Ohio court records are filed with the Clerk of Courts in each county. The Common Pleas Court / Municipal Court handles trial-level cases. Ohio does not have a single statewide court search portal — you must go to the county where the case was filed.
What this page covers: Ohio state court case records. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.
Where to start: Identify the county where the case was filed, then contact the Clerk of Courts in that county. Some counties courts offer online case search on their individual websites.
Common mistake: Without a statewide portal, many people search the wrong county. If you are unsure where a case was filed, start with the county where the defendant lived or where the incident occurred.
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Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.supremecourt.ohio.gov — Ohio Courts — Main judicial-branch portal for Ohio
- Ohio case access — Public case-search portal
- Ohio court statistics — Official caseload statistics
- Ohio annual report — Most recent annual report (PDF)
- uscourts.gov — PACER — Federal court records (separate system)
- uscourts.gov — Judicial Business 2025 — Federal caseload context
Related Court Records Resources
- Ohio Criminal Records →
- Ohio Property Records →
- Ohio Vital Records →
- Ohio Voter Records →
- Ohio Wants & Warrants →
- Ohio Licenses →
- Ohio Recorded Documents →
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Court Records Databases
11 official Ohio court records sources.
Court Records
Ohio Counties
88 Ohio counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Ohio court cases online?▼
Ohio's trial courts publish case lookups through the Ohio Courts. Start at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.
Is there a free statewide court case search in Ohio?▼
The Ohio Courts operates Ohio's official statewide judicial portal at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Ohio residents are searched separately through PACER.
What's the difference between trial and appellate courts in Ohio?▼
Trial courts in Ohio handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Ohio Courts publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov.
How far back do Ohio court records go online?▼
Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Ohio county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Ohio Courts portal at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov for each court's coverage window.
Are sealed or expunged Ohio cases visible in the online search?▼
No. Ohio courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Ohio Courts portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.