Franklin County Court Records

Franklin County court records are official documents, exhibits, and submissions filed or generated in a legal proceeding within county limits. They are typically filed or created by a court clerk, or any other court staff authorized to do so. They often include details about the parties to the case, filings (pleadings, motions, complaints, charges, warrants, hearing dates, dockets, disposition, appeals, transcripts, judgments, injunctions, and orders.

In Franklin County, Ohio, court records offer members of the public insight into the county judiciary's processes. They are also a way to ensure that due process is followed and that an appellant has exhausted all local remedies before seeking redress at a superior or appellate court in an appeal.

All Franklin County court records are indexed and filed within the expansive collection of Ohio County court records. So, while the Franklin County court clerk maintains the records for its jurisdiction, court records are also accessible through the state judiciary central repository.

Are Court Records Public in Franklin County?

Yes. Court records are generally considered public records in Franklin County. However, this may be subject to limitations such as non-disclosure laws under a federal law or state statute, by the discretion of custodians, or by an order of the court. Generally, the following documents in a court record or the information they contain are exempt from disclosure:

• Medical records
• Probation and parole records where it relates to the imposition of community or post-release control sanctions
• Adoption proceedings and records
• Law enforcement investigation records
• Juvenile offender records
• Records relating to children in the custody of the Department of Youth Services given to the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
• The name, address, and other personal identity information in a witness protection or other confidential program
• Personal information of minors involved in a traffic accident
• Contact information for victims or witnesses listed on any law enforcement record or report.

Franklin County Court Records Search

Residents of Franklin County can access court through the following sources:

• The Franklin County originating courthouse
• The office of the court clerk where the case was filed
• Franklin County courts' online case management websites
• Third-party public records websites.

Franklin County Court Records Search by Name

A Franklin County court records search by name is the most frequently adopted means of searching court records. Searchers are usually required to compile information that can identify the record sought. This includes the names of the party or company, case number, case type (civil, criminal, traffic, or domestic), attorney name, and the name of the court where the case was decided. Next, visit the Clerk's office at the respective courthouse and provide the necessary information as requested.

Depending on the court's rules, accessing records at the court clerk's office may be done by self-service or assisted service. Whatever the case, requests for copies of court records will typically attract service charges for the production and certification of the document (usually on a per-page basis).

For convenience, researchers can find Franklin's Court records online by name. The Franklin County Municipal Court (FCMC) and the County Clerk of Court all maintain case search websites to help concerned persons find case information.

The Franklin County Clerk's website lets users search by name (last name, first name, and middle initials of the party or attorney), filing date, and by case (case number, year, case type, court type, and specific case information). Likewise, on the FCMC records site, individuals may search by party name, company name, date of birth, type of party (for example, appellant, alias, creditor, officer, prosecutor, landlord, solicitor, depositor, and many others), case number, ticket number, case type, case year, and case status.

Franklin County Courts

The Franklin County Judicial System includes the county court, Court of common pleas, municipal Court, and probate court. Below are the addresses and contact information for these courts:

Franklin County Clerk of Courts
345 South High Street
Suite 13
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3628

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas - General Division
345 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3453
Fax: (614) 525-4480

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas -
Domestic Relations Division and Juvenile Branch
Franklin County Government Center
373 S High Street, 6th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3628

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas - Probate Court
373 S. High Street
22nd Floor Columbus, OH 43215-6311
Phone: (614) 525-3894
Email: probate@franklincountyohio.gov.

Franklin County Municipal Court
375 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 645-8186

Franklin County Small Claims Court
375 S. High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 645-7381

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Case Search

The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (General Division) has exclusive jurisdiction over all felony and civil cases involving over $15,000. As a trial court, the Court of Common Pleas has various divisions and handles various cases. The court has a criminal, civil, probate, domestic relations, and juvenile division.

As the Tenth District Court of Appeal, the Court of Common Pleas can receive appeals from lower courts within the county jurisdiction to redress claims, review, and either uphold or set aside the verdicts of lower courts. Case information on criminal, civil, family law, and probate matters decided in the Court of Common Pleas can be accessed through the Franklin County Clerk of Courts.

The Franklin County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian for the Court of Common Pleas. Individuals may contact the Clerk's Office at (614) 525-3600 or visit the Clerk's office to make inquiries or retrieve records in person. The Franklin County Clerk also allows interested persons to purchase court records or find case information on the case information system (CIO).

The County Clerk records case information for domestic relations, appeals, estate administration, juveniles, civil, criminal, and juvenile traffic court cases. In line with the Ohio Freedom of Information Laws, the court clerk must make all public court records available to requesters. The office can receive walk-in requests from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., excluding state and national holidays.

Franklin County District Court Records

There is no independent district court in Franklin County, Ohio. The cases are typically handled in a district court within the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas jurisdiction. The Court of Common Pleas adjudicates felonies, civil disputes involving over $15,000, criminal cases on appeal from lower courts, family law cases, cases involving minors, juvenile offenders, and probate matters. The Franklin County court records that this court generates are available online through the county clerk of the court's case information system.

Franklin County Criminal Records

Fingerprint-based criminal records in Ohio are only available to the record subject. Individuals may obtain their criminal records by conducting a background check with the Office of the Attorney General. Inquirers may also obtain copies of Franklin County arrest records from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. These records may also be requested by mail, but mail services attract extra postage and handling fees.

Interested persons may also find inmate information and the Franklin County sex offender registry online. The inmate information provided online by the Franklin County Sheriff only includes the inmate's name, charges, case number, detention facility, and court dates.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office
373 South High St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3333
Email: fcsopublicrecords@franklincountyohio.gov

Franklin County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Franklin criminal court case records are documents that are filed or generated in connection with a felony, misdemeanor, or traffic violation trial. Criminal court case information may be accessed at public terminals located at the court where the case was filed or decided; this may be the municipal court (misdemeanors and other lesser offenses) or the court of common pleas (felonies). Interested persons can also conduct a criminal case search online using the FCMC case record search or the Franklin Clerk of Courts case information site.

Get Franklin County Civil Court Records

Civil court cases are usually premised on non-criminal disputes between private individuals and corporations/companies. In a civil case, the action/ suit is instituted by an aggrieved party seeking compensation, damages, or specific performance of a contractual duty or obligation or other equitable remedies from the court.

Members of the public can get Franklin County civil court records from the municipal Court, Court of common pleas, or small claims court, depending on their jurisdiction. The Franklin County Municipal Court (FCMC) small claims division handles civil disputes where the claim is at most $6000. The municipal court sits in civil cases where the amount in dispute is less than $15,000, and the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas has original jurisdiction over civil disputes involving amounts over $15,000.

Franklin County Family Court Records

The Division of Domestic Relations at the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas handles family law cases, including divorce, dissolution of marriage, legal separation, annulments, domestic violence actions, child support, custody, dependency, child abuse, child neglect, visitation rights, juvenile delinquency, and adoption.

Family law records are sensitive records. There are several privacy restrictions that apply to them. There is no guarantee that they will be available online on the court clerk's case information site. However, eligible persons may request or inspect family court records at the county court clerk's office.

Franklin Dissolution of Marriage Records

Franklin County's dissolution of marriage records are documents relating to divorce, legal separation, and annulment proceedings. They signify the legal termination of a marriage or domestic partnership. They are available at the county court clerk's office.

Franklin County Marriage and Divorce Records

Divorce cases in Franklin County are handled by the Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch. Franklin County divorce records may be acquired from the office of the court clerk. Remote access to divorce records is also available. Inquirers may find divorce case records online at the court clerk's case information website.

The Franklin County Probate Court issues certified marriage abstracts online or via mail to residents of Franklin County for $2 per copy. First, confirm that the officiant has returned the signed Marriage Certificate to the probate court in the Marriage License Index Search. Once that is confirmed, you can order a copy online, send a request by mail, or in-person to the Probate Court Marriage Department.

Interested persons may call the department at (614) 525-3108 to schedule an appointment for requests to be made physically. The court will only attend to visitors between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In-person requesters must provide the names of the applicants on the marriage certificate and the year of marriage.

To obtain a Franklin County marriage record by mail, include the name of the applicants, the year of marriage, daytime phone number, a $2 check or money order (per copy), and a self-addressed stamped envelope and send to:

Mailing Address
Franklin County Probate Court
ATTN: Marriage Records
373 S. High Street, 22nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6311
Email: marriage@franklincountyohio.gov

Franklin County Birth and Death Records

The Columbus Public Health Office of Vital Statistics issues certificates of births and deaths that occurred in Franklin County, Ohio, from 1908 to the present. This service costs $25 per certificate. Interested persons can submit their applications by mail or at the Office of Vital Statistics.

Although no requirements are stated on the Health Office's website, Franklin County vital records such as birth and death records may not be available to all members of the public. Usually, such records are restricted to the person named on the record, guardians, legal representatives, and immediate family members. Inquirers are advised to contact the Office of Vital Statistics to confirm if they can purchase a certified copy of Franklin County birth and death certificates.

Mailing Address
Office of Vital Statistics
Columbus Public Health
240 Parsons Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 645-7331
Email: VS@columbus.gov

Franklin County Probate Court Records

The Franklin County Probate Court is a division of the Court of Common Pleas that handles legal processes relating to the administration of wills, estates, and liabilities of deceased persons to protect the rights of creditors and beneficiaries with a legitimate claim to the estate. The court has original jurisdiction over cases such as will validation, estate administration, appointment of executors, guardianship, trusts, conservatorship, birth certificates, marriage licenses, change of name, adoption, settling creditors, and resolving disputes between beneficiaries.

The Franklin County Clerk of Courts files and maintains Franklin County probate records. All requests for probate records should be directed to the county court clerk. Researchers can also find probate court records at the Franklin County Probate Courts General Case Index Search.

Franklin County Property Records

The Franklin County Auditor provides online access to the county's real property inventory. Researchers can find property information online by searching by owner, parcel number, address, map, condo, and subdivision. Residents of Franklin County may also find property information on the Franklin County Treasurer's property search site. Here, one may search by house address, street, owner's name, or parcel ID.

A Franklin County property record search will reveal information like the owner's name, history, contact and mailing address, site address, legal description, size, property transfer details, tax status for the previous year, appraisal reports, taxable value, and outstanding taxes.

Franklin County Court Records Online

Although Franklin County court records are available at the County Clerk's case information online (CIO) system, third-party aggregate search sites like Ohiocourtrecords.us allow researchers to find case information across multiple jurisdictions. These search tools help to expedite search efforts and open the searcher to a more encompassing database.

However, these sources offer limited free searches. Some service providers may change subscription fees to access full case information or view certain case information. Also, since third-party sites gather their data from multiple sources, there may be a delay in the currency of the information available. Hence, when conducting research for court records with a third-party website, it is important to verify the information with official sources to ensure that it is free from errors and accurate.