How to Search Hamilton County Records (Start Here)
Hamilton County (Cincinnati) has one of the better-organized online systems in Ohio — but the Clerk of Courts alone runs six separate search portals.
- Court and criminal cases: courtclerk.org offers Name Search, All Courts, Criminal & Traffic, Common Pleas Civil, Municipal Civil, and Liens. Pick the right portal or you'll miss results.
- Background checks: In-person only at the Justice Center, Room 100, 1000 Main Street. Monday–Friday, 7 AM – 3 PM. Not available online.
- Property values and ownership: Hamilton County Auditor at hamiltoncountyauditor.org. The Auditor also runs WEDGE (wedge.hcauditor.org) for detailed parcel data.
- Recorded deeds, mortgages, and liens: Hamilton County Recorder at recordersoffice.hamilton-co.org — free online document search. This is separate from the Auditor.
- Marriage licenses: Probate Court — different office, different building from the Clerk of Courts.
Find the right database below — each covers a different record type.
Criminal & Court Records
Jail & Inmate Records
Property & Tax Records
Vital Records
Business, Voter & Other
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Clerk of Courts search do I use? ▼
courtclerk.org has six portals. For criminal cases, use Criminal & Traffic Search. For civil lawsuits in Common Pleas, use Common Pleas Civil Search. For smaller claims in Municipal Court, use Municipal Civil Search. The All Courts Search is broadest but can return too many results if the name is common.
Can I run a background check online? ▼
No. The Hamilton County Clerk of Courts only processes background checks in person at the Justice Center, Room 100, 1000 Main Street, Cincinnati. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 3 PM.
What's the difference between the Auditor and the Recorder? ▼
The Auditor tracks property values, ownership, and tax data — search at hamiltoncountyauditor.org. The Recorder files the actual documents: deeds, mortgages, liens, and releases — search at recordersoffice.hamilton-co.org. You'll often need both.
Where do I get a marriage license in Hamilton County? ▼
The Probate Court issues marriage licenses in Hamilton County. This is separate from the Clerk of Courts — different office, different building, different website.
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