Franklin County Court Records

A Franklin County court record is any document filed with the court clerk or presented to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in connection with a legal action or procedure, according to Section 2303.901 of the Ohio Revised Code. These records serve as a public record of official actions and proceedings. Under the Ohio Courts Rules of Superintendence and the Ohio Public Records Act, most court documents are regarded as public unless they are expressly prohibited by law for reasons of confidentiality or privacy.

Court records may include judgments, pleadings, exhibits, motions, orders, and additional resources related to criminal and civil cases. Court records, which detail legal proceedings, may sometimes overlap or contain related information with other public records like vital records (births, deaths, marriages), arrest information, and federal case files.

Are Franklin County Court Records Public?

Yes. Court records are accessible to the general public under the Ohio Public Records Act and Rule 45 of the Ohio Courts Rules of Superintendence. The court clerk is required to provide a record seeker with access to a court record in a reasonable time frame. However, some records are not accessible to the general public because of legal limitations or confidential restrictions.

Records exempt from public disclosure include medical records, child custody evaluations and reports, research, notes, drafts, suggestions, and counsel from court employees and judges, including collateral source papers attached to or filed with the reports. They also include drug and alcohol use assessments and pre-disposition treatment facility reports and other documents or information in a document restricted from public view under state, federal, or common law

What Information is Available in Franklin County Court Records?

Franklin County court records encompass a variety of documents generated during legal proceedings, and their content can vary significantly depending on the nature of the case. They include:

Civil Court Records

Civil court case records involve documents generated during a legal dispute between two or more parties. They include pleadings, motions and orders, judgments and modifications, exhibits, witness statements, dockets, journals, and transcripts

Family Court Records

In addition to instances involving paternity, child abuse and/or neglect, and truancy, family court records are associated with cases involving divorce, dissolution, separation, and annulment, spousal and child support, child custody, and parental rights. They may include case details, testimonies, agreed-upon financial entitlements/settlements, evidence filed, probationary clauses, judgements, transcripts of court proceedings, and any motion.

Criminal Court Records

These contain the case information and records generated during a criminal court proceeding. Criminal court records in Franklin County may include arrest records, booking details, pleadings, indictments, conviction information, fingerprints and photographs, notices, and docket entries.

Specialized Records

These may include juvenile records which track a minor's interactions with the juvenile justice system and are generally confidential to protect the minor's future. Probate records, such as wills, which document the legal process of assessing and distributing a deceased person's property, also fall under this category. Furthermore, domestic relations records like divorce, dissolution, annulment, child support, parenting time, and parental rights may fall under special records.

Franklin County Court Records Search

The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas provides several ways to obtain court documents.

• Online Access - The Franklin County Clerk of Courts' Case Information Online (CIO) gives the public access to information about criminal and civil cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas' General Division and domestic relations cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas' Domestic Relations Division. Furthermore, the Franklin County Municipal Court maintains a Search Records online portal accessible to the general public for civil, criminal, and traffic cases.
• In-Person Access - Members of the public may contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts for inspection or copying of public court records at all reasonable times during regular business hours.
• Mail and Phone Requests - Individuals may contact the county's Clerk of Courts to request court case information via phone at (614) 525-3600. Furthermore, record seekers may request that papers be mailed to them.

Fees for Court Records in Franklin County

Requesters seeking physical copies of Franklin County court records are typically charged only the actual cost of making copies. Record seekers who wish to receive their copies via mail are required to pay for the full cost of postage and mailing supplies.

The Clerk of Courts handles vital records with a fee of $21.00 for the first death certificate and an additional $4.00 for each additional death certificate purchased at the same time. City of Columbus Public Health issues death certificates for $25.00 per certified copy. Marriage certificates are issued for $1.00 per page for the copy, plus a $5.00 certification fee for certified copies.

Franklin County Courthouse Locations

Courts operating in Franklin County include the following:

Criminal Records Access in Franklin County

County courts operating in Ohio are not responsible for conducting criminal history checks. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) of the Ohio Attorney General is responsible for routinely conducting criminal background checks. The BCI conducts background checks by matching the fingerprints that are received with a database of criminal fingerprints.

To obtain a background check, interested persons may visit or contact one of the Web Check Locations identified on the listing. Requesters are required to bring along a valid, government-issued photo ID to the location to have their fingerprints electronically scanned. Employers in Ohio must give written notification in advance of their intention to perform pre-employment background checks. Before performing employment background checks, employers are also required by the FCRA to obtain the written consent of their candidates.

Franklin County Probate Records

The Franklin County Probate Court maintains records for cases filed with the court such as guardianships, marriage licenses, estates, name changes, and various other actions. However, certain records are confidential by law and are not open for public inspection, including adoption records, mental illness, and developmental disabilities.

Individuals may look up public probate court records by accessing the Probate General Case Index Search. To search, input the name of the relevant party. Record searches may be conducted in person at the Court with an appointment. One may also request a public private court record by the U.S. Mail or by email at Probate@franklincountyohio.gov. Requesters will be contacted by the Deputy Clerk regarding the cost. For requests submitted by the U.S. Mail, record seekers are required to send a self-addressed stamped envelope with their request and payment to:

Franklin County Family Court Records

Case types typically handled by the Domestic Relations Division (Family Court) include divorces, legal separations, annulments, dissolutions, and domestic violence actions (civil protection orders).

No documents filed in the Domestic Relations division are viewable through the Clerk's Case Information Online (CIO). However, copies of most domestic documents can be obtained through the Records Division. To obtain a record, interested persons may also contact the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division, Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at:

Federal Court Records in Franklin County

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio is responsible for federal cases filed in Franklin County. Interested persons may view/print documents in most civil and criminal cases filed since September 1, 2003, by accessing the court's CM/ECF - PACER system. Users are required to register a U.S. Courts PACER account. Documents are in PDF format, and have a per-page fee, with a quarterly minimum billing amount and a per-document maximum charge.

Individuals may utilize docket sheets through the court's Case Search page to find documents on older cases. Requests for specific documents may be completed via mail or fax using the Copy Request Form for a fee of 50 cents per page. Furthermore, one may view and print documents available through PACER at the Clerk's office on public access computers. No PACER account is required, and copies are also subject to fees.