. All court records are filed with at least one of the county’s four courts. They can be requested by contacting the appropriate court where the record was filed, or conducting a search online using the necessary search tool.

Fairfield County Criminal Records

The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office is the law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining the county’s criminal records. Fairfield County arrest records and other criminal records are publicly available and can be accessed by willing parties. Interested parties can access a person’s criminal history by contacting the Civil Unit’s Record Section of the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office is located at

345 Lincoln Avenue
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Civil Unit Phone: (740) 652-7320

The Sheriff’s website also grants the public access to an online database of registered sexual offenders within Fairfield County. Users can search for an offender by name, city, internet name/email, and phone number. A person can also search for non-compliant sexual offenders and offenders around their area. Information contained in an offender’s record includes:

• The offender’s name
• Physical description (age, sex, height, weight, race, eye and hair color)
• Tier level
• Address
• Offenses

Fairfield County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Criminal cases that made it to court are filed with the Clerk of Court where the trial occurred. Both the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court handle Fairfield County criminal cases. The Court of Common Pleas hears felony-level criminal cases, while the Municipal Court hears misdemeanor cases.

Inquirers can reach out to the relevant court clerk to obtain the desired criminal court record. The inquirer will be required to provide a name or case number to enable the court clerk to search for the record. The Clerk of Court makes a copy of the court record at a fee to be paid by the requestor.

Non-confidential criminal court records are also accessible online using the Court of Common Pleas case inquiry search and the Municipal Court’s criminal case search tool.

Get Fairfield County Civil Court Records

Civil court records contain information on litigation involving civil cases. These cases are non-criminal in nature and are usually disputes between two parties. The Municipal Court handles small claims and the Court of Common Pleas hears other civil matters.

Researchers can for a fee acquire civil court records from either Clerk of Court. A civil court record request at the Court of Common Pleas can be made in person, by phone, or online.

The Municipal Court civil case search and the Court of Common Pleas case inquiry search tool can be utilized to look up civil court records remotely. Users can search for court records by name or case number and additional filters, provided to aid the user in narrowing down the search.

Fairfield County Family Court Records

Family court records are official documents pertaining to judicial proceedings in domestic matters. These cases include dissolution of marriage, legal separation, adoption, child custody, and child support. Family court records keep account of the judiciary’s stand on domestic issues. Family-related cases in Fairfield County are filed with the Domestic Relations division of the Court of Common Pleas.

Inquirers can request family court records by contacting the Clerk’s Office in person or by phone. These records are also accessible online using the Common Pleas case inquiry search tool. A party name or case number is required to conduct a search.

Family court records involving minors are confidential and can only be accessed by the minor’s parent, legal guardian, or an individual authorized by court order.

Fairfield Dissolution of Marriage Records

A dissolution of marriage refers to the legal termination of a marriage union. These cases fall under domestic-related cases and are handled by the Domestic Relations division. The Court of Common Pleas Clerk of Court is the custodian of Fairfield County dissolution of marriage records. Any person may contact the court clerk to request a dissolution of marriage record, just as they would any other family court record. Dissolution of marriage records can also be acquired using a case number or party name on the Court of Common Pleas online database.

Fairfield County Marriage and Divorce Records

Fairfield County marriage records are maintained by the Probate Court. The court issues marriage licenses and retrieves the license after the wedding ceremony for recording.

A couple can apply for a certified copy of their marriage record by forwarding their names before the marriage, wedding date, contact number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the court’s address. The marriage record costs $2 per copy. Payments can be made by cash, check, money order (payable to Fairfield County Probate Court), or credit card. Credit card payments should be made by calling (740) 652-7485.

Individuals can acquire Fairfield County divorce records by making a record request to the Court of Common Pleas clerk. It can also be accessed online via the case inquiry search tool on the court’s website.

Online access is free, but acquiring a paper copy from the clerk of court incurs the same fee as obtaining other court records.

Fairfield Birth and Death Records

The Vital Statistics Division of the Fairfield Department of Health is the custodian of the county’s birth, death, and fetal death records. A fetal death refers to the decease of a fetus in the womb at any stage of a pregnancy. Birth and death records help the county keep track of and properly document these vital events as they occur. These records constitute Fairfield County vital records.

A record can be requested from the division in person by completing the Application for Birth or Death Records at the Health Department’s office. The department is located at:

1550 Sheridan Drive, Suite 100
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

The requestor may also mail the application form to the department’s address or request the record over the phone at (740) 652-2836. Mail-in applications must include a check payable to the Fairfield County Department of Health and orders made over the phone will be paid via credit card. Each order costs a non-refundable fee of $32. Payments can be made in cash, certified or personal check, and money order.

Applicants can only receive the requested birth or death certificate in person or by mail. The division does not send its records through email.

A newborn's birth certificate may be obtained two weeks after the birth. In line with Ohio’s Revised Code, Section 3705.23, a decedent’s social security number will not be included in the death certificate for five years after the individual’s decease. It can only be requested by the following persons:

• The deceased’s spouse
• Child, grandchild, and other direct descendants of the deceased
• The deceased’s executor, attorney/legal agent, or representative of an investigating government agency/Veteran’s service officer/private investigator/accredited member of the media
• A funeral director responsible for the disposition of the body and acting on behalf of the deceased

Any person listed above requesting a social security number inclusive death certificate must provide ID and necessary documents to prove the relationship to the deceased or to validate access.

The Vital Statistics division’s record repository only contains records from 1908 till the present. Records of births and deaths before 1908 can only be obtained at the Fairfield County Probate Court.

Fairfield County Probate Court Records

A probate court record contains information pertaining to the management of a deceased person’s assets. The Fairfield County Probate Court handles probate matters in Fairfield County. Interested persons may request a probate court record in person by visiting the courthouse at:

224 E. Main Street
3rd floor
Lancaster, Ohio 43130

The Probate Court’s record search portal can be utilized to gain online access to the county’s probate court records. Conducting a record search on the portal is free and can be done using the case number or party name. The advanced search filters allow users to narrow down their search using specific criteria. Confidential probate records may not be found online. In such an instance, the researcher will have to contact the courthouse in person for the record.

Fairfield County Property Records

Fairfield County property records encompass information about real estate in the county. These records are primarily in the custody of the County Auditor. Members of the public can get property information in person during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm) from the auditor’s office located at:

210 East Main Street
Suite 206
Lancaster, Ohio 43130

Alternatively, inquirers may access the auditor’s Real Estate Search portal to get property information online. The portal affords users several options to search for a property. These include the owner’s name, location address, parcel number, legal description, and intersection. The following information can typically be found in a property record:

• Property Summary
• Owner Information
• Property valuation and valuation history
• Land Description
• Sales history and recent sales in the area
• Tax History
• Property card (which includes a photo of the property)

The Recorder’s Office also has an online database of deeds accessible to the general public ranging from August 1996 to the present. A search can be conducted using a last name/business name, first name, date range, document number, document types, book, page, and subdivision. Once completed the search reveals a list of deeds matching the inputted criteria.

Researchers may visit the recorder’s office to search for old deeds (1800 to July 1996) using the index user guide to conduct a search.

The Recorder’s Office address is:

210 East Main Street
Suite 205
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
Phone: (740) 652-7100
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Fairfield County Court Records Online

Individuals who may not want to go through the hassle of visiting a courthouse or utilizing a government-owned court record database can opt for third-party online resources like Ohiocourtrecords.us. These websites generally make accessing court records more convenient for a fee. The fee differs per website and typically depends on the range of services offered.

However, it is necessary to note that records obtained from third-party websites may not be 100% error-free or complete. An inquirer should not consider any record obtained to be equivalent to an official copy. Confidential records may also not be accessible through third-party resources. In such cases, the researcher will need to contact the courthouse in custody of the record.