| Clerk of Courts | Lorain County Clerk of Courts — Case Docket / E-Filing |
|---|---|
| Probate Court | Lorain County Probate Court — Search Records |
| Clerk address | Clerk of Courts / Probate Court: Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court St, Elyria, OH 44035 |
| Phone | Listed on the clerk website |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | 1987 |
| 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)) |
Lorain County (Elyria) keeps Common Pleas records with the Lorain County Clerk of Courts, whose online docket system covers Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and Ninth District Court of Appeals cases filed since 1988. The Clerk's office is based at the Lorain County Justice Center in Elyria.
The county has five municipal courts (Elyria, Lorain, Oberlin, Avon Lake area, and others) plus several mayor's courts, each with its own clerk and, in most cases, its own online search — the county Clerk of Courts does not index any of them. The Lorain County Probate Court, a division of Common Pleas with its own elected judge, runs a separate search covering records from 1990 forward, with older files (back to 1824) available on paper only.
Because Lorain County has so many separate municipal and mayor's courts, confirm which city or village handled a misdemeanor or traffic case before searching — a case from Oberlin, for example, will not show up in the Elyria Municipal Court's search.
Search Lorain County court records online
Clerk of Courts
Lorain County Clerk of Courts — Case Docket / E-Filing
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Common Pleas Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and Ninth District Court of Appeals cases filed since October 1987
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Appeals
Includes Court Calendars, Quick Index, General Index, and Docket Sheets. Excludes Probate and Juvenile. Office at the Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court St, Elyria, OH 44035.
Probate Court
Lorain County Probate Court — Search Records
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Estates, guardianships, and marriage-license records from 1990 forward (index dates to 1824 in physical form)
- Records
- Probate
Database updates weekly, every Saturday. Located at the Justice Center, 225 Court St, Room 611, Elyria, OH 44035, phone (440) 329-5175.
Other courts
Elyria Municipal Court — Records and Payments
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor, traffic, and civil cases filed within the Elyria Municipal Court's territory
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
One of five municipal courts in Lorain County; does not cover other cities' cases.
What is available online
The Clerk of Courts' online dockets cover Common Pleas Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and appellate cases filed since October 1987; case types marked confidential may not display. Probate and Juvenile are excluded and searched separately. Lorain County's five municipal courts and multiple mayor's courts each keep independent records; the county Clerk of Courts does not aggregate them.
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
Lorain County clerk offices
Clerk of Courts / Probate Court: Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court St, Elyria, OH 44035
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Common Pleas records. Search the Clerk of Courts' online docket by name or case number, or visit or file with the Clerk's office at the Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court St, Elyria.
Municipal and mayor's court records. Contact the specific municipal court (Elyria, Lorain, Oberlin, or others) or municipality directly; each keeps its own file and search tool.
Probate records. Search the Probate Court's online records for cases from 1990 forward, or contact the Probate Court at 225 Court St, Room 611, Elyria, for older records or certified copies.
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 far back do Lorain County Common Pleas records go online?
The Clerk of Courts' online docket covers Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and Court of Appeals cases filed since October 1987. Earlier records are available in person at the Clerk's office.
Does the county Clerk of Courts cover every municipal court in Lorain County?
No. Lorain County has five municipal courts (including Elyria and Oberlin) and several mayor's courts, each with its own clerk and, in most cases, its own separate online search.
Who keeps Lorain County probate and marriage records?
The Lorain County Probate Court, a division of Common Pleas Court with its own online search covering records from 1990 forward; earlier records back to 1824 exist on paper at the courthouse.
Where do I find an Oberlin traffic ticket?
Search the Oberlin Municipal Court's own public-access case search; it is separate from both the county Clerk of Courts and the Elyria Municipal Court.
Sources
- Lorain County Clerk of Courts — https://loraincountyohio.gov/377/Clerk-of-Courts
- Lorain County Clerk of Courts — E-Filing / Case Search — https://coc.loraincountyohio.gov/eservices/home.page.2
- Lorain County Probate Court — Search Records — https://probate.loraincounty.com/probate/search.shtml
- Elyria Municipal Court — Records and Payments — https://www.elyriamunicourt.org/records-payments
- 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.