| Clerk of Courts | Franklin County Clerk of Courts — Case Information Online (CIO) |
|---|---|
| Probate Court | Franklin County Probate Court — Record Search |
| Clerk address | Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas): 373 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215. Municipal Court Clerk: 375 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215. Probate Court: 373 S High St, 22nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215-6311 |
| Phone | Listed on the clerk website |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | $1.00 per page, including the certificate and seal, for Common Pleas Clerk of Courts records (Ohio Revised Code 2303.20(Z)) |
Franklin County (Columbus) is Ohio's most populous county and has one of the more complete online court systems in the state. The Franklin County Clerk of Courts publishes Case Information Online (CIO), which covers criminal and civil cases in the Common Pleas General Division, domestic-relations cases in the Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division, and appellate cases from the Tenth District Court of Appeals — all from one search box.
Misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and smaller civil claims within Columbus are handled by the Franklin County Municipal Court, whose clerk runs a separate search tool. The Franklin County Probate Court is a third, independent office with its own record search for estates, guardianships, name changes, and marriage licenses. Several suburbs (such as Dublin, Grove City area townships, and others) may fall under mayor's courts for minor ordinance violations, which are not covered by any of these county systems.
The most common mistake is searching only the Municipal Court site for a felony, or only the Clerk of Courts CIO for a misdemeanor — the two offices are entirely separate and do not share records.
Search Franklin County court records online
Clerk of Courts
Franklin County Clerk of Courts — Case Information Online (CIO)
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Common Pleas General Division (criminal and civil), Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division, and Tenth District Court of Appeals cases
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Appeals
Search by party name, attorney, or case number. Office phone (614) 525-3600.
Probate Court
Franklin County Probate Court — Record Search
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Estates, guardianships, name changes, adoptions, and marriage licenses
- Records
- Probate
Some case types (adoption, mental health) are confidential and excluded from the public search. Office phone (614) 525-3894.
Other courts
Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk — Search Records
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor criminal, traffic, and civil cases up to the municipal-court jurisdictional limit within Franklin County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
Search by case/ticket number or by name. Clerk's office at 375 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215, phone (614) 645-8214.
What is available online
Case Information Online (CIO) is the single search point for Common Pleas General Division, Domestic Relations, and Tenth District Court of Appeals cases. The Municipal Court Clerk's search covers only misdemeanor, traffic, and municipal civil cases, and the Probate Court's Record Search covers only probate matters — none of the three systems shares data with the others. Older records not yet digitized may require an in-person or written request to the relevant clerk.
Which clerk has your record
In Ohio, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Ohio page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Courts of Common Pleas — General Division | Felony criminal cases; Civil suits over the county/municipal-court jurisdictional limit; Civil appeals from administrative agencies | Clerk of Courts of the Court of Common Pleas |
| Courts of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division | Divorce, dissolution, and legal separation; Child custody and support (non-juvenile); Spousal support | Clerk of Courts of the Court of Common Pleas (same office as the General Division in most counties) |
| Courts of Common Pleas — Probate Division | Estates and wills; Guardianships and conservatorships; Adoptions and name changes | Probate Court (the probate judge's office keeps its own records; not the Common Pleas Clerk of Courts) |
| Courts of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division | Delinquency and unruly-child cases; Abuse, neglect, and dependency; Some custody and support matters | Juvenile Court clerk (often combined with Probate in smaller counties, separate in larger ones) |
| Municipal Courts and County Courts | Misdemeanors; Traffic tickets; Civil claims up to $15,000 | Clerk of the individual Municipal or County Court |
| Mayor's Courts | Minor traffic and ordinance violations within some municipalities | Village or city fiscal officer / mayor's court clerk |
Request records in person or by mail
Franklin County clerk offices
Clerk of Courts (Common Pleas): 373 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215. Municipal Court Clerk: 375 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215. Probate Court: 373 S High St, 22nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215-6311
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Common Pleas records (felony, major civil, domestic relations, appeals). Search or request copies through the Clerk of Courts CIO system, or visit the Clerk of Courts office at 373 S High St, Columbus. Include the case number if known, the documents needed, and whether certified copies are required.
Municipal Court records (misdemeanor, traffic, smaller civil). Use the Municipal Court Clerk's online search, or visit the Municipal Court Clerk's office at 375 S High St, Columbus.
Probate records (estates, guardianships, name changes, marriage licenses). Use the Probate Court's Record Search, or submit a written or email public-records request to the Probate Court directly; some requests can also be handled in person at 373 S High St, 22nd Floor.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Ohio |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | $1.00 per page, including the certificate and seal, for Common Pleas Clerk of Courts records (Ohio Revised Code 2303.20(Z)) |
The $1-per-page certified-copy fee in R.C. 2303.20(Z) applies to Common Pleas clerks of courts. Municipal, County, and Probate Courts set their own copy fees by local rule or court cost schedule, and plain (uncertified) copy costs vary by county — some counties charge $0.10–$0.25 per page, others provide free online plain copies. Confirm the current fee with the specific clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Ohio court records are presumed open to the public under Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio, Rules 44–47 (the "Public Access Rules"), but several categories are removed from public view:
The Ohio guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search Franklin County Common Pleas court cases online?
Use the Clerk of Courts' Case Information Online (CIO) system, which covers Common Pleas General Division, Domestic Relations, and Tenth District Court of Appeals cases by party name or case number.
Where do I find a Columbus misdemeanor or traffic case?
Search the Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk's online records, not the Common Pleas Clerk of Courts CIO system — they are separate offices with separate databases.
Who has Franklin County probate and marriage license records?
The Franklin County Probate Court, a separate elected office from the Clerk of Courts. It runs its own online Record Search for estates, guardianships, name changes, and marriage licenses.
Are all Franklin County suburb traffic tickets in the Municipal Court search?
Not necessarily. Some municipalities within the county use mayor's courts for minor ordinance and traffic violations, which are not part of the county's court systems; contact the municipality directly for those records.
Sources
- Franklin County Clerk of Courts — Case Information Online — https://fcdcfcjs.co.franklin.oh.us/CaseInformationOnline/
- Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk — Search Records — https://www.fcmcclerk.com/case/search
- Franklin County Probate Court — Record Search — https://probate.franklincountyohio.gov/Record-Search
- Franklin County Court of Common Pleas — https://www.fccourts.org/
- Supreme Court of Ohio — Judicial System Structure — https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/judicial-system/judicial-system-structure/
- Supreme Court of Ohio — Ohio Trial Courts & Local Rules — https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/judicial-system/ohio-trial-courts/
- Supreme Court of Ohio — Ohio Court of Appeals — https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/judicial-system/ohio-court-of-appeals/
- Supreme Court of Ohio — Reporter of Decisions Opinion Search — https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/
- re:SearchOH (Tyler Technologies) — https://researchoh.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch/Home/
- Ohio Attorney General — Background Checks / BCI WebCheck — https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/backgroundcheck
- Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio (Rules 44-47, Public Access) — https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/Rules/superintendence/Superintendence.pdf
- Ohio Revised Code 2953.32 — Sealing of Conviction Record — https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2953.32
- Ohio Revised Code 2303.20 — Common Pleas Clerk Fees — https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2303.20
- Ohio Revised Code 149.43 — Public Records Act — https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-149.43
See also: all Ohio counties.