Ohio Court Docket Search

An Ohio court docket search offers inquirers a means to access Ohio court record information maintained by the state judiciary. Court dockets contain a brief listing of scheduled court hearings and filings and a history of the cases. It details all judicial proceedings from filing a case to its decision date. Ohio court dockets facilitate case management, progress monitoring, and prompt case hearing in Ohio Courts. They are also helpful for identifying court filings or documents (pleadings, motions, and briefs.) filed in a case.

What is a Court Docket in Ohio?

A court docket is a log containing the entire history of every case filed with the court in concise chronological entries. When a person or business files a lawsuit in an Ohio Court, the court clerk assigns the case a docket number and adds it to the court's docket. Every case has a distinct docket number that can be used to locate details like the names of case parties, the dates of appearances in court, and an overview of the claims or charges. Most docket sheets and documents are electronically accessible over the Internet. Dockets unavailable online can be retrieved in person at the courthouse.

Are Court Dockets Public Record in Ohio?

Per Ohio public records act, court dockets are generally regarded as public records since they are part of court records. Therefore, anyone can request to inspect or obtain copies of the court docket from any Ohio Court. Some court records are deemed confidential in Ohio. Examples of such records are:

Adoption records
Juvenile records
Probation and parole proceedings
Trial preparation records
Sealed court records.

Confidential court records are open to a selected few, like law enforcement officers, case parties, and their attorneys.

What Do Court Dockets Contain in Ohio?

The contents of Ohio court dockets vary by court. However, the following information may be retrieved from a court docket:

Case number
Case caption
Prior jurisdiction
Case information (case, filing date, and case status)
Docket items (docket document, description, the name of the person that filed the case)
Parties (name of case parties, party type, pro se, and name of attorney)
Decisions (release date, case decision document, description, and disposes case)

Where to Find a Court Docket in Ohio

Most Ohio Courts have online databases where individuals can find court dockets. For example, the Ohio Supreme Court has Public Docket where requesters can find case information at no cost. A search can be conducted by case number, case party name, or attorney name. Alternatively, record seekers can find court dockets at the court where the case was filed. The court should be visited during business hours. Basic information about the case (like a case number, case party’s name, attorney’s name, or judge’s name) must be provided to facilitate the search. The court might not charge any fee to view court dockets, but copies of desired records might attract a small fee.

How to Conduct an Ohio Court Docket Search

Courts in Ohio grant access to the public to conduct an electronic or physical search for court dockets. Online requests can be made using the court's online database. For example, here is how to conduct a court docket search via the Ohio Judicial System:

Go to the Judicial System website
Click on the “Cases & Opinions” menu at the top bar
Click the “Case Docket” link from the dropdown, which leads to the public docket portal
Conduct a search via any of the following parameters:
- Case number search options: Conduct a search using a case number or case caption
- Advanced case search options: Conduct a search using a prior case number, prior jurisdiction, case type, or filed date range
- Party search options (first name, last name, or entity name)
- Attorney search options (first name and last name)
Click the Search button to conduct a search and get results

Entering the appropriate information in any search field will open the case's docket view. In-person requests can be made in the courthouse where a case was filed. For example, if the case were filed at the Adams County Courts, the requester would have to visit the Courthouse from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The staff will require that some information about the case be provided to facilitate the search. The in-person request should be made at:

Adams County Court
110 West Main St.
West Union, OH 45693
Phone: (937) 544-2921

What is a Court Docket Number in Ohio?

A court docket number in Ohio is an identifying code used for a legal case. It can also be referred to as the case number or tracking number. The court clerk will assign a docket number when the case is brought to court. The case number will reflect on all documents filed in relation to the case. People familiar with the court system may simply identify the court where a case was filed by looking at its docket number. A docket number varies depending on the court and case type. For example, a court docket generated in Franklin County Municipal Court typically includes a year, a three-letter case code, and a six-digit sequence. A criminal/traffic docket number looks like this 2024 CR A 001234, while a civil docket number looks like 2024 CVE 001234.

How to Conduct a Court Docket Number Lookup in Ohio

To conduct a court docket number lookup in Ohio, the requester must have other search parameters like the case party’s last and first name, the attorney’s name, or the presiding judge’s name. Any of these keyword(s) can be entered into the public docket search system available on the court's website to locate the docket number assigned by the court. Here is how to find a court docket number online at Crawford County Municipal Court:

Go to the Court’s website.
Click the “Record Search” menu at the top bar.
Click “Continue” to agree to the terms and conditions to access the Docket tool
Conduct a search by name/company, hearing date, file date, or ticket number
Provide the characters in the CAPTCHA puzzle in the appropriate search box
click the "Begin Search" button to conduct a search and get a docket number

Individuals can also conduct a docket number search at the court where a case was filed. The court staff will require case information that does not include the case number to process the request. The court may not charge fees to view docket numbers, but getting copies of case dockets (including docket numbers) attracts a small fee.