Fredericktown, Ohio Public Records

For misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and small civil claims, residents utilize the Mount Vernon Municipal Court at 11 South Gay Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-393-9508), which has jurisdiction over cases arising in Fredericktown and throughout Knox County. The Municipal Court handles misdemeanors punishable by up to six months in jail, traffic offenses, preliminary hearings for felonies, civil cases up to $15,000, and small claims up to $6,000. Ohio provides limited online access to court records through the Ohio Supreme Court's Public Access system, though Knox County courts require in-person or written requests for most detailed case files. The Clerk of Courts office at the Knox County Courthouse maintains all Common Pleas records and can conduct case searches by party name or case number. Certified copies of court documents typically cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page, plus a $1.00 certification fee. The Municipal Court maintains its own records and charges similar fees. Court records are public under Ohio Revised Code §149.43 unless sealed by court order or involving juvenile matters, which are confidential under Ohio Revised Code §2151.358. Requests can be made in person at the Clerk's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The searchable database is free and publicly accessible through the county website. For recorded land documents including warranty deeds, mortgage documents, liens, easements, land contracts, and other instruments affecting real property, the Knox County Recorder's Office at 111 East High Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-393-6783, website: knoxcountyohio.org/recorder) serves as the official repository. The Recorder's office has digitized records and provides free online access to search and view recorded documents through their website. Users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, date range, or parcel number. Documents recorded from the 1970s forward are typically available online as scanned images. Certified copies can be ordered online or in person for $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. The Knox County GIS system provides an interactive parcel viewer with aerial imagery, property boundaries, zoning information, and links to Auditor property data. Under Ohio Revised Code §317.32, all recorded instruments are public records unless specifically exempted. The Recorder's office accepts documents for recording Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with fees based on number of pages.

Many Fredericktown residents work in farming operations or agricultural support businesses. Small manufacturers in the area include metalworking shops, fabrication companies, and agricultural equipment suppliers. The downtown business district along High Street contains locally-owned retail stores, restaurants, banks, medical offices, and service businesses. The Fredericktown branch of Park National Bank and Fredericktown Pharmacy serve as established local employers. Many residents commute to larger employment centers including Mount Vernon (15 miles west) and Mansfield (25 miles north) for manufacturing, healthcare, and professional jobs. Knox Community Hospital in Mount Vernon and OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital provide healthcare employment accessible to Fredericktown residents. According to U.S. Census estimates, Knox County's median household income is approximately $58,000, with Fredericktown's income levels generally comparable. The village has seen modest residential development in recent years while maintaining its small-town agricultural character. The proximity to State Route 13 provides transportation access for businesses and commuters. The annual Fredericktown Tomato Show, held since 1936, generates tourism activity and supports local businesses each August.

The Fredericktown Police Department, located at 115 East High Street, Fredericktown, OH 43019 (phone: 740-694-2727), provides primary law enforcement services within the village limits. The department handles patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and maintains incident reports, accident reports, and police logs. Residents can request copies of police reports by visiting the department in person during business hours or calling to request records in writing. Basic incident reports are typically available for a nominal copying fee, though ongoing investigations may be exempt from immediate disclosure. The Knox County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 308 South Main Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-397-3333, website: knoxcountysheriff.org), provides law enforcement services in unincorporated areas of Knox County and assists Fredericktown police when needed. The Sheriff's Office maintains its own records division for reports originating in their jurisdiction. For arrest and jail booking records, the Knox County Sheriff operates the Knox County Jail, and residents can search current inmates through the Knox County Sheriff's website inmate roster, which displays booking photos, charges, bond amounts, booking dates, and projected release dates. Arrest records and jail logs are considered public under Ohio Revised Code §149.43, Ohio's Public Records Act, which establishes that all government records are presumed public unless specifically exempted. Requesters can submit written public records requests to either the Fredericktown Police Department or Knox County Sheriff's Office, and agencies must respond within a reasonable time frame, typically providing records at cost of copying.

Certified birth certificates cost $27.00 and can be ordered online through VitalChek (additional service fees apply), by mail with completed application and proper identification, or in person at the state office. Processing time is typically 4-6 weeks by mail, immediate for in-person requests. Death certificates are public records after 50 years; recent death certificates cost $27.00 and require proof of eligibility. The Knox County Health Department at 11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-392-2200) can process birth and death certificate applications for records filed in Knox County and forward requests to the state office. Marriage licenses are issued by the Knox County Probate Court, located at 111 East High Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-393-6794). Couples must apply in person at the Probate Court, provide valid identification and Social Security numbers, and pay a $60.00 fee ($57.00 if both parties complete premarital counseling). There is no waiting period, and licenses are valid for 60 days. Marriage records dating back to the 1800s are maintained by the Probate Court and are public records. Divorce records are filed with the Knox County Clerk of Courts as part of Common Pleas domestic relations cases and can be searched through the Clerk's office. Certified copies require identification and proper documentation of relationship or legal interest.

Knox County does not operate a general business license system, though specific activities like food service require health department permits from the Knox County Health Department at 11660 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-392-2200). Businesses operating under an assumed name must file a Trade Name Registration with the Knox County Clerk of Courts at 111 East High Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-393-6788). DBA filings cost approximately $40.00 and are valid for five years. For state-level business entity formation and registration, the Ohio Secretary of State Business Services Division (website: businessservices.ohiosos.gov, phone: 614-466-3910) maintains the official database of corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and nonprofits. The free online business search allows anyone to look up entity status, registered agent information, filing dates, and officers/directors. New business entity formation can be completed online with fees ranging from $99 for LLCs to $125 for corporations. The Ohio Secretary of State also maintains the UCC filing system for secured transactions and liens on business personal property, searchable through their website. Business personal property tax is assessed by the Knox County Auditor, and businesses must file annual personal property tax returns listing equipment, inventory, and fixtures. Commercial real estate assessments are also handled by the Knox County Auditor and searchable through their online property database. Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, healthcare providers) are regulated by respective Ohio state licensing boards.

Fredericktown voters are served by the Knox County Board of Elections, located at 117 East High Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050 (phone: 740-393-6796, website: knoxcountyboe.org). This office handles all aspects of voter registration, election administration, early voting, absentee ballots, and official results for Fredericktown and all Knox County precincts. Ohio residents can register to vote online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at olvr.ohiosos.gov, by mail using a downloadable form, or in person at the Board of Elections. The registration deadline is 30 days before any election. Ohioans must provide their Ohio driver's license or state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. The Village of Fredericktown holds municipal elections in odd-numbered years for mayor and village council members. The next Fredericktown municipal election is scheduled for November 2025, when voters will elect the mayor (four-year term) and three council members (two-year terms). Village council meetings are held at Village Hall, and candidates file nominating petitions with the Board of Elections. Fredericktown residents can find their assigned polling location by using the polling place lookup tool on the Knox County Board of Elections website or the Ohio Secretary of State's website, entering their residential address. Under Ohio law, voter registration lists are public records available for inspection, though personal information like Social Security numbers is redacted. Campaign finance reports for local candidates are filed with the Board of Elections and are public record. Precinct-level election results are posted on the Board of Elections website after certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Knox County reported approximately 64% voter turnout with roughly 27,000 ballots cast from approximately 42,000 registered voters, reflecting strong engagement in rural Ohio. On November 3, 2026, Fredericktown and Knox County voters will decide multiple races: Ohio Governor (four-year term), all Ohio constitutional offices including Secretary of State and Attorney General, U.S. House of Representatives for Ohio's 12th Congressional District, Ohio State Senate District 19, Ohio House District 68, and Knox County offices including County Commissioner, Sheriff, Auditor, Recorder, and possibly Common Pleas Court Judge depending on term expirations. Ohio does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026. Voters can request absentee ballots online through the Board of Elections website, by mail, or in person, beginning 90 days before an election. Ohio offers no-excuse absentee voting, and completed ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day or returned to the Board of Elections by 7:30 PM on Election Day. Early in-person voting is available at the Board of Elections office beginning 28 days before Election Day, including weekend hours.