Lawrence County Court Records

From pleadings to motions, exhibits, transcripts, orders, judgments, and many more, Lawrence County Court records encompass all documents that track court proceedings in Lawrence County, Ohio. Per Section 1907.20 of the Ohio Revised Code, the clerk of courts files and safely keeps these records in numerous forms, including journals and books.

The primary essence of documenting and maintaining court proceedings is to ensure transparency, accountability, integrity, and justice in the judicial system. However, court documents are also necessary in facilitating:

• Legal research and education of law students and the society at large 
• Policy making 
• Criminal background checks 
• Appeals to a higher court 
• Judicial precedents 
• References by future generations 
• Investigative journalism 
• Property/title searches, and many more 

Lawrence County court records work together with (and form a part of) the more expansive Ohio court records to ensure efficiency and consistency in the administration of justice throughout the state. 

Are Court Records Public in Lawrence County?

Yes. Sup. R. 45 makes Lawrence County court records open for inspection and copying by any member of the public. Ohio State views court records as belonging to the people, with the record custodians acting as trustees. Consequently, anyone can request a court record without confirming their identities or providing justifiable reasons.

However, Lawrence County court records are only public to the extent that they are not exempt from disclosure under any applicable law, court order, or court rule. The following are examples of records or information that are deemed confidential and out of bounds to the public:

• Adoption files
• Active criminal investigation records 
• Trial preparation records 
• Medical records 
• Intellectual property records 
• Probation or parole records 
• Social security numbers 
• Juvenile records 

Each record custodian is expected to give requesters explanations and supporting legal authority for any record withheld.

Lawrence County Court Records Search

Requesters can conduct a Lawrence County Court records lookup via several channels, including:

• In-person visits to the courthouse where the requested documents were filed or kept 
• An online search of the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts' (CourtView) database 
• Filing and submitting a public records request form to the record custodian 
• Third-party repositories 

Lawrence County Courts 

Lawrence County comprises a Court of Common Pleas with General, Domestic Relations, and Juvenile/Probation Divisions and a Municipal Court. Below are the courts' addresses:

Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas

111 South 4th Street

Ironton, OH 45638

Phone: (740) 533-4352 (Clerk's phone)

Phone: (740) 533-4353 (Title Department)

Phone: (740) 533-4355 (Legal Department)

Fax: (740) 533-4387

Lawrence County Municipal Court 

10916 County Road 1

P.O. Box 126

Chesapeake, OH 45619

Ironton Municipal Court 

301 South 3rd Street

Ironton, OH 45638

Phone: (740) 533-3062

Lawrence County Criminal Records

Lawrence County criminal records refer to documents highlighting a subject's dealings with criminal justice agencies, including law enforcement agencies, in the county. These records are public documents and can be obtained from the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office at:

115 South 5th Street

Ironton, OH 45638

Phone: (740) 532-3525

Individuals may also send a public records request to the sheriff's office via a recommended method, including email or phone. 

By operation of the law, the Office of the Lawrence County Sheriff is expected to honor inspection requests for criminal records and Lawrence County arrest records within regular business hours and provide copies of requested records within a reasonable time. 

Lawrence County Sheriff's Office also facilitates BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) and FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) criminal background checks. BCI searches cost $67 per person and $85 per person for BCI and FBI checks.

The local police departments in Lawrence County also grant members of the public access to criminal records in their custody. Information regarding obtaining these records may be available on their official websites. For example, the Lawrence Township Police Department provides a Records Request Form for members of the public to request the criminal records they desire. When filling out the form, requesters must indicate their preferred method of receiving requested records.

On the other hand, the Alliance Police Department operates a Records Division with clerks responsible for handling public requests for criminal records. The police department also provides a downloadable printable records request form, which requesters are expected to fill out and submit to the Alliance Police Department to facilitate the search process. More conveniently, they can make public records requests online on the police department's Records Request Form page, which allows them to choose their preferred delivery method (in-person pickup, email, and mail).

Individuals are advised to contact the relevant local law enforcement agencies for specific instructions on conducting criminal records lookup.

Get Lawrence County Civil Court Records

Lawrence County civil court records arise from civil proceedings such as breach of contract, personal injury, divorce, employment disputes, landlord/tenant issues, domestic matters, and real estate disputes. In essence, civil court records are materials related to legal cases between individuals that have no criminal undertones.

Civil court case records are maintained by various custodians, depending on the court where the matter was heard. For instance, the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts handles public access to civil records heard in the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas. These records can be requested at the Clerk of Courts office or online through the clerk's eServices search page (CourtView). Individuals are advised to follow these steps to search CourtView:

• Choose a search criteria (name, case number, case type, or advanced attorney)
• Submit the required information based on the chosen search criterion
• Click on "Search" to see the results page

For "case type" searches, individuals should specify the records they seek by selecting the document of interest from the available options, including dissolution, domestic, foreclosures, foreign judgment, judgment lien, land banking, parental rights, personal injury, and workers' compensation. Requesters should choose "Other Civil Records" to access case documents that do not fall under the above descriptions. Questions regarding court case searches should be directed to the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts by phone at (740)-533-4355.

On the other hand, civil court records are generated and filed in Lawrence County Municipal Court and kept in the custody of the Lawrence County Municipal Court Clerk of Court. Individuals can query the court clerk during regular business hours or access the Lawrence County Municipal Court's Record Search page. 

The online search platform provides case and calendar search options to members of the public, including name, hearing date, case number, and file date, using several criteria. Parties should tick the "civil' box at the bottom of the search page for civil case-specific documents. The Lawrence County Municipal Court Clerk also provides public access to an online "Daily Docket." 

Similarly, Ironton Municipal Court civil court case records can be obtained in person at the Ironton Municipal Courthouse, or individuals can conduct an online record search of the Ironton Municipal Court's computerized database.

Lawrence County Marriage Records 

Although Lawrence County marriage records, including marriage certificates and licenses, are vital records, they remain public information under the state's Open Records Law. They are maintained by the Lawrence County probate court and made accessible to any applicant in person at the court location.

Individuals are advised to have adequate information about the marriage documents they seek to facilitate the search. These include the couple's names as they appear on the marriage license. Requesters can find the following information in a Lawrence County marriage record:

• Bride and groom's names
• Date and place of marriage 
• Officiating minister's name 

Lawrence County Divorce Records

The Clerk of the Common Pleas Court maintains Lawrence County divorce records and makes them accessible to any interested applicant on request. To obtain copies of divorce records, including divorce decrees, requesters should visit the Clerk's office in person or take advantage of the Clerk's online search portal (discussed in "Civil Records" above).

To search specifically for divorce documents on the online platform, individuals should conduct a lookup via Case Type and click on "Dissolution" from the drop-down menu. 

Lawrence County Birth and Death Records

Per Section 3705.23 of the Ohio Revised Code, Lawrence County birth and death records, which are vital records, are public information that may help in:

• Confirming the record subject's genealogy 
• Facilitating life insurance payments 
• Adoption searches 
• Identity and citizenship verification 
• Conducting comprehensive background checks
• Supporting legal proceedings

Individuals can query the Lawrence County Health Department at the location below to obtain records of births and deaths documented in the county:

2122 South 8th Street 

Ironton, OH 45638

The Lawrence County Health Department issues certified birth and death certificates from 1908 to date. For birth and death records before 1908, requesters should contact the Lawrence County Probate Court at (740) 533-4343. To obtain a death certificate, the requester must input the year of death or 99/99/2000 if the exact date is unknown.

Individuals can obtain certified copies of birth and death certificates online by following the prompts on the health department's "Vital Statistics" page. Birth and death certificates cost $25 per copy. Online applications will require an additional non-refundable fee of $5 for service and credit card processing. Requesters should note that specific information, including a decedent's social security number, may not be available on a public birth or death record for the first five years after the death. 

Note: Requesters can also make a public records request for birth and death records with a Public Records Request Form. The form can be submitted in person during regular work hours or via email to PRC@Lawcohd.org. They can also fax it to (740) 532-1014 or mail it to the address above. 

Lawrence County Probate Court Records

Lawrence County Probate Court records are documents of cases handled by the Lawrence County Probate Court, which include:

• Guardianships of incompetents and minors 
• Conservatorships
• Administration of estates 
• Trusts 
• Adoptions
• Marriage licenses
• Mental health commitments 

Access to Lawrence County Probate Court records is public and regulated by the Lawrence County Probate Court Local Rules of Practice. Per Rule 55, case records from the Lawrence County probate court are open records and can be accessed by any individual at the court clerk's office during regular business hours. However, individuals should request records in the closed file 10 days before retrieval. These records are obtainable at 10 cents per page.

Lawrence County Property Records

Lawrence County property records include deeds, plats, easements, liens, mortgages, condominiums, leases, tax documents, and other materials that highlight essential information about a piece of real estate in Lawrence County. These records are in the Lawrence County Recorder's custody and are deemed public information.

The Lawrence County Recorder can be queried in person at the location below during regular business hours:

111 South 4th Street 

Suite 21

Ironton, OH 45628

Phone: (740) 553-4314

Fax: (740) 553-4314

Another option is to conduct an online record search using preferred parameters, including the owner's name and parcel number. For property tax information, parties can contact the Lawrence County Auditor's Office. They may also search for property records in the auditor's custody using the online search tool on the auditor's official website.

Lawrence County Court Records Online

Individuals can obtain Lawrence County court records online from third-party websites that provide court lookup services, such as Ohiocourtrecords.us. Records from these databases are collated from numerous sources and jurisdictions. Consequently, requesters can also use these platforms to search court documents from other counties in Ohio State remotely.