Geauga County Court Records

Court records in Geauga County are documents generated, collected, or maintained by courts in the county. Examples of these documents include docket sheets, decrees, affidavits, and case files that contain information on judicial proceedings or actions that persons can use to prove judgments, appeal cases, or enforce decisions.

Similar to Ohio court records, Geauga County court records may contain information like case numbers, party names, case summaries, and disposition details. However, data included in these records may be limited to courts under the county’s jurisdiction.

Are Court Records Public in Geauga County?

Generally, court records are considered public in Geauga County except when otherwise provided by the Ohio Public Records Act. These ‘exemptions’ include information deemed confidential, private, or potentially harmful to an individual’s safety if released to the public. Court records that may fall under this category include:

• Records of adoption proceedings
• Confidential law enforcement investigation files
• DNA records
• Information protected by attorney-client privilege
• Intellectual property records, proprietary information, and financial data
• Medical records and protected health information
• Personal information as defined by state law
• Sealed records
• Trial preparation records

Public court records and documents with redacted (edited) confidential information shall be available to the public for inspection and duplication upon proper request to the appropriate custodian.

Geauga County Court Records Search

Interested persons can find Geauga County court records by first determining where the proceedings or legal actions took place. This is because the custodian of court records may vary depending on where cases were filed. For instance, the Clerk of Courts serves the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, whereas the Chardon Municipal Court maintains records of cases filed in the court.

Next, persons who wish to inspect or obtain copies of court records should make requests through channels provided by the custodian i.e., mail, email, telephone, online request box, or in person. Requesters can do this by providing specific case details (case number, party names, file date) in written letters or request forms and specifying what record is needed (final decree, affidavits, docket sheet, etc.) and submitting or sending letters or forms to the specific custodian.

The court or clerk will respond to the mail and state if the record is available or public and how much copies cost. After that, requesters can pay to complete their requests and receive copies within a reasonable number of days.

Alternatively, the Courts of Common Pleas and Municipal Court in Geauga County have case search tools on their websites that persons can use to find court records by name, case number, case type, attorney, and other case details.

Geauga County Court Records Search by Name

Conducting an online name-based search using the case search portal provided by the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas or Chardon Municipal Court involves providing a party’s last name or business name. Users may also provide other related details like first name, middle name, suffix, date of birth, or date of death to narrow down search results.

Accessing case details using these platforms is free. However, information available on this portal may be limited in line with the state’s Public Records Act and concerning the amount of computerized data published on the portal. Furthermore, users can only use this platform for informational use only, as only certified copies may be used in formal or legal situations.

Nevertheless, individuals can still get copies of Geauga court records with party names by directing requests to the appropriate custodian. However, the case number may be required so persons can find that with a case search and include it in the request. When requesting a record, describe the needed record and state whether a regular or certified copy is needed. The custodian’s reply will include the cost of services which must be reasonable.

The Clerk of Court accepts requests made online, via phone, and in person at:

Geauga County Common Pleas Clerk of Court
Legal Office
100 Short Court Street,
Suite 300,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 279-1960

Individuals seeking Chardon Municipal Court records may make phone requests or send request forms via email, fax, or mail to:

Chardon Municipal Court
111 Water Street,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 286.2670 (Traffic/Criminal)
Phone: (440) 286.2684 (Criminal)
Fax: (440) 286-2679
E-mail: municriminal@co.geauga.oh.us

Geauga County Courts

The court system in Geauga County comprises one Municipal Court with limited jurisdiction and one Court of Common Pleas with general jurisdiction, which has divisions in two locations. The addresses and contact information of these courts are as follows:

Geauga County Court of Common Pleas - General Division
Geauga County Courthouse
100 Short Court Street,
Suite 300,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 279-1960

Geauga County Court of Common Pleas - Probate/Juvenile Divisions
Courthouse Annex
231 Main Street,
Second Floor
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 226-4446
Fax: (440) 375-6810 (Probate/Juvenile Clerks)

Chardon Municipal Court
111 Water Street,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 286.2670 (Traffic/Criminal)
Phone: (440) 286.2684 (Criminal)
Fax: (440) 286-2679
E-mail: municriminal@co.geauga.oh.us

Geauga County District Court Records

In Geauga County, the Court of Common Pleas serves as the District Court with general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases in the county. However, this court mostly handles cases beyond the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court, such as:

• Civil cases with claims from $15,000 and above
• Domestic relations cases like divorce and child custody
• Juvenile cases (including traffic)
• Mental health cases
• Probate cases

The Geauga County Clerk of Court maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas. To access these, interested persons may send online requests, conduct case searches online, call the clerk’s office, or make requests in person at:

Geauga County Common Pleas Clerk of Court
100 Short Court Street,
Suite 300,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 279-1960

While requests or online searches involve providing case details, the clerk requires case numbers and other case information to help locate records and charges fees for their services, especially for copying and certifying documents.

Note: For records of the District Court of Appeal that serves Geauga County, direct requests to Ohio 11th Appellate District.

Geauga County Criminal Records

Geauga County criminal records are official documents provided by criminal justice agencies that show an individual’s criminal history within the county. Individuals can obtain copies of their Geauga criminal records by conducting local background checks with the county Sheriff’s Office. To do this, interested persons should take along valid photo identification to the office at:

12450 Merritt Road
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 279-2009
Fax: (440) 286-3251
Email: geaugaso@co.geauga.oh.us
(Monday-Friday 07:00 A.M. to 03:00 P.M.)

Requesters can fill out a request form in person or bring along any form provided by an employer. After processing the request, the Sheriff’s Office will notify requesters when the record is ready for pick-up. This background check service is free as the office does not charge for copies or reports that are 50 pages or less.

Additionally, the Geauga County Sheriff's Office provides a $30 fingerprint service for persons conducting statewide background checks through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The BCI conducts fingerprint-based checks for licensing, employment, or other official purposes and accesses criminal history information from the Attorney General’s Office criminal record database. Eligible persons may send fingerprint cards along with application forms and other requirements to the BCI at:

Bureau of Criminal Investigation,
P.O. Box 365,
London, OH 43140.

Persons seeking Geauga County arrest records should direct queries to the arresting agency which may be the County Sheriff or local police. Criminal, inmate, and court records may also contain arrest information. However, note that Geauga arrest records do not provide conviction details and cannot serve as a substitute for criminal records.

Geauga County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Record seekers can search for criminal cases filed in Geauga County Courts with the case search tools provided by the Courts of Common Pleas and Chardon Municipal Court. Users can find criminal court case information by conducting searches under the following categories:

• Name search: With a business name or party’s last name and any other available details like first name, middle name, birth date, and death date
• Case number: With complete case number only
• Case type: With useful case descriptions like file date, case type, case status, and party type
• Attorney search: With attorney’s first name, last name, bar number, or firm name and other known case details
• Advanced search: With estimated file date, case type, and case number

Results on the portal will include similar matches and a detailed summary of each case as long as the criminal case was filed or adjudicated in the court.

Get Geauga County Civil Court Records

Civil court records in Geauga County contain information on lawsuits filed and resolved in county court. These records describe how civil disputes involving two or more parties are settled and cover a wide range of cases, such as real estate disputes, tort claims, class actions, and breach of contract disputes.

Since Geauga County residents can file lawsuits in the Court of Common Pleas or Municipal Courts, civil court records shall be available in the specific court that handled the case. Interested persons can access civil case information online with the case search tools present on the court’s website or direct copy requests to the appropriate court through acceptable channels.

For instance, the Geauga County Common Pleas Clerk of Court accepts in-person, phone, and online requests, whereas the Municipal Court accepts email, phone, faxed, or mailed requests. Requesters should identify the needed record, provide specific case details like case number, party names, and relevant dates, as well as pay necessary fees when required.

Geauga County Family Court Records

Geauga County family court records provide information on judicial proceedings, actions, and resolutions involving familial disputes within the county's jurisdiction. In Geauga County, such proceedings are handled by the Domestic Relations Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The magistrates in this court hear issues involving family conflicts such as divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody, child support, and civil protection orders.

Other family law disputes involving juvenile delinquency and a decedent’s will can be heard in the Juvenile or Probate Divisions. Nevertheless, the Common Pleas Clerk of Court serves as the custodian of Geauga County family court records. Interested persons may send online requests, conduct case searches online, call the clerk’s office, or make requests in person at:

Geauga County Common Pleas Clerk of Court
Legal Office
100 Short Court Street,
Suite 300,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 279-1960

Family court records are vital as proof of final judgments or any legal agreement reached by parties. These records can also be significant in appeal cases. However, it is important to note that not all family court cases can be accessed online or obtained by the public upon request. Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under the state's Public Records Act. Examples include:

• Certain adoption records
• Documents related to child custody evaluation.
• Juvenile court records (unless when applicable to adult prosecution)
• Records of children and foster caregivers
• DNA records from a paternity court
• Risk evaluations for domestic violence, etc.

Geauga County Marriage and Divorce Records

Geauga County marriage records are open to the public unless they have been sealed by law or court order. On the other hand, divorce records are public, but certified copies are only available to divorced parties, their direct descendants, or legal agents.

The Probate Court Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over marriage licenses. Individuals can search an online database to find marriage license records by name, zip code, and congregation. Geauga County marriage certificates are also obtainable upon request to the Probate Court at:

Courthouse Annex,
231 Main Street,
Second Floor,
Chardon, OH 44024,

The Domestic Relations Division handles divorces, dissolutions, and even annulments. If the divorce of interest was finalized in this division, the associated records are available upon request to the Clerk of Court at:

100 Short Court Street,
Suite 300
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 279-1966
Email: smbevington@geaugacourts.org

Geauga Birth and Death Records

Geauga County birth and death records are public records. As a result, anyone who can give basic information about the record, such as the subject's name and birth date, can request a copy. As forms of Geauga County vital records, birth and death records are useful in proving critical life events and showing related details as well as providing data concerning the population. Persons can also use Geauga County birth records as proof of identity and in certain official situations.

The Geauga Public Health Office of Vital Statistics maintains certified copies of birth and death records for the county. They are obtainable in person, via phone, or by mail for $25.00 each. To request Geauga County birth certificates and death records, interested persons must complete the application, and send it via an email to vitals@geaugacountyhealth.org or mail a self-addressed stamped envelope with a check or money order to:

Geauga Public Health
Attn: Vital Statistics
12611 Ravenwood Drive,
Floor #3, Room A301,
Chardon, OH 44024.
Phone: (440) 279-1902

The birth and death records available at the public health office only go back to 1909. The Geauga County Public Library holds records from 1867 to 1908. Requestors may direct queries for these records to:

Geauga County Public Library
110 E. Park Street,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 285-7601

Geauga County Probate Court Records

Probate records provide information on cases concerning a deceased person’s will, estate administration, trusts, guardianship of survivors, and other related related actions. The Probate Division of the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas handles probate matters in the county. The division is also responsible for creating and maintaining most of the county's public probate court records. Interested parties may send their request for case documents to the Probate Division of the Common Pleas Court at:

Geauga County Probate Court
Courthouse Annex
231 Main Street,
Second Floor
Chardon OH, 44024
Phone: (440) 226-4446

Geauga County Property Records

The County Recorder keeps records of real estate ownership in the county, and any encumbrances or liens against it. These Geauga County public records contain extensive information about a specific plot of land, including:

• The current and previous owner’s names
• Property estimated and historical value
• Plat maps
• Deeds and liens, etc.

Individuals can use the property search portal provided by the County Recorder's Office to look for property records or direct email, phone, or in-person requests to:

Geauga County Recorder’s Office,
231 Main Street,
Suite 1-C,
Chardon, Ohio 44024
Phone: (440) 279-2020
Email: recorder@co.geauga.oh.us

The Recorder’s Office charges $0.10 per page for paper copies made without an employee’s assistance and $2.00 for assisted duplicates, whereas certification costs $2.00 per page and an added $1 per document.

Geauga County property records are also accessible through the County Auditor's Office. The Auditor's Office makes detailed real estate information available online via Geauga REALink, the county's property information system. This portal enables users to find any piece of property in Geauga County and view property information online.

Paper copies are also available on request from the auditor's office. Interested parties may contact the custodian via email, phone, or in person at:

Geauga County Auditor
Courthouse Annex building,
231 Main Street,
Chardon, Ohio 44024.
Phone: (440) 285-2222
Email: auditor@co.geauga.oh.us

Geauga County Court Records Online

Members of the public can conduct online searches using the case search portal provided by the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas or Chardon Municipal Court. Record seekers may also be able to access public Geauga County court records online with third-party sites like Ohiocourtrecords.us. These resources usually offer search tools and a user-friendly interface where users can find records conveniently without visiting the courthouse. Persons can conduct searches by providing case details like party names, dates, and case numbers to view case information. However, such sites operate independently of any government agency. As such the accuracy and reliability of records cannot be guaranteed.