Lucas County Court Records
According to Sup. Rev. §44 (Rule 44) of the Ohio Revised Code, Court records in Lucas County, otherwise called “Case Files,” is a compendium of original documents filed in a civil action or proceeding in the Court of Common Pleas, including the pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments of the court on a case-by-case basis. This includes both active and inactive cases.
These records constitute part of Ohio Public Records and are potentially disclosed to members of the public unless restricted by judicial order or law.
All legal cases in Lucas County are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Trial Court of General Division, which is referred to as the Common Pleas Court, and the chief custodian of both civil and criminal court records is the Clerk of Courts, among its many duties, serves as the Clerk of the Sixth District Court of Appeals.
These court records provide comprehensive information and details of the activities of any legal proceeding, including the verdicts of the court. Thus, it gives citizens ample right to question the actions, fairness, and justice of the county's judicial system.
Case files allow parties to track the progress of their case and give room for appeal when necessary. Likewise, legal researchers and attorneys may use these court records to prepare for future appeals or perform legal analyses.
Are Court Records Public in Lucas County
Yes. Members of the public can inspect and make copies of court records subject to Lucas County Clerk of Courts Public Records’s Policy, derived from Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43. Those case files so generated are “public records” unless they fall into a specific exclusion provided for in the Ohio Revised Code or court cases.
Subject to this code, some case records are considered confidential and thus not accessible to the general public. This includes:
- Records pertaining to probation and parole proceedings
- Records pertaining to adoption proceedings
- Trial preparation records
- Confidential law enforcement investigatory records
- Inmate records
- Medical Records
- Domestic violence
- Social Security Number
Where to Conduct a Lucas County Case Lookup
Anyone interested in conducting a Lucas County case lookup may take advantage of the following provisions:
- Visit the clerk’s office at the courthouse where the case was filed or resolved Visit the presiding courthouse
- Send a written request to the clerk via email or fax
- Carry out a search on the Clerk of Courts Dockets for Lucas County Common Pleas Court
Lucas County has a comprehensive document to help people find the specific court in charge of the case records,
How to Conduct a Lucas County Case Records Search
In-Person Case Records Search
Inquirers can conduct a Lucas County case records search at the physical office of the clerk of courts where the case was filed or preceded. The clerk of the Court of Common Pleas maintains records as indicated by the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.
Members of the public may request these records in person at the judicial jurisdiction or via mail.
A person, corporations, and other governmental agencies requesting to inspect or copy the court records:
- Does not have to provide their name
- Does not have to provide a reason for inspecting and/or copying the public records
- Does not have to request in writing – the request can be in writing or verbal
- May designate another person to inspect or retrieve the copies.
- Does not have to reveal a motive
- Is not required to be an Ohio resident.
A Court Records Request Form is available on the court's website for anyone who wishes to request court records maintained by the county courts.
Typically, anyone requesting these Lucas County case records may need to provide the party’s name and docket number. While viewing of these records is free, printing physical copies may require a nominal fee.
Online Dockets
Lucas County Court of Clerks as the custodian for all appellate, civil, felony, criminal, and domestic relations court records provides a Clerk of Courts Dockets for Lucas County Common Pleas Court. Inquirers can search for adult civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases filed in the Court of Common Appeals, District Court of Appeals Division, Domestic Relations Courts, and Juvenile Justice Center.
Online users can typically search for a court record on the online dockets with a case number, party name, or hearing date.
Lucas County Probate division of the Court of Common Appeals, on the other hand, maintains a separate Online Case Management System. The Case Access Online provides information and search functionality for publicly available case records except for adoption and mental health records that are omitted and considered confidential.
Lucas County Civil Court Case Records
Lucas County civil court case records are files and documents generated from a non-criminal court proceeding in Lucas County. This includes civil cases involving foreclosures, personal injury claims, and civil disputes where the amount of money in controversy exceeds $500, and civil cases exceeding $15,000.
These records are typically maintained at the Civil Division of the Court of Common Appeals and the chief custodian is the Court of Clerk for Civil Division. Anyone can access them through an in-person visit.
On the other hand, civil cases involving divorces and dissolutions, as well as support and custody matters for children are handled and maintained by the Domestic Relations Court while the Juvenile Court takes care of offenses involving children under 18 years of age, including traffic cases, and paternity cases.
Inquirers can also conduct a County civil case records search on the Clerk of Courts Dockets for Lucas County Common Pleas Court as described above.
Lucas County Criminal Court Case Records
All court cases relating to felonies or misdemeanors filed and decided in the Criminal Division of the Common Pleas Court are classified as Criminal Court Records. The Clerk of Courts for this judicial jurisdiction maintains all criminal records filed and decided in the county.
Members of the public can pay a visit to the Lucas County Clerk of Courts office at the courthouse to find or ask for copies of criminal case records. As a convenient alternative, they may also conduct an online case search on the Clerk of Courts Dockets for Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Individuals can access online court records for free on the Clerk of Courts Dockets for Lucas County Common Pleas Court. These records, unfortunately, cannot serve official purposes, and so may require that one pay a physical visit to the judicial jurisdiction in charge or the court clerk's office to get them. However, the courts may charge a nominal fee to obtain physical copies of the court records. courts charge a fee to obtain copies.
As an alternative, one can also find Lucas County court records on third-party aggregate websites at a nominal fee or subscription rate.
Courts in Lucas County
There are four different Lucas County courts that deal with different types of cases. Below are the court's addresses:
Court of Common Pleas
700 Adams Street
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-4777
Court of Common Pleas-Civil Division
700 Adams Street
1st Floor
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-4484
Fax: (419) 213-4487
Court of Common Pleas-Criminal Division
700 Adams Street
3rd Floor
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-2080
Fax: (419) 213-4291
Domestic Relations Division
429 North Michigan Street
Toledo, OH 43604
First Floor (Family Court Center)
Phone: (419) 213-6901
Juvenile Court
1801 Spielbusch Avenue
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: (419) 213-6722
Fax: (419) 213-6898
Appellate Division
700 Adams Street
3rd Floor
Toledo, OH 43604
Fax: (419) 213-4503
Court of Common Pleas-Probate Division
700 Adams Street
Suite 200
Toledo OH 43604
Main: (419) 213-4775
Marriage: (419) 213-4750
