Guide
Where to Look in Ohio
Ohio has no statewide court search, so a search starts with these state offices and then goes to the clerk of courts, recorder and auditor of the county.
- Ohio DRC Offender SearchCurrent and released state inmates supervised by ODRC
- Ohio Secretary of State business searchCorporations, LLCs, partnerships and trade names with statutory agents
- Ohio eSORN sex offender searchStatewide registry kept by the Attorney General
- Ohio Department of Health, Vital StatisticsBirth and death certificates from 1908 on
Guide
About Ohio Public Records
Ohio's Public Records Act (ORC 149.43) presumes that all records of a public office are open unless an exception applies. Ohio's 88 counties keep their own records, so you often need to know the county where a person lived.
The state does not utilize a single, centralized database for all public records. Instead, researchers must piece together information from state-level repositories (like the Secretary of State) and local county courthouses.
Guide
Official State-Level Sources
State offices keep a few statewide records that help before a county search:
Guide
Court Records in Ohio
Ohio's court structure consists of the Supreme Court, 12 Courts of Appeals, and Courts of Common Pleas (which handle general, domestic relations, juvenile, and probate matters). There are also Municipal, County, and Mayor's Courts.
Common Mistake: Looking for a statewide court portal. Ohio does NOT have a unified statewide case search. You must visit the specific County Clerk of Courts website for local cases.
Guide
Property and Tax Records
Property records help build an address history. In Ohio, the county recorder keeps deeds and mortgages, and the county auditor keeps values and tax records.
Each Ohio county elects an auditor who values property, and most auditors publish a free property search online with the owner, value, parcel data and tax history.
Guide
Business and Licensing Records
Professional licenses can provide deep background information, including current employment status and disciplinary actions.
Guide
Corrections and Inmate Records
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction runs the state prisons; its offender search is linked in Where to Look. For county jails, search the roster of the county sheriff.
Guide
Vital Records
Ohio vital records (births and deaths) are maintained by the Department of Health. Birth records are generally public in Ohio, while some restrictions apply to recent deaths and social security numbers. Marriage and divorce records are kept at the county level (Probate Court for marriages, Common Pleas for divorces).
Guide
Voter Registration
Ohio voter registration files are public. They can be downloaded from the Secretary of State or requested from county boards of elections, and voters can check their own registration online.
Guide
Archives, Genealogy, and Obituary Resources
Historical research relies heavily on state archives and historical societies.
Guide
Major County and City Resources
Ohio records are kept county by county. The largest counties are Franklin (Columbus), Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Hamilton (Cincinnati), Summit (Akron) and Montgomery (Dayton).
Guide
People Search Tips for Ohio
When searching in Ohio, always start by identifying the correct county. Since court records are siloed, an individual could have civil judgments in Franklin County and criminal records in Delaware County, and neither clerk will show the other's data.
Researcher Tip: Use the Ohio SOS Business Search to find an individual's registered agent address, which often leads to a residential address or points you to the correct county for further court research.
Guide
Privacy, Legal Framework, and FCRA Compliance
While the Ohio Public Records Act makes many documents accessible, researchers must comply with federal laws. You cannot use these public databases to make decisions about hiring, housing, or credit without going through a Consumer Reporting Agency compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Straight answers
Ohio People Search, questions
How do I find someone in an Ohio state prison?
Use the Offender Search of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Search by name, county of commitment or residential county. It lists people now in an Ohio prison, under department supervision or judicially released.
How do I search for sex offenders in Ohio?
The Ohio Attorney General's office runs the statewide search by name or area. County sheriffs register and photograph offenders, who must report home, school and work addresses and verify them with the sheriff.
Where do I get an Ohio death record?
The Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics holds death records from 1971 on, and each search costs $21.50. Earlier deaths are held by the Ohio History Connection, and certified copies come from the local health department where the death occurred.
Can I claim Ohio unclaimed funds for a relative who died?
Yes. The Ohio Department of Commerce Unclaimed Funds program lets you search for funds and claim on behalf of a deceased loved one, with probate court documents for heir claims. Claiming on its website is free.
Where are Ohio marriage and divorce records kept?
Not with the Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics. Marriage certificate copies come from the probate court of the county where the license was recorded. Divorce decrees come from the clerk in the county where the divorce was finalized.
Are Ohio voter registration records public?
Yes. Through the Ohio Secretary of State data portal, the public can download each county's voter registration rolls as they stood on a given day. The files come straight from the 88 county boards of elections.
How do I look up who is behind an Ohio business?
Use the Ohio Secretary of State Business Search. Each record shows the business name, entity number, filings on record and the agent name, the current primary contact for the business.
How do I check a professional license in Ohio?
eLicense Ohio lets anyone search professional, business and occupational licenses and certifications issued by 24 State of Ohio agencies, boards and commissions. The data comes straight from the state database and is updated daily.