Stillwater, Ohio Public Records

The Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, located at 101 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, phone (330) 365-3243, handles felony criminal cases, civil cases exceeding $15,000, domestic relations matters including divorce and custody, juvenile cases, and probate matters including estates and guardianships. The Court of Common Pleas is divided into specialized divisions: General Division (civil/criminal), Domestic Relations Division, Juvenile Division, and Probate Division. For searching court records, Ohio provides a statewide case search through the Ohio Supreme Court's public access system, though Tuscarawas County also maintains local records accessible through the Clerk of Courts office at 101 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, phone (330) 365-3243. The Clerk of Courts website at www.co.tuscarawas.oh.us/clerk provides information on case filing, docket searches, and record requests. Fees for certified copies of court documents typically range from $1.00 to $2.00 per page plus a certification fee of $1.00 to $2.00 per document. Court records are generally public under Ohio law unless sealed by court order or involving juvenile matters, which are confidential except in limited circumstances. In-person searches can be conducted at the Clerk's office during regular business hours, and some case information may be available through online docket systems.

The Auditor's website offers a comprehensive online property search tool where users can search by property address, owner name, parcel number, or map location to view current assessed values, tax information, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), sales history, and tax payment status. The Auditor also maintains GIS mapping tools that allow users to view aerial photography, zoning information, and property boundaries. For recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and land contracts, the Tuscarawas County Recorder's Office handles these records at 125 East High Avenue (same building as Auditor), New Philadelphia, OH 44663, phone (330) 365-3230. The Recorder's Office maintains an online document search system accessible through www.co.tuscarawas.oh.us/recorder where users can search and view recorded documents dating back multiple decades; while searching is free, there may be fees for obtaining certified copies. Documents are indexed by grantor (seller), grantee (buyer), and instrument type, making it possible to trace ownership history and encumbrances on properties in Stillwater and throughout the county. The Recorder also handles military discharge records (DD-214s) and manufactured home titles. Both offices are open to the public Monday through Friday during regular business hours for in-person research and document requests.

Many Stillwater residents commute to employment centers in New Philadelphia (county seat), Dover, and Uhrichsville where major employers include Union Hospital Dover, Trinity Hospital Twin City (part of Trinity Health System), Kimble Companies (glass manufacturing), and various manufacturing facilities that are part of Tuscarawas County's industrial base. The region has a manufacturing heritage dating to the steel and coal industries, though the economy has diversified. Tuscarawas County's median household income is approximately $52,000-$56,000 according to recent census estimates, with Stillwater's rural character likely reflecting similar or slightly lower income levels. The area benefits from its location within Ohio's Amish Country tourism corridor, which draws visitors to neighboring communities and supports restaurants, craft shops, and agricultural tourism. Major employers accessible to Stillwater residents include Dover Chemical Corporation, Gradall Industries (construction equipment manufacturing in New Philadelphia), and Republic Steel in Canton (accessible via State Route 212). The local economy also includes small businesses, construction trades, and service sector employment. Educational institutions including Kent State University at Tuscarawas (located in New Philadelphia) provide employment and workforce development opportunities for the region.

Law enforcement services for Stillwater and Mill Township are provided primarily by the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office, located at 2295 Reiser Avenue SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663. The Sheriff's Office can be reached at (330) 339-2000, and maintains a website at www.co.tuscarawas.oh.us/sheriff. The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, criminal investigations, accident reports, and emergency response for unincorporated areas throughout Tuscarawas County including Stillwater. Residents can request copies of incident reports, accident reports, and offense reports by visiting the Sheriff's Office in person or submitting a written request; there may be a nominal copying fee depending on the volume of records requested. The Tuscarawas County Sheriff also operates the county jail and detention facility located at the same Reiser Avenue address. Arrest records and current inmate information can be searched through the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office website, which provides an online inmate roster showing names, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and booking photographs for individuals currently detained. Historical arrest records and booking logs may require a formal public records request. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, the Ohio Public Records Act, law enforcement agencies are required to make most records available for public inspection upon request, with specific exemptions for ongoing investigations, confidential informant information, and certain personal privacy matters. Requests should be made in writing, clearly describing the records sought, and agencies must respond promptly. The Ohio Attorney General's Office provides guidance on public records compliance, and requesters who believe they have been improperly denied access may seek legal remedy through the courts.

Birth certificates cost $25.00 for the first copy and $15.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; death certificates have similar fees. Only eligible individuals (family members, legal representatives, those with legal interest) can obtain certified copies, and valid photo identification is required. The Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics office, located at 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, OH 43215, phone (614) 466-2531, website www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics, maintains statewide birth and death records and offers online ordering with expedited processing available for additional fees; standard processing takes 4-6 weeks while expedited service takes 5-10 business days. Marriage licenses for Stillwater residents are issued by the Tuscarawas County Probate Court, located at 101 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, phone (330) 365-3267. The marriage license fee is approximately $50.00, and there is no waiting period in Ohio. Certified copies of marriage records can be obtained from the Probate Court for $3.00 per copy. Divorce records are maintained by the Tuscarawas County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations Division) at the same address, as divorces are court proceedings; certified copies cost $1.00-$2.00 per page plus certification fees. Ohio law restricts vital record access to protect privacy, requiring proof of eligibility and identification for all requests.

For fictitious name registrations (Doing Business As or DBA filings), businesses in Ohio file trade name registrations with the Tuscarawas County Clerk of Courts at 101 East High Avenue, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, phone (330) 365-3243. The filing fee for a trade name is approximately $50.00, and the registration is valid for five years. For formal business entity formation—corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, and other legal entities—registration is handled by the Ohio Secretary of State Business Services Division in Columbus. The Ohio Business Gateway at www.ohio.gov/business provides comprehensive online services including entity formation, annual report filing, and business name searches. The Ohio Secretary of State's business search database at www.businesssearch.ohiosos.gov allows free public searches of all registered business entities in Ohio, showing entity status, registration date, registered agent information, principal office address, and ownership details for corporations and LLCs. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) lien filings are also handled by the Ohio Secretary of State and can be searched through the same system. For business property tax information, the Tuscarawas County Auditor's Office at (330) 364-8811 maintains commercial property assessments searchable through www.tcauditor.org. Businesses may also need specific licenses depending on their industry: liquor licenses through the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, professional licenses through respective Ohio licensing boards, and health permits through the Tuscarawas County Health Department at (330) 343-5555 for food service establishments.

Stillwater residents vote and access election services through the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections, located at 2296 Reiser Avenue SE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663, phone (330) 364-8808, website www.vote.tuscarawascounty.com. The Board of Elections handles all aspects of voter registration, ballot preparation, early voting, absentee voting, and election administration for Stillwater and all of Tuscarawas County. Ohio residents can register to vote online through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at www.olvr.ohiosos.gov, which provides secure online voter registration requiring an Ohio driver's license or state ID; the registration deadline is 30 days before any election. Voters can also register by mail or in person at the Board of Elections, public libraries, or BMV offices. Since Stillwater is unincorporated and has no municipal government, residents do not vote in city council or mayoral elections; instead, they participate in Mill Township trustee elections (three trustees and a fiscal officer elected to four-year terms on a rotating basis), Tuscarawas County offices, state legislative races, statewide offices, and federal elections. Township elections are typically held during odd-numbered years in November, with Mill Township offices appearing on the ballot according to their staggered terms. To find their assigned polling place, Stillwater voters can use the polling place lookup tool on the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections website or call the office directly; polling locations are assigned based on precinct, which is determined by residence address. In the November 2024 presidential election, Tuscarawas County had voter turnout of approximately 66-68%, with roughly 62,000 registered voters and approximately 41,000-42,000 ballots cast countywide. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Stillwater and Tuscarawas County voters will decide several significant races: Ohio does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (next Senate race is 2028), but voters will elect a Governor (incumbent Mike DeWine's current term ends January 2027), all state constitutional offices including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Secretary of State, and Treasurer, all 99 Ohio House of Representatives seats, half of the 33 Ohio Senate seats (District 20 serves Tuscarawas County), Tuscarawas County commissioners, county offices including Sheriff, Prosecutor, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Engineer, and Coroner, judges including Common Pleas Court, and township trustees and fiscal officers where applicable. Ohio voters can request absentee ballots by completing an application available on the Board of Elections website or by calling (330) 364-8808; applications must be received by noon on the Saturday before Election Day for regular mail voting, though in-person absentee voting at the Board of Elections office is available through the day before Election Day. Ohio offers no-excuse absentee voting, meaning any registered voter may vote by mail without providing a reason. Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3501, election records including voter registration lists (with some personal information redacted), campaign finance reports, candidate petitions and filings, precinct-level election results, and poll worker lists are public records available through the Board of Elections, though individual voter history (whether someone voted, not how they voted) has some access restrictions and fees may apply for bulk data requests.