Guide
About Ohio public records
Accessible free Ohio public records and sources for conducting a search to obtain criminal, assets and other background information. Search for held assets such as real property, bankruptcy court filings, liens and judgments. Request death, birth, marriage and other vital records directly from the state of Ohio agencies. Resources to search for companies, name availability or to search a U.C.C. online from the Secretary of State. Free and instant search for case details by parties. Federal trials and sites for district, appeal, municipal, common pleas and courts of general jurisdiction. List of offices for documents filed or recorded, deeds, mortgages, bills of sale, name changes and certificates of transfer.
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Court records and filings
Access Ohio Courts online directly. Search court records; from Ohio county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Ohio dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state web sites. File small claims lawsuits. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Ohio state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.
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Court search routes
Criminal, civil and divorce records in Ohio can be held by more than one court, so search each court that may hold the case. The official court site below lists the Ohio courts and how to reach each one.
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Criminal records and background checks
Ohio criminal records are maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) under the Attorney General. BCI provides accurate criminal records for background checks for employment, licensing, and public safety. The Attorney General office provides a sex offender search tool (eSORN). Ohio court records are accessible through individual county clerk of court online systems.
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Vital records
Certified copies of Ohio birth and death certificates are issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Ohio Department of Health. Marriage records are also kept by the local office that issued the license, and divorce records by the court that granted the divorce.
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Property and asset records
Deeds and mortgages in Ohio are recorded at the county level, and property taxes are handled by county or local offices. Business and UCC filings are kept by the state, bankruptcy cases are federal court records, and the state runs a free search for unclaimed property.
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Government records and agencies
Ohio.gov lists the state's agencies, and the Ohio Revised Code is online at Ohio Laws.
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Driving and vehicle records
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles keeps driving records and handles vehicle registration and titles.
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Expungements and record clearing
In Ohio, the sentencing court may seal or expunge eligible conviction records under R.C. 2953.32 once the waiting period after final discharge has passed. Convictions under the traffic chapters, including OVI under Chapter 4511, felony offenses of violence and first and second degree felonies cannot be sealed. Records of dismissals and not guilty verdicts can also be sealed.
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Genealogy and historical research
For family history, start with the Ohio State Archives at the Ohio History Connection and the State Library of Ohio.
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Missing children resources
The Ohio Attorney General serves as Ohio's clearinghouse and repository for missing person data.
- Ohio missing personsOhio Attorney General
- NamUsU.S. Justice Department database of missing and unidentified people
Need a different Ohio record?
Browse county pages, search vital records, look up court filings, or run a background check from the main hub.