Ottawa County Court Records

Ottawa County court records are official documents of legal proceedings and decisions within the county. They include evidence presented during case adjudication, such as witness statements, exhibits, affidavits, final dispositions, briefs, and summaries or transcripts of court proceedings, including motions, hearings, and trials. These records promote accountability, provide public access to judicial processes, and preserve the legal history of cases for reference and appeals.

Are Court Records Public in Ottawa County?

Yes. Ottawa County court records are considered public under the Ohio Public Records Act (ORS Section 149.43). This means that individuals can submit requests to view, access, or obtain copies of these records from courthouses or the office of the clerk of courts. However, certain records are exempt from public access due to confidentiality or restrictions by law. These include:

• Juvenile case records
• Trial preparation materials
• Confidential law enforcement investigations
• Records protected under state or federal law
• Adoption, probation, and parole proceedings
• Sensitive personal information (e.g., Social Security numbers, bank account details, driver's license numbers)
• Witness records in criminal trials
• Sealed court records
• Records involving private family matters (e.g., child custody, adoption)
• Mental health case files.

Ottawa County Court Records Search

Individuals interested in searching for Ottawa County court records have several options, including:

• In-person visits to the Clerk of Court's office (Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas)
• Mail, email, or phone requests to the Clerk of Court's office
• The Clerk of Court's online case search portal
• Third-party public record websites.

Ottawa County Courts

Ottawa County courts include the Court of Common Pleas, Municipal Court, and Mayor's Court. The contact information of these courts is listed below.

Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas—General and Domestic Relations Divisions
Ottawa County Courthouse
315 Madison Street, Room 301
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6790
Fax: (419) 734-6852

Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas—Juvenile and Probate
Ottawa County Courthouse
315 Madison Street
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6840 (Juvenile)
Fax: (419) 734-6851 (Juvenile)
Phone: (419) 734-6830 (Probate)
Fax: (419) 732-8147 (Probate).

Ottawa County Municipal Court
1860 East Perry Street
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-4143
Fax: (419) 732-2862

Put-in-Bay Mayor's Court
435 Catawba Avenue
P.O. Box 503
Put-in-Bay, OH 43456
Phone: (419) 285-2443
Fax: (419) 285-2243

Ottawa County Criminal and Civil Records

Criminal and civil cases in Ottawa County are handled by the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas and the Ottawa County Municipal Court. The Court of Common Pleas hears criminal felony cases and civil matters exceeding $15,000, divorces, etc. Meanwhile, the Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, small claims, and civil disputes generally under $15,000.

The Ottawa County Clerk of Courts maintains all civil and criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas. Conversely, the Municipal Court Clerk is responsible for the records of civil and criminal misdemeanor cases handled in the Municipal Court.

Individuals seeking Ottawa County criminal or civil court records should contact the appropriate clerk’s office based on where the case was handled. For instance, requests for criminal or civil cases heard in the Court of Common Pleas should be directed to the Clerk of Courts. For records of misdemeanors, small claims, or civil disputes under $15,000 handled in the Municipal Court, individuals should contact the Municipal Court Clerk.

Ottawa County Clerk of Courts
315 Madison Street, Room 106 B
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6755
Fax: (419) 734-6875
Email: cpclerksfilings@co.ottawa.oh.us.

Ottawa County Municipal Court Clerk
1860 East Perry Street
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
Phone: (419) 734-4143
Fax: (419) 732-2862
Email: clerk@ottawacountymunicipalcourt.com.

Alternatively, interested individuals can access these records online through the Ottawa County Common Pleas “case search” portal, the Ottawa County Probate & Juvenile Courts "record search," or the Ottawa County Municipal Court's “record search” service.

Note: There are fees associated with obtaining copies of court records from the record custodians.

Ottawa County Marriage Records

Ottawa County marriage records are available to interested persons at the Ottawa Probate Court. Another option is to find these records online through the Ottawa County Probate Court records search portal. Alternatively, contact the Ottawa County Clerk of Courts for these records at:

315 Madison Street
Room 106 B
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6755
Fax: (419) 734-6875
Email: cpclerksfilings@co.ottawa.oh.us.

Ottawa County Divorce Records

The Ottawa County Clerk of Courts is the custodian of Ottawa County divorce records. The clerk’s office maintains and provides access to domestic relations cases handled in the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court, including divorce records.

To request or obtain Ottawa County divorce records, interested persons should contact the Clerk of Courts Office in person, by mail, e-mail, or by phone. Otherwise, use the Ottawa County Common Pleas “case search” portal to search for and access these records online.

315 Madison Street
Room 106 B
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6755
Fax: (419) 734-6875
Email: cpclerksfilings@co.ottawa.oh.us.

Ottawa County Birth Records

An Ottawa County birth record is an official document that provides details of a person's birth, including name, date, place of birth, and parents. Birth records are public records in Ohio. This means that anyone can request them from the Ottawa County Health Department. They are vital for proving identity, obtaining government documents (like a passport), and enrolling in school.

To request Ottawa County birth records, interested persons should submit a completed copy of the birth record application form with the required fee (of $22 per certified copy) in person, by mail, or by e-mail to the Ottawa County Health Department at:

Ottawa County Health Department
1856 East Perry Street
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Email: vitals@ottawahealth.org.

Note: When requesting by mail, send the application form, a check or money order payable to the Ottawa County Health Department, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Ottawa County Death Records

The Ottawa County Health Department maintains and dispenses death certificates for persons who died in Ottawa County from Dec. 20, 1908, to the present. These records are required mainly for settling estates, processing inheritance, and claiming survivor benefits.

Ottawa County death records can be obtained by submitting a completed application form with the required fee ($22 per copy) in person, by mail, or by e-mail to the Ottawa County Health Department at:

Ottawa County Health Department
1856 East Perry Street
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Email: vitals@ottawahealth.org.

Ottawa County Probate Court Records

Ottawa County Probate Court records are official documents related to estate, wills, guardianship, and conservatorship cases adjudicated in the Probate Court of the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts is the custodian of these records, and they are available upon request from the clerk's office.

To request Ottawa County probate court records, individuals can submit their requests in person, via email, fax, or mail to the Ottawa County Clerk of Courts at:

Ottawa County Clerk of Courts
315 Madison Street
Room 106 B
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6755
Fax: (419) 734-6875
Email: cpclerksfilings@co.ottawa.oh.us.

Alternatively, interested persons can search for and look up these records online via the Ottawa County Probate Court records search portal.

Ottawa County Property Records

The Ottawa County Recorder's Office is responsible for property records in Ottawa County, Ohio. The office handles the recording and preservation of real estate and personal property documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other property-related records.

To obtain property records in Ottawa County, individuals can visit the Ottawa County Recorder's Office, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Ottawa County Recorder's Office
315 Madison Street, Room 204
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6730

Alternatively, individuals can use the Ottawa County Recorder Online Services to conveniently access property documents and search all real estate records filed with the county recorder. Additionally, interested parties can contact the Ottawa County Auditor's Office or utilize the online property tax search portal for property tax information.

Ottawa County Auditor
315 Madison Street, Room 202
Port Clinton, OH 43452
Phone: (419) 734-6740
Fax: (419) 734-6592
Email: asktheauditor@co.ottawa.oh.us.

Ottawa County Court Records Online

Interested individuals can use third-party platforms like Ohiocourtrecords.us to access Ottawa County court records online. These platforms compile records from multiple Ohio counties and allow searches by name or case number. Although they operate independently of government agencies, they provide a convenient alternative for obtaining court records. However, since these sites are privately owned, the availability, accuracy, and reliability of court records they provide cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, they may charge fees for access to detailed or comprehensive case records.