| Clerk of Courts | Montgomery County Clerk of Courts — Public Records Online (PRO) |
|---|---|
| Probate Court | Montgomery County Probate Court — Case Search |
| Clerk address | Clerk of Courts / Probate Court: Montgomery County Courts Building, 41 N Perry St, Dayton, OH 45422. Dayton Municipal Court: 301 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45402 |
| Phone | Listed on the clerk website |
| Hours | Dayton Municipal Court: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| 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)) |
Montgomery County (Dayton) is one of the more consolidated Ohio counties for online search. The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts runs Public Records Online (PRO), which covers Common Pleas General Division criminal and civil cases, Common Pleas Domestic Relations cases, Montgomery County Municipal Court traffic/criminal/civil cases, and Second District Court of Appeals cases — all from one search tool.
Records for estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses are kept separately by the Montgomery County Probate Court, which has its own online name and case-type search. Dayton also operates its own Dayton Municipal Court for cases arising within city limits, which is distinct from the county Municipal Court covered by PRO.
A common point of confusion: Montgomery County has both a county-wide Municipal Court (for townships and smaller municipalities) and Dayton's own Municipal Court (for the city itself), each with a different clerk and its own search tool.
Search Montgomery County court records online
Clerk of Courts
Montgomery County Clerk of Courts — Public Records Online (PRO)
- Cost
- Free to search; certified copies require an in-person request
- Coverage
- Common Pleas General Division and Domestic Relations cases, Montgomery County Municipal Court traffic/criminal/civil cases, and Second District Court of Appeals cases
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic, Appeals
Users can sign up for free email or text notifications on a case. Records Section can be reached at recordssection@mcohio.org; office at 41 N Perry St, Room 104, Dayton, OH 45422.
Probate Court
Montgomery County Probate Court — Case Search
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Estates, guardianships, trusts, and marriage licenses
- Records
- Probate
Located at 41 N Perry St, 2nd Floor, Dayton, OH 45422-2155, phone (937) 225-4640.
Other courts
Dayton Municipal Court — Court Search Types
- Cost
- Free to search
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor, traffic, and civil cases filed within the city of Dayton
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
Separate from the county Montgomery County Municipal Court covered by PRO. Clerk of Court phone (937) 333-4300.
What is available online
PRO consolidates Common Pleas General and Domestic Relations Division cases, county Municipal Court cases, and Second District Court of Appeals cases into one search. Regular (plain) copies from PRO cost $0.10 per page at the Clerk of Courts office; certified copies of court files require an in-person request. Dayton Municipal Court and the Probate Court each run separate, independent search systems not included in PRO.
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
Montgomery County clerk offices
Clerk of Courts / Probate Court: Montgomery County Courts Building, 41 N Perry St, Dayton, OH 45422. Dayton Municipal Court: 301 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45402
Hours: Dayton Municipal Court: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Common Pleas, county Municipal Court, and appellate records. Search PRO online for a docket and, for many documents, imaged copies. Regular copies cost $0.10 per page at the Clerk of Courts office; certified copies of official court files require an in-person appearance at the Records Section, 41 N Perry St, Room 104, Dayton, or by emailing recordssection@mcohio.org for guidance.
Dayton Municipal Court records. Use the Dayton Municipal Court's own online case inquiry tool, or contact the Clerk of Court's office directly for records or copies.
Probate records. Search the Probate Division's online case search by name, case number, or estate type, or contact the Probate Court at 41 N Perry St, 2nd Floor, Dayton, for copies or older records.
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
What does the Montgomery County PRO system cover?
Public Records Online covers Common Pleas General Division and Domestic Relations cases, Montgomery County Municipal Court cases, and Second District Court of Appeals cases, all from one search.
Is Dayton Municipal Court the same as Montgomery County Municipal Court?
No. Dayton Municipal Court handles cases from within Dayton city limits and has its own separate case search; the county Municipal Court (covered by PRO) handles other municipalities and townships.
How much does a copy cost from the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts?
Regular (uncertified) copies cost $0.10 per page at the Clerk of Courts office. Certified copies require an in-person request, since the clerk must physically seal and certify the document.
Where are Montgomery County probate and marriage records kept?
With the Montgomery County Probate Court, a separate division of Common Pleas Court with its own online case search for estates, guardianships, trusts, and marriage licenses.
Sources
- Montgomery County Clerk of Courts — Public Records Online — https://pro.mcohio.org/
- Montgomery County Clerk of Courts — https://mcclerkofcourts.org/Default.cshtml
- Montgomery County Probate Court Case Search — https://go.mcohio.org/applications/probate/prodcfm/casesearchall.cfm
- Dayton Municipal Court — https://clerkofcourt.daytonohio.gov/
- 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.