Richwood, Ohio Public Records

For felony criminal cases, probate matters (including wills, estates, and guardianships), domestic relations (divorce, custody, child support), and civil cases exceeding municipal court limits, residents use the Union County Common Pleas Court, located at 215 West Fifth Street, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-3006. Ohio provides online access to court records through the Ohio Supreme Court's public access portal at www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod, which allows searching of Common Pleas Court cases by party name, case number, or attorney. Marysville Municipal Court also provides online case search through its website. 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 per document, though fees may vary by court division. Small claims cases (disputes up to $6,000) are heard in the small claims division of Marysville Municipal Court. Juvenile cases are handled by the Union County Juvenile Court, a division of Common Pleas Court. Public access to court records is governed by Ohio Supreme Court rules and Ohio Revised Code 149.43, with certain records such as sealed cases, juvenile matters, and adoption files restricted from public view.

The Auditor's website offers a free online property search tool at www.unioncountyohio.gov/auditor/property-search where residents can search by property address, parcel number, or owner name to view current and historical ownership, tax assessments, property characteristics, sales history, and tax payment status. The Union County Recorder's Office, located at 215 West Fifth Street, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-3004, website www.unioncountyohio.gov/recorder, is responsible for recording and maintaining official land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, rights-of-way, and military discharge papers. The Recorder's Office provides free online access to recorded documents through its website, allowing searches by grantor/grantee name, parcel number, document type, or recording date, with digitized images of documents typically available from the mid-1990s forward, though older records may require in-person research or staff assistance. Union County also offers a GIS mapping system accessible through the Auditor's website, providing interactive parcel maps with property boundary overlays, aerial photography, and links to assessment data. Recording fees are established by Ohio Revised Code 317.32 and typically range from $34 for the first two pages to additional fees for longer documents, multiple parcels, or special indexing requirements.

Local businesses along Main Street and State Route 47 include hardware stores, farm supply dealers, restaurants, auto repair shops, and retail establishments serving daily needs of village residents and the farming community. Several small manufacturing operations and logistics companies operate in the Richwood area. The median household income for Richwood is approximately $45,000-$50,000, somewhat below the Union County median of around $75,000, reflecting the village's more rural character compared to rapidly growing areas near Marysville and Dublin. Union County overall has experienced significant economic growth due to Honda's major manufacturing presence in Marysville and related suppliers, though Richwood's economy remains more tied to traditional agriculture and local services. Recent developments include modest residential growth as affordable housing attracts families seeking small-town living within commuting distance of Columbus and Marysville. The village maintains its historic character while balancing preservation of agricultural heritage with gradual economic diversification and improved infrastructure to support local businesses and quality of life for residents.

Law enforcement services in Richwood are provided by the Richwood Police Department, located at 1 South Franklin Street, Richwood, OH 43344. The department can be reached at (740) 943-2821. The Richwood Police Department handles local patrol, criminal investigations, and incident response within village boundaries. Residents can request copies of police reports, accident reports, and incident records by contacting the department directly during business hours; requests must comply with Ohio Revised Code 149.43, Ohio's Public Records Law, which requires agencies to make records available for inspection and copying within a reasonable time. For areas outside village limits and countywide law enforcement matters, the Union County Sheriff's Office serves residents at 221 West Fifth Street, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-4010, website www.ucosheriff.org. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol in unincorporated areas, operates the Union County Jail, and maintains arrest records and incident reports for the broader county. To search for arrests and jail bookings, the Union County Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate roster at www.ucosheriff.org/inmates, which displays current detainees with information including name, booking date, charges, bond amount, and mugshots when available. Ohio Revised Code 149.43 establishes that most arrest logs, booking records, and incident reports are public records unless specifically exempted by law, such as records involving ongoing investigations or juvenile matters. Requests for older or archived law enforcement records should be submitted in writing to the custodian of records at the respective agency.

Online ordering is available through www.vitalchek.com with an additional processing fee, and standard processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks for mail requests or 5-10 business days for online orders with expedited service available. The Union County Health Department, located at 940 London Avenue, Suite 1100, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 642-2053, maintains local birth and death records and can process requests, though they typically refer applicants to the state office for certified copies. Ohio law restricts access to birth records for 100 years from the date of birth; only the individual named (if of legal age), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, or legal representatives with proper documentation may obtain certified copies. Marriage licenses are issued by the Union County Probate Court, located at 215 West Fifth Street, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-3008. The fee for a marriage license is $55.00, and couples must apply in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. Marriage records are public and can be searched through the Probate Court. Divorce records are filed with the Union County Clerk of Courts and are part of the public court record accessible through the Common Pleas Court case search, though certified copies require a formal request and payment of copying fees.

Fictitious name registrations (DBA - Doing Business As) are not filed at the county level in Ohio; instead, businesses operating under an assumed name must register with the Ohio Secretary of State. The Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division, maintains a comprehensive online database at www.businesssearch.ohiosos.gov where anyone can search for registered corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and trade name registrations free of charge. The database provides entity status (active, cancelled, dissolved), filing date, registered agent name and address, business address, and principal officers or members. New business entity filings are submitted online or by mail to the Ohio Secretary of State, 22 North Fourth Street, Columbus, OH 43215. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are also filed with and searchable through the Ohio Secretary of State's UCC search portal at www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/ucc-search. Business personal property taxes are assessed by the Union County Auditor based on furniture, fixtures, equipment, and inventory owned by businesses; commercial real property assessments are also available through the Auditor's online property search. Professional and occupational licenses (contractors, health professionals, cosmetologists, etc.) are regulated by Ohio state boards, with license verification available through www.elicense.ohio.gov.

Richwood voters are served by the Union County Board of Elections, located at 233 West Sixth Street, Suite 160, Marysville, OH 43040, phone (937) 645-3740, website www.unioncountyohio.gov/boe. Ohio residents can register to vote online at www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/register, by mail using the Ohio Voter Registration Form, or in person at the Board of Elections; the deadline to register or update registration is 30 days before any election. Valid Ohio driver's license or state ID number is required for online registration, or the last four digits of Social Security number. Richwood holds municipal elections in odd-numbered years for village council members and mayor. The mayor is elected to a four-year term, and council members serve staggered four-year terms with several seats typically on the ballot each election cycle. The next Richwood municipal election will be held in November 2025. Richwood residents vote at their assigned polling place, which can be found using the polling location lookup tool at www.unioncountyohio.gov/boe or by calling the Board of Elections. In the November 2024 general election, Union County reported turnout of approximately 72% of registered voters, reflecting strong participation in the presidential election with Union County continuing its trend as a Republican-leaning county. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Richwood and Union County voters will decide several important races: the Ohio Governor's race (current Governor Mike DeWine's term expires in 2027, so the 2026 race will determine his successor or reelection), all of Ohio's 15 U.S. House seats including the district covering Union County, Ohio state legislature seats for both State Senate and State House of Representatives, Union County Commissioners, Union County Sheriff, Union County Prosecutor, Union County Auditor, Union County Recorder, Union County Clerk of Courts, and various judgeships and local offices. Ohio does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (next Ohio Senate races are in 2024 and 2028). Ohio voters can request absentee ballots online at www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-ballot, by mail, or in person at the Board of Elections; requests must be received by the Saturday before Election Day for mail delivery or in person up to the day before Election Day. Election records that are public in Ohio include voter registration lists (excluding Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers), campaign finance reports searchable at www.ohiosos.gov/campaign-finance, candidate filings and petitions, precinct-level election results, and board of elections meeting minutes, all governed by Ohio Revised Code Title 35 (Elections) and Ohio's public records law (ORC 149.43).