Hocking County Court Records

Hocking County court records refer to all documents that give detailed information on legal proceedings in the county. The record custodian of court case records is the Hocking County Clerk of Courts. Examples of information contained in court records include the following:

• Case information (filing dates, case numbers)
• Judgements
• Evidence
• Affidavits
• Motions
• Hearings
• Information on the parties involved in the case

Are Court Records Public in Hocking County?

Yes. Court records are classified as public records according to the Ohio Public Records Act and are made available to the public for inspection and copying by the record custodians. Some exemptions exist to protect sensitive information and individual privacy, thus limiting unauthorized access to court records. Examples of these restricted records include the following:

• Records of cases involving minors
• Adoption records
• Personal data (medical records, financial information)
• Information on investigations is still ongoing
• Attorney-client communications

Hocking County Court Records Search

Individuals who want to perform a court records search have several options from which they can pick the most convenient option. These options include the following:

• In-person record requests
• Mail requests
• Online record requests
• Third-party databases.

Hocking County Courts

The types of courts in Hocking County and their contact information include the following:

Hocking County Common Pleas Court
1 East Main Street
Suite 305
Logan, OH 43138
Phone: (740) 385-4027

Hocking County Municipal Court
105 West Hunter Street
Logan, OH 43138
Phone: (740) 385-2250

Laurelville Mayor's Court
18751 Main Street
Laurelville, OH 43135
Phone: (740) 332-4481

Murray City Mayor's Court
13964 Locust Street
Murray City, OH 43144
Phone: (740) 762-2362

Hocking County Criminal and Civil Records

The Hocking County Clerk of Courts is the custodian of court records in the county, including Hocking County criminal records and civil records. To obtain criminal and civil records from the Clerk of Court's office, individuals need to make an in-person or mail request to the office. Case details required to facilitate a search include the case number, the names of case parties, and the filing dates. Examples of civil court records include small claims, family court records, personal injury claims, contract disputes, and property disputes.

Hocking County Marriage Records

Hocking County marriage records constitute probate records and are managed by Hocking County Probate Court. Marriage records are considered public records, but access to certified copies of the records is restricted to the former spouses and their legal representatives.

To obtain a marriage record, an eligible individual can visit the probate courthouse in person to make the record request using information on the marriage, such as the couple’s names and the date of the marriage. A marriage record can also be obtained by sending a written mail request to the probate court or applying online for a copy of a certified marriage record. A certified copy of a marriage record costs $5 and is payable by cash or money order.

Hocking County Divorce Records

As Hocking County divorce records are records of court proceedings, they are maintained by the Hocking County Clerk of Courts. Unless sealed by a court, these records can be obtained from the record custodian through an in-person request to their office or by submitting a mail request to the clerk of courts.

Before a divorce record request can be completed, the requester must provide key details to facilitate a search. These details include the names of parties involved in the divorce, the year of the divorce, and the case number. Individuals can also search online for divorce records amongst other court records using the Internet Inquiry link provided on the Clerk's official website. It gives the public electronic access to case files from January 1, 1996, to the present.

Hocking County Birth Records

The Hocking County Health Department and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) are the custodians of Hocking County birth records. They make these records available to individuals who make an in-person visit to the Department of Health's office, and also to individuals who make record requests by mail. To make a mail request, individuals complete and apply for a certified birth record to the Hocking County Health Department. Certified copies of birth records and other vital records cost $25 each.

Per the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, access to birth records is limited to the record owner, their parents, spouse, children, legal guardians, and representatives. This is to protect sensitive information from unauthorised access or identity theft. Birth records are important as they can be used for identity verification, for completing legal processes, for research, and for accessing some government agencies.

Hocking County death records

Hocking County death records constitute Hocking County vital records. Death records are maintained by the Hocking County Health Department at the county level and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) at the state level. Individuals eligible to obtain death records can do so in person at the Health Department or by completing a certificate application form and submitting it by mail to the Health Department. In-person requests require the requester to present a valid ID and information on the deceased, while mail requests require the written request to be sent in a self-addressed envelope with applicable fees included.

Legally, death records are important tools to use in settling estates or resolving claims and benefits. Death records can also potentially be used for genealogical research, public health analysis, and planning. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705, the only individuals eligible to access death records include the following:

• immediate family members of the decedent
• authorized legal representatives of the decedent
• individuals with a legally valid interest in the record.

Hocking County Probate Court Records

Hocking County probate records are records of cases dealing with personal and family matters. The Hocking County Probate Court, which is part of the Common Pleas Court system, is the custodian of probate records in the county. The court oversees probate cases and hears cases like estate administration, guardianships, adoption and vital records amendment, and marriage license issuing.

To obtain a probate record, requesters can visit the probate court in person to request records directly at the courthouse. In-person record requests require information on the case, such as the case number, and the names of parties involved in the case. Another way to obtain probate records is to complete and mail a written request for the record to the probate court. The Hocking County Juvenile & Probate Courts also maintain a records search tool to provide the public with online access to probate records. Fees may apply to obtain a certified copy of the record.

Hocking County Property Records

Hocking County Property Records are documents that record information on real estate ownership, transactions, and land use. The Hocking County Recorder's Office and the Hocking County Auditor's Office (tax-related property records) both maintain property-related information in Hocking County. To request a property record, an individual can send a mail request to the appropriate office, pay a visit to or contact the office using the following information:

Hocking County Recorder's Office
1 East Main Street, Suite 104
Logan, OH 43138
Phone: (740) 385-2031

Hocking County Auditor's Office
1 East Main Street
Logan, OH 43138
Phone: (740) 385-2127

To find land records online, use the Land Records search tool provided by the Recorder’s Office. Property-related information contained in property records includes the following:

• Property ownership history
• Property details (address, parcel information, zoning classification)
• Property tax information (tax payment history, assessed tax value)
• Property sales history
• Mortgage information
• Liens.

Hocking County Court Records Online

In addition to online state and local online resources, third-party online resources are good avenues to explore for accessing court records online. Websites like Ohiocourtrecords.us aggregate public records, including court records from various sources, and make them easily available in a single resource. Their advantage is that they allow individuals to obtain court records of multiple cases from various counties at once without having to visit various courthouses. They are also easy to access and often provide advanced search tools, including filtering, which makes record searches more precise and efficient.

Third-party resources are, however, limited in their completeness as they are not affiliated with a government agency. Fees may also apply for obtaining complete access to a record, and the data may vary in accuracy.