How to Search Ohio Public Records
Ohio uses County Auditors for property (not Assessors), Clerk of Courts for cases, and County Recorders for deeds. Some counties like Cuyahoga use "Fiscal Officer" instead of Auditor.
- Court cases: Clerk of Courts in each county — Common Pleas for felonies/major civil.
- Property values: County Auditor (or Fiscal Officer in Cuyahoga).
- Recorded documents: County Recorder — deeds, mortgages, liens.
- Sex offenders: eSORN at sheriffalerts.com — statewide registry.
- Business entities: Secretary of State business search at sos.state.oh.us.
Ohio Counties — Most Searched
Statewide Databases
These databases link to official government portals — no middleman, no fees.
Criminal & Court Records
Jail & Inmate Records
Sex Offender Registry — eSORN
DRC — Offender Search
Vital Records — Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce
Business Search — SOS
How to Search Ohio Criminal Records
Start with the county Common Pleas Clerk for felony criminal records. For misdemeanors, check the Municipal Court in the city where the arrest occurred (or County Court for rural areas). There is NO free statewide criminal name search in Ohio — BCI requires authorization for background checks. For current county jail inmates, go to the county Sheriff's website. For state prison inmates, use the Ohio DRC offender search. Many Ohio counties offer free online court searches through their Clerk of Courts.
How to Search Ohio Court Records
Go to Common Pleas Court for felonies, civil over $15,000, domestic relations, juvenile, and probate. For misdemeanors, traffic, and civil under $15,000, go to Municipal Court (in cities) or County Court (in areas without a Municipal Court). Some villages still have Mayor's Courts for minor misdemeanors and traffic. Each of Ohio's 88 counties operates independently.
How to Search Ohio Property Records
Start with the County Auditor's website for property valuations, tax records, ownership, and sales data — Ohio County Auditors generally have excellent online property search tools. Then go to the County Recorder for deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded documents. For tax bills and payment, go to the County Treasurer. Ohio Auditor websites typically offer parcel viewers, sales records, and detailed property characteristics.
How to Get Ohio Vital Records
For birth and death certificates, order from the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, or the local vital records office in the county where the event occurred. For marriage licenses, go to the Probate Court — not the County Clerk. For divorce records, go to the Common Pleas Clerk (Domestic Relations Division). Ohio charges $21.50 for certified copies of vital records.
Where do I search for Ohio public records? ▼
Records in Ohio are split across multiple offices. The Common Pleas Clerk handles court filings. The County Auditor handles ownership and valuations. The Probate Court handles birth, death, and marriage. These are separate systems with separate searches.
Why does my Ohio search return no results? ▼
Each record type is stored separately by a different office. If your search returns nothing, you are almost certainly in the wrong system. Use the filter above to identify the correct database for your record type.
Is there a single database for all Ohio records? ▼
No. Ohio records are maintained by separate offices with separate systems. There is no unified search that covers everything in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Ohio use Auditors instead of Assessors for property? ▼
Ohio county Auditors appraise property values and maintain ownership records. This is the equivalent of the Assessor in most other states. Cuyahoga County uses the title Fiscal Officer instead of Auditor.
Is there a free statewide court search in Ohio? ▼
No single statewide portal. Each county Common Pleas Court maintains its own online docket. The Ohio Supreme Court has a case search for appeals only.
How do I search Ohio property records? ▼
Search through the county Auditor's website. Most Ohio counties offer free online parcel search with ownership, tax, and sales history.
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