Search Clark County Civil Court Records
Clark County civil court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Springfield, Ohio. These records cover lawsuits, contract disputes, personal injury claims, and other civil matters filed in the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court. You can search Clark County civil court records online through the Municipal Court Clerk's website or visit the courthouse during business hours. Computerized records go back to January 1, 1990, and the Clerk's office processes filings each business day. The Common Pleas Court handles larger civil cases while the Municipal Court takes smaller claims and evictions.
Clark County Court Records Overview
Clark County Clerk of Courts
The Clark County Clerk of Courts handles filing, docketing, indexing, and preservation of all court pleadings for the Court of Common Pleas. This includes civil lawsuits, real estate disputes, breach of contract, personal injury cases, and marital conflicts. The Clerk also maintains records for the Second District Court of Appeals. Every document that goes through the Common Pleas Court passes through this office first.
| Municipal Court Clerk | Clark County Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Phone (Civil Division) | (937) 328-3715 |
| Toll Free | (800) 544-1694 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
The General Division of the Common Pleas Court hears felony criminal cases as well as civil matters. On the civil side, it covers personal injury, real estate, breach of contract, estate probates, and guardianships. If the dollar amount exceeds $15,000, the case goes to Common Pleas. Smaller disputes head to Municipal Court instead.
Note: Filings received after 4:00 PM may not be processed until the following business day, so plan accordingly if you have a deadline.
Search Clark County Civil Records Online
The Clark County Municipal Court Clerk website offers online access to civil court records. You can search by name or case number. Computerized records go back to January 1, 1990. Before that date, you would need to visit the office in Springfield to search paper records.
The screenshot below shows the Clark County Municipal Court Clerk's online portal where you can search for civil court records.
E-filing is now live in Clark County. You can file civil court papers electronically through the Ohio eFileOH system. Not everything can be filed online though. Defaults, trusteeship actions, escrow matters, garnishments, motions to seal or expunge, and out-of-state filings are not accepted through the e-filing system. Those still need to be filed in person at the courthouse.
Clark County Municipal Court Records
The Municipal Court has three divisions: Civil, Criminal/Traffic, and Trusteeship. The Civil Division handles a range of smaller cases. Small claims up to $6,000 are filed here. So are evictions, landlord/tenant disputes, BMV appeals, and contract or personal injury cases where the amount is under $15,000. If your civil dispute falls in that range, Municipal Court records are where you look.
The Clark County Bar Association lists public resources for people searching for court information in the county. Their website breaks down which court handles which type of case and provides links to local legal services.
The screenshot below shows the Clark County Bar Association's public resources page with court information.
The Bar Association page is useful if you are not sure which division of the court handles your type of case. It lists the Civil Division, Criminal/Traffic Division, and Trusteeship Division with explanations of what each one covers.
Getting Clark County Court Record Copies
You can get copies of Clark County civil court records in person at the courthouse in Springfield. Bring the case number or party name. Staff can pull up the record and print copies for you. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, these records are public. You do not need to explain why you want them.
For records before 1990, the search is manual. The Clerk's computerized system only goes back to that year. Older civil court records exist in paper form at the courthouse. You can still get copies, but expect the search to take longer since staff will need to pull files from storage. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association lists all county clerks if you need contact info for a different county's records.
Note: Certain records like sealed cases and juvenile matters are exempt from public access even in Clark County, so not every filing is available.
Civil Court Records Access in Clark County
Most civil court records in Clark County are open to the public. Ohio's public records law gives anyone the right to inspect and copy records kept by government offices, including the Clerk of Courts. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to provide identification. The Clerk must make records available within a reasonable time frame.
Exceptions exist for certain types of records. Juvenile cases, sealed filings, and records containing personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account numbers are restricted. Domestic violence petition records may also be limited. But for standard civil lawsuits, foreclosures, contract disputes, and similar matters, the files are open. The Ohio Supreme Court Trial Courts Directory can help you find the right court and its local rules.
Cities in Clark County
Springfield is the county seat and largest city in Clark County. Civil cases involving Springfield residents are typically filed at the Clark County Court of Common Pleas or Municipal Court in Springfield.
Nearby Counties
If you need civil court records from a neighboring county, check these Clerk of Courts offices.