Nova, Ohio Public Records

For felony criminal cases, major civil lawsuits, domestic relations matters including divorce and child custody, probate and estate matters, and juvenile cases, Nova residents must go to the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, located at 142 West 2nd Street, Ashland, OH 44805, phone (419) 282-4242. The Court of Common Pleas is divided into General Division (felonies and civil cases over $15,000), Domestic Relations Division, Probate/Juvenile Division, and handles appeals from Municipal Court. Ohio court records can be searched online through the Ohio Supreme Court's public access portal at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/services/publicAccess. This system allows the public to search case information, view docket entries, and access some filed documents for cases in Ashland County courts. However, not all historical records are digitized, and some documents require in-person access at the courthouse. Certified copies of court documents are available from the Clerk of Courts office at the Ashland County Courthouse for a fee of $2.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee. Exemplified copies (with raised seal) cost an additional $1.00. Case searches at the courthouse are free, but copies and certified documents require payment in cash, check, or money order.

The online database includes interactive GIS mapping that allows users to view parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, and surrounding properties. Property tax records show current and delinquent taxes, exemptions, and payment history. The Auditor's Office also maintains agricultural use valuations (CAUV) for farmland in the Nova area. For recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other instruments affecting real property, Nova residents must contact the Ashland County Recorder's Office, located at 110 Cottage Street, Ashland, OH 44805, phone (419) 282-4255. The Recorder's Office maintains an index of all documents recorded since the county's formation and offers online access to recorded documents through a subscription service or pay-per-view system at www.ashlandcountyrecorder.org. Users can search by grantor/grantee name, parcel number, document type, or date range. Copies of recorded documents can be ordered online or obtained in person for $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. Certified copies include an additional $1.00 fee. The GIS parcel viewer integrated with the Auditor's website allows property research by address or interactive map, making it easy for Nova residents to research property ownership, boundaries, and recorded instruments.

The median household income for Sullivan Township, which includes Nova, is estimated at approximately $52,000 to $58,000, somewhat below the Ashland County median of around $60,000 but typical for rural agricultural communities in north-central Ohio. The broader Ashland County economy includes significant manufacturing presence in the city of Ashland, with companies like Samaritan Hospital (major healthcare employer), Welty Building Company (construction), and various plastics and automotive parts manufacturers. Ashland University in Ashland is also a major employer and economic driver for the county. However, Nova itself remains primarily a bedroom community and farming area with no significant commercial or industrial base. The community has seen little recent development, with most growth occurring in the larger villages and cities of Ashland County. Nova's economic character is defined by its agricultural heritage, low population density, and reliance on neighboring communities for employment, shopping, and services. The area benefits from relatively affordable housing and a quiet rural lifestyle while remaining within reasonable commuting distance to employment centers in Ashland, Mansfield, and even Wooster.

Nova, Ohio does not have its own municipal police department. Law enforcement services for Nova and all of Sullivan Township are provided by the Ashland County Sheriff's Office, located at 1205 East Main Street, Ashland, OH 44805. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (419) 289-3911, and their website is www.ashlandcountysheriff.com. The Sheriff's Office maintains jurisdiction over unincorporated areas of Ashland County and handles all calls for service, traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, and patrol activities in Nova. Residents seeking police reports, accident reports, or incident records can submit public records requests directly to the Sheriff's Office either in person, by mail, or through the department's online records request portal. Ohio's Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code §149.43) requires public offices to make records available for inspection and copying promptly, and law enforcement agencies must respond to requests within a reasonable time, though certain investigative records may be exempt during active investigations.

Arrest and jail booking information for Nova residents and anyone detained in Ashland County can be found through the Ashland County Jail's online inmate roster at www.ashlandcountysheriff.com/inmate-roster. The roster is updated regularly and displays current inmates' names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and mugshot photographs. The Ashland County Jail is located at the same address as the Sheriff's Office at 1205 East Main Street in Ashland. For historical arrest records or more detailed booking information, residents can submit a public records request to the Sheriff's Office. Under Ohio law, arrest records are generally considered public unless they involve juvenile offenders or are part of sealed court records. Members of the public can search for past and present inmates, view charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, and access bond information to determine release status.

The fee for a certified birth or death certificate is $26.00, with additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time costing $9.00 each. Ohio offers online ordering through VitalChek at www.vitalchek.com with an additional processing fee and expedited shipping options. Standard processing time is 4-6 weeks; expedited service is available for an additional fee. Birth and death certificates can also be obtained from local health departments, though the Ashland County Health Department refers most requests to the state office. Marriage licenses for Nova residents are issued by the Ashland County Probate Court, located at 142 West 2nd Street, Ashland, OH 44805, phone (419) 282-4270. The fee for a marriage license in Ohio is $60.00, which is reduced to $35.00 if applicants complete a premarital counseling program. Both parties must appear in person with valid identification and Social Security numbers. There is no waiting period, and licenses are valid for 60 days. Certified copies of marriage records cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page plus $1.00 for certification. Divorce records (dissolution decrees) are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in the Domestic Relations Division and are public records unless sealed by court order. Probate Court also handles adoption records (which are sealed) and name changes. Marriage records in Ashland County are indexed back to the county's formation in 1846 and can be searched in person at the courthouse.

Contractors, home-based businesses, and agricultural operations typically do not require county permits unless they involve construction or food handling. Fictitious business names (DBAs - "doing business as") in Ohio are registered at the county level with the Ashland County Recorder's Office, 110 Cottage Street, Ashland, OH 44805, phone (419) 282-4255. The filing fee is $39.00, and registrations must be renewed every five years. The Recorder maintains a searchable index of active DBAs that can be accessed in person or through their online records portal. Corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other business entities operating in Nova must register with the Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state maintains a free searchable database at www.businesssearch.ohiosos.gov where anyone can look up business entity information including entity name, status (active/dissolved), registration date, registered agent name and address, business address, and officers/managers. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with and searchable through the Ohio Secretary of State's website. Property tax information for commercial and business properties in Nova can be researched through the Ashland County Auditor's website at www.ashlandcountyauditor.org. Business personal property tax is also administered by the County Auditor and must be reported annually by businesses. The Auditor's online parcel search allows property owners to view assessed values, tax rates, and payment history for commercial properties.

Voters in Nova, Ohio are served by the Ashland County Board of Elections, located at 641 South Main Street, Ashland, OH 44805, phone (419) 282-5525, website www.ashlandcountyboe.gov. The Board of Elections administers all federal, state, county, and local elections for Nova residents, maintains voter registration records, processes absentee ballot applications, and operates polling places. Ohio residents can register to vote online at www.olvr.ohiosos.gov (Ohio Online Voter Registration), by mail using a paper form available from the Board of Elections, or in person at the Board office or any Ohio BMV office. The voter registration deadline is 30 days before any election. Voters must provide their Ohio driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number, along with proof of residency.

Because Nova is unincorporated and has no municipal government, residents do not vote in mayoral or city council elections. Instead, Nova voters participate in Sullivan Township trustee elections (three trustees elected to four-year staggered terms) and Sullivan Township fiscal officer elections. Township trustees are responsible for road maintenance, zoning, fire protection contracts, and other local services. The next township election is scheduled for November 2025 for one trustee position.

Nova residents can find their assigned polling place by using the polling location lookup tool on the Ashland County Board of Elections website or by calling the Board office directly. Polling places are assigned based on precinct, and Nova voters typically vote at a nearby township hall or community building. Ohio offers early in-person voting beginning 28 days before Election Day at the Board of Elections office, and no-excuse absentee voting by mail is available to any registered voter who requests a ballot.

Under Ohio law (Ohio Revised Code §3501), voter registration lists are public records and can be purchased from county boards of elections, though they cannot be used for commercial purposes. Campaign finance records for candidates and political action committees are available through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at www.ohiosos.gov/campaign-finance. Precinct-level election results are posted on the Ashland County Board of Elections website after each election and are public records.

In the November 2024 presidential election, Ashland County saw approximately 55-60% voter turnout with roughly 28,000 ballots cast out of approximately 48,000 registered voters. The county has historically leaned Republican in state and federal elections.

Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, Nova and Ashland County voters will decide several important races. Ohio will hold elections for Governor (current term expires January 2027), all statewide executive offices including Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor, and Treasurer, one U.S. Senate seat (Class III, currently held by a senator whose term expires January 2027), all Ohio House of Representatives seats (99 districts), and half of the Ohio Senate seats (17 of 33 districts on rotating four-year terms). At the county level, voters will likely decide races for County Commissioner, Sheriff, Prosecuting Attorney, and other county offices depending on term expirations. Sullivan Township may also have trustee positions on the ballot.

Ohio voters can request absentee ballots online, by mail, or in person at the Board of Elections. The absentee ballot request form is available at www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-ballot or from the Ashland County Board of Elections. Completed absentee ballot applications must be received by the Board of Elections no later than noon on the Saturday before Election Day (three days before). Voted absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received within 10 days after the election, or can be deposited in the secure drop box at the Board of Elections office until 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.