Washington County Court Records

Washington County Court records consist of detailed information from docket sheets and documents of civil and criminal cases. These records are meticulously maintained either through an electronic case management system or by the office of the records keeper. They encompass a variety of formats, including films, written documents, audio recordings, videotapes, printed materials, or digital images, which are disseminated to citizens in the form of writs, summonses, warrants, summaries, and memorandums.

Typically, Ohio court records are under the jurisdiction of the court clerk. In Washington County, this responsible party oversees the Legal and Title division, where citizens can access Washington Court records and handle title fees for taxable properties as needed.

The meticulous management of court records in this structured system aims to enhance the efficiency of services and ensure accountability within government entities. It facilitates fair and impartial dispute resolution by established laws, enables appropriate referencing and appeals of cases to higher courts, and provides reliable access to court records for research and educational purposes.

Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. In Washington, court records are regarded as public records and are subject to Ohio's Revised Code 143.43. Under this statute, individuals can obtain any court record that is not sealed, confidential, or restricted by a court order.

Typically, court records or specific components of the records not available to the public often contain sensitive or personal information. Such restricted records include adoption records, information from ongoing investigations, medical reports, social security numbers, or driver's license numbers. Access to these records, or portions thereof, is strictly limited to individuals authorized by law.

Washington County Court Records Search

The County Clerk's office offers various avenues for citizens to access Washington County court records. Individuals can visit the clerk's office in person during regular business hours or submit a request for Washington County court records via mail.

In addition to these methods, individuals can request court records by contacting the County Commissioner's office at (740) 373-6623.

Washington County Courts

Washington County operates the three tiers of the judiciary: the trial court, the Appellate Court, and the Supreme Court. The trial court in Washington County, Ohio, comprises the common pleas courts, which have an adjudicative function over all felony, tangible civil, and domestic issues appealed from lower courts. Other trial courts are the county, municipal, mayor's, and court of claims, which handle issues filed against the state and other government agencies. Outlined below are the locations of these courts.

Washington County Court of Common Pleas-Probate Division
205 Putnam Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750
Phone; (740) 373-6623 Extension 2413
Fax: (740) 376-7425

Municipal Courts in Washington County
Marietta Municipal Court
259 Butler Street, Marietta, Ohio 45750
Phone: (740) 373-4474
Fax: (740) 373-2547

Mayor's Court in Washington County
Belpre Mayor's Court
715 Park Doctor Belpre,
Ohio 45714
Phone: (740) 423-8085
Fax: (740) 423-8085

Beverly Mayor's Court
919 Mitchell Avenue Beverly,
Ohio 45715
Phone: (740) 984-2694

Matamoras Mayor's Court
802 Grand View Avenue Matamoras Ohio 45767
Phone: (740) 865-2124

Washington County Criminal Records

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is the primary contact for residents looking to access a Washington County arrest record or conduct a Washington criminal record search. Acting as one of the webcheck centers in the state, the Sheriff's office facilitates requests for criminal records for a fee of $35. Additionally, there are other centers situated within the county under the oversight of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which interested individuals can visit during regular working hours. The Sheriff's office also enables individuals to conduct local background checks.

Residents also have the option to submit a completed online public request form to the Sheriff's office. To proceed with the search, individuals are required to provide personal details and specific information regarding the case of interest, such as the litigant's name and case number. The requester would also need to specify the preferred method of receiving the criminal record search results from the Sheriff's office.

Get Washington County Civil Court Records

The Municipal Court in Washington is responsible for adjudicating small claim civil cases, while the Court of Common Pleas, serving as a Trial Court, oversees larger civil and domestic cases. Individuals seeking a specific civil case file must first ascertain which court handled the case before proceeding. Once the appropriate court is identified, the individual can initiate contact with the relevant court.

Residents have several options for accessing civil case files. They can complete and submit an online public record request form available on the website of the Office of the Clerk or the Commissioner's office. Alternatively, they can send a request by mail to the court that handled the case. Another viable option is to visit the courthouse to review the court's electronic records or examine physical copies of the files. Typically, copies of a court record would cost the requester a fee.

Washington County Marriage Records

Washington County vital records, including Washington marriage records, are classified as open records following the state's open records law. However, while these records are generally open for public viewing, access to certain parts of a marriage record may be restricted to individuals directly involved with the record.

Unlike other states, Washington marriage records are not overseen by the Bureau of Vital Statistics; rather, they are curated by the court where the marriage took place, typically the probate court. To obtain a copy of a marriage record, individuals can visit the courthouse in person, opt for mail-in requests, or utilize the court's case management system for record access.

Authorized individuals are permitted to acquire their Washington County marriage certificate from the specific court where the marriage license was originally issued. In such cases, those requesting the certificate must provide relevant information to facilitate the search and retrieval process.

Washington County Divorce Records

Washington divorce decrees, like Washington marriage records, are under the jurisdiction of the court in which they were finalized. While these records are generally accessible to the public for viewing or retrieval, typically only the parties involved in the case or those authorized by specific law or court order provisions are granted access to a Washington County divorce certificate or the complete record.

Individuals seeking these records can do so remotely or by visiting the courthouse. Request methods include completing and submitting the online public record request form, submitting a mail-in request, or physically going to the courthouse. To initiate the search process, providing at least one participant's name or a case number is essential. Additionally, furnishing additional details can aid in expediting the search for more precise results.

Washington County Birth and Death Records

The accessibility of Ohio's birth and death records, including Washington County birth and death records, is regulated by Ohio Revised Code Section 3705.23. According to this statute, any resident can request these records, provided that the record is not sealed, confidential, or an adoption record.

These records are maintained by the Bureau of Vital Statistics, a central repository for birth records dating back to December 1908 and death records from 1971 to the present. Essentially, the Bureau of Vital Statistics acts as a comprehensive system for registering births and deaths. Furthermore, Ohio Administrative Code Section 3701-5-11 stipulates that death records older than 50 years and birth records older than 125 years may be transferred from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to the Ohio History Connection for archival preservation. Individuals seeking records after the stated years can only access them from the OHC.

Residents who still need a certificate preserved by ODH can request a Washington birth certificate or a Washington death certificate online, in person, or through mail.

Residents can order a birth or death certificate through the online portal the Department of Health in Ohio provides. When requesting birth records, individuals must provide specific details such as the child's full official name, date of birth, mother's maiden name, county of birth, and a valid credit card. Similarly, for death records, information such as the decedent's full official name, date of death, county of death, gender, mother's maiden name, and a valid credit card is required.

Mail-in requests should be addressed to:

Ohio Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 15098
Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098

Applicants should complete the Application for Certified Copies form and include the requisite fee. Processing time for mail-in requests is typically four to six weeks.

Alternatively, individuals can visit their local health department in the county to place an in-person order, with a fee of $21.50 for a birth or death certificate. It is noteworthy that the Bureau of Vital Statistics also accommodates requests for fetal death records, stillbirth certificates, and heirloom birth certificates.

Washington County Probate Court Records

Washington probate court records include a range of critical documents, comprising estates, wills, guardianships, and trusts, as well as birth, death, divorce, and marriage records. Notably, some of these records, for estate, guardianship, and trust documents, date back to as early as 1789, and vital records to 1867.

Much like other civil records, the majority of probate records are generally accessible to the public, with the exception of cases related to mental illness and adoptions. Individuals seeking to access a probate record can initiate the process by contacting the probate court clerk, either through mail correspondence or by visiting the courthouse in person.

In Washington, obtaining crucial vital records, such as birth or death certificates, involves a nominal fee of $5. Likewise, for those seeking a certified marriage record, the cost is set at $2.

Washington County Property Records

A Washington County property record provides a wealth of information, including the precise location of the parcel, the owner's contact details, any special notices, valuation, legal description, land use, and tax history.

The county Auditor offers a Property Search tool to access these property records. This tool enables users to conduct a basic search by entering the owner's name, parcel number, or address or perform an advanced search using specific criteria such as sales, location, land, or residential information.

Moreover, the Office of the Recorder in Washington State also offers an online tool for individuals seeking property records. This tool can be accessed by guests or registered users, providing a convenient method for interested parties to obtain the required property information.

Washington County Court Records Online

Private websites independent of the government or government sponsorship offer access to Washington court records, with Ohiocourtrecords.us serving as an illustrative example. Interested individuals can utilize these third-party sites to search for organized court records. Although this presents a viable option for accessing court records, it is important to recognize the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing these services.

An advantage of using third-party sites is the breadth of information available, as many of these sites draw from multiple sources to compile their records. However, a drawback is that variations in the sources from which these sites derive their records may result in discrepancies between the information available on different sites and the records provided by government-operated sites.

Moreover, while accessing court records through third-party sites is convenient and easily accessible, there remains a risk that the information obtained may not be entirely accurate or current.