Where To Find Family Court Records In Ohio?

Cases concerning the family in Ohio are generally handled by the Court of Common Pleas in a county. Specifically, family law cases are held by the Domestic Relations Division, also called Family Court Division, in counties like Marion County. The Domestic Relations Courts have jurisdiction over most cases concerning family disputes, parental rights, child custody, child support, divorce, and other related cases. However, other cases concerning the family law can also be tried at the Juvenile Division or Probate Division of the Court of Common Pleas.

The Juvenile Courts have jurisdiction over cases involving minors like paternity and certain custody cases while the Probate Courts have jurisdiction over marriages, adoption, wills, estate allocation, and paternity.

Family court records in Ohio can be found or obtained from the clerk’s office at the Court of Common Pleas. However, requests must be addressed to the particular court division in the county where the case was tried.

The records contained in documents related to family court include both marriage and divorce records. Both types of records contain information that is considered very personal to the parties involved, and it is recommended that those parties maintain these records with care in order to make changes in the future. The personal nature of these records results in both being considerably more difficult to find and obtain when compared to other types of public records. In many cases, these records are not available through either government sources or third party public record websites.

What Is Family Law In Ohio?

Under the Ohio Revised Code, laws concerning family relations are referred to as Domestic Relations Laws and are contained in chapters 3101 to 3127 of the state codes. However, there are other provisions under different sections of the Code that are related to the Ohio Family Law, such as specific sections under Chapter 2151 of the Code. The domestic relations law covers areas of family relations, including:

• Marriage: Chapter 3101 of the Ohio Code focuses on the procedure for obtaining consent and application for a marriage license.
• Husband and wife: Chapter 3013 of the state code prescribes standards for marital duties in terms of mutual obligations, parental support, contracts, and property.
• Divorce, alimony, annulment, dissolution of marriage: Chapter 3105 of the Ohio Code states grounds and procedures of obtaining legal separation or termination of marital duties. It also includes provisions concerning divorce agreements and spousal supports.
• Adoption: Chapter 3107 of the state code states the conditions and procedures of arranging adoptions.
• Children: Chapter 3109 of Ohio revised code sets the standards for child custody, child support, shared parenting, and visitation. It also set terms for parental liability for certain juvenile offenses, prevention of child abuse and neglect, and other related issues.
• Parentage: Chapter 3111 defines parent and child relationships and provides the procedure for determining the paternity of a child.
• Neglect, abandonment, or domestic violence: Chapter 3113 covers violations that can be termed as neglect, abandonment, or domestic violence. It also covers the provision of shelter for victims.
• Uniform Interstate Family Support Act of 2008: Chapter 3115 sets duties for support enforcement agencies and lays down rules for application and punishment for noncompliance. It also gives the Juvenile Court jurisdiction over cases and sets acceptable procedures.
• Conciliation of Marital controversies: Chapter 3117 of the Code focuses on the settlement of family disputes in a friendly manner.
• Calculation of child support obligation—health insurance coverage: Chapter 3119 of the state code provides guidelines for calculating child support and health care coverage. It also covers procedures for filing for or setting child support schedules or worksheets.
• Collection and disbursement of child support: Chapter 3121 of the state code deals with the enforcement, penalties, and procedures for the collection of child support.
• Defaults under child support orders: Chapter 3123 focuses on the application and enforcement of child support orders after an obligor fails to pay support.
• Child support cases: Chapter 3125 covers the administrative duties of child support enforcement and access to services.
• Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act: Chapter 3127 deals with the determination of the courts where certain child custody cases will be held within and outside Ohio.

Note, violations of domestic relation laws are mainly civil cases but can cross over into criminal law depending on the circumstance of the case.

What Are Family Court Cases And Records In Ohio?

Family or domestic relations courts cases in Ohio are generally cases relating to the state’s Domestic Relations Law, such as divorce, child custody, adoption, and other family disputes. These cases are mainly heard in the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas. However, in some instances, they are heard by other divisions like the Juvenile Division or Probate Division.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

Are Family Court Cases Public Records In Ohio?

Not all family court cases can be viewed or copied by the public on requests. Though Ohio Courts are subject to the state’s Open Records law, there are exemptions provided in the law as well as in other sets of rules, including the Rule of Superintendence. These rules exempt certain domestic relations and juvenile court records from public access. Therefore, based on these laws and the court’s determination, the following types of records are open or closed to the public.

• Adoption: Records of adoptions finalized between January 1, 1964, and September 18, 1996, are open to the public and can be obtained from the Vital Records Division of the Ohio Department of Health. The same goes for adoptions finalized before 1964 for adoptees born in Ohio. Other adoption records are restricted to the adoptive parent (when the adoptee is less than 21 years old) or to the adopted person over 21 years old.
• Marriage: Marriage records are open to the public except where sealed by law or court order.
• Divorce: Divorce records are open to the public, but certified copies can only be accessible by the divorcees, their direct descendants, or legal representatives. Records are issued by the Court of Common Pleas, specifically the probate court in the county where the divorce was filed.
• Child custody: Documents relating to child custody evaluation and reports are exempted from public disclosure.
• Juvenile: Except when relevant to adult prosecution, juvenile court records or investigative documents are not open to the public.
• Child Abuse: Records relating to the death of a child as a result of child abuse are prohibited from public release under certain non-criminal instances like the suicide of a minor.
• Juvenile abortion proceeding: These are exempted from public disclosure.
• DNA records: The DNA records relating to a paternity court case are closed to the public.
• Foster or child care: Records of children and foster caregivers held by the Department of Human Services or county agencies are exempted from public disclosure.

Other records that are exempted from public view include juvenile records, health care documents, home investigation reports, domestic violence risk assessments, and financial or asset disclosure statements.

How Do I Find Family Court Records In Ohio?

Ohio has two major repositories for different types of family court records. These include:

• Court of Common Pleas
• Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics

The majority of family court records are available at the court in the county where the case was held. Requests should be addressed to the Clerk’s Office at the specific court division, that is, domestic relations, juvenile, or probate court. Information can also be obtained from court websites in the state, depending on the county.

The Bureau of Vital Statistics under the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) maintains and issues records of adoptions that were finalized between January 1, 1964, and September 18, 1996. The office is also in charge of issuing adoption file information of adoptions before 1964, where the adoptee was born in Ohio.

To find family court records in Ohio, requests are made in person or via mail. Under the public records provision policy, Ohio courts charge 10 cents per copy of a court record and another $1 per certified page. For copies of family court records provided by the ODH, the agency charges $20 per copy, which is payable by cash, check, or money order. Requests to ODH are submitted to:

Ohio Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
P. o. 15098
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Divorce and marriage records may be available through government sources and organizations, though their availability cannot be guaranteed. This is also true of their availability through third-party websites and companies, as these organizations are not government-sponsored and record availability may vary further. Finally, marriage and divorce records are considered extremely private due to the information they contain, and are often sealed. Bearing these factors in mind, record availability for these types of records cannot be guaranteed.

How Do I Find Family Court Records Online?

There are no online repositories of family court records. To find records of domestic relations cases online, interested persons may search the court records portal on the website of the court where the case was heard. This privilege is only available for a few large counties whose courts publish information about family court records.

What Is Ohio Custody Law?

Ohio custody laws are regulations and standard practices that are set by the Ohio legislature to guide child custody cases. The law is primarily focused on providing conditions for determining child custody and guidelines for court proceedings. It also covers terms for shared parenting and visitation, as well as the obligations of all parties involved.

How To Find Family Court Lawyers In Ohio?

In Ohio, residents may find family court lawyers by searching local directories on legal agencies’ websites like the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Ohio Supreme Court. To streamline search results on these sites, interested persons can filter results based on the location and certification of the attorney. Alternatively, indigent Ohioans may reach out to local legal aid societies or pro bono law services to find appropriate help. Such helps come at low-fees or for free.