Franklin County Civil Court Records
Franklin County civil court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Columbus. As the most populous county in Ohio, Franklin County processes a high volume of civil filings each year through the Court of Common Pleas. The clerk's office manages case documents for the General Division, Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch, and the 10th District Court of Appeals. Online access to civil case data goes back to 1988 through the county's Case Information Online system. You can search records by party name, case number, or filing date. The office also supports electronic filing, so attorneys and self-represented parties can submit documents without visiting the courthouse.
Franklin County Civil Court Records Overview
Franklin County Clerk of Courts
Maryellen O'Shaughnessy serves as the Franklin County Clerk of Courts. Her office is on the 16th floor of the courthouse at 369 S. High Street in Columbus. The clerk's office handles all civil case filings, docketing, and record keeping for the Court of Common Pleas. Staff also process appeals, manage jury records, and issue subpoenas. The office is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can call with questions about case status or filing procedures.
| Office | Franklin County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Maryellen O'Shaughnessy |
| Address | 369 S. High Street, 16th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 |
| Phone | (614) 525-3600 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Copy fees at the Franklin County Clerk of Courts are $0.25 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. These rates apply to all civil court documents including case filings, motions, and judgments. You can pay at the counter during business hours or request copies by mail with payment included.
Note: The clerk's office is closed on all state and federal holidays observed by Franklin County.
Searching Franklin County Civil Records Online
Franklin County offers one of the best online court record systems in Ohio. The Case Information Online (CIO) system gives free access to civil case data going back to 1988. You can look up cases by party name, case number, attorney name, or filing date range. The system shows docket entries, party information, case status, and scheduled hearings. It covers General Division civil cases, Domestic Relations filings, and some other case types handled by the Common Pleas Court.
The CIO system updates regularly but there can be a short lag between when a document is filed and when it appears online. For the most current case information, contact the clerk's office directly at (614) 525-3600. The system does not provide full document images for all filings, so you may still need to request copies of specific documents from the clerk. Electronic filing is also available in Franklin County, which means many new civil cases can be filed online through the court's eFiling portal.
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts website provides access to the CIO system and other court resources for civil case searches.
This is the main page for the Franklin County Clerk of Courts, where you can find links to case search tools, eFiling, and contact details for the office.
Public Records in Franklin County
Civil court records in Franklin County are public records under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43. This is the Ohio Public Records Act. It says any person can ask for public records and the office must provide them within a reasonable time. You do not have to state why you want the records. The clerk must make copies available at cost. Standard copies run $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more but carry the seal of the court, which some agencies and legal proceedings require.
Not all records are open to the public. Sealed cases, expunged records, juvenile files, and certain domestic violence protection order details may be restricted. If a record has both public and exempt portions, the clerk will redact the protected parts and release what can be shared. The office will tell you if any part of your request is denied or redacted and cite the legal basis for doing so.
If you are denied access to records you believe are public, you can file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims. The filing fee is $25 and the process starts with mediation. A court can award up to $100 per business day of noncompliance, capped at $1,000. You can also bring a mandamus action in the Court of Common Pleas to compel release of the records.
Franklin County Court System
The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is one of the busiest trial courts in Ohio. The General Division hears civil cases including contract disputes, personal injury claims, foreclosures, and administrative appeals. Cases with amounts in controversy over $15,000 are filed here. The Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch handles divorces, dissolutions, custody matters, child support, and juvenile cases. Each division keeps its own set of records through the clerk's office.
Franklin County sits in the 10th Appellate District. Appeals from Common Pleas rulings go to this court. The ECMS portal maintained by the Ohio Supreme Court provides case information for appellate and Supreme Court filings. You can search by case number, party name, or date range. Records in ECMS go back to 1985 for many courts.
The county also has the Franklin County Municipal Court, which handles smaller civil claims, traffic cases, and misdemeanors. That court has its own clerk and record system separate from the Common Pleas Court. If your civil case involves a claim under $15,000, it may have been filed in Municipal Court rather than Common Pleas.
Note: The 10th District Court of Appeals shares the same clerk of courts as the Common Pleas Court in Franklin County.
Civil Court Records and Ohio Law
Ohio law governs how courts handle civil records. Under ORC § 149.43, all records kept by public offices are presumed to be public unless a specific exemption applies. Courts must organize records so they can be found and copied. They must also keep a current records retention schedule on file. Rule 26 of the Ohio Rules of Superintendence sets the retention periods for different types of court records. Civil case files are generally kept for a set number of years after the case closes, though some records may be retained permanently.
If a civil court record is more than ten years old or was created before 1960, the court must notify the Ohio Historical Society at least 60 days before destroying it. This rule helps preserve older records that may have historical or genealogical value. Franklin County's records going back to 1988 on the CIO system represent a large share of the county's more recent civil case history, but older paper records may be available by contacting the clerk's office directly.
Statewide Resources for Franklin County
Several state-level tools can help you find Franklin County civil court records. The Ohio Supreme Court opinions database has decisions from all 12 appellate districts. You can search by date, court, or WebCite number. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association keeps a directory of all 88 county clerks with contact information and links to local court websites.
The eFileOH system allows electronic filing in participating Ohio courts. Franklin County participates in eFiling for many case types. The system runs around the clock and lets filers submit documents, pay fees, and track case progress from any web browser. No special software is needed. The Ohio Supreme Court trial courts directory lists all courts in each county, including links to local rules and contact details.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County includes several cities. Civil cases involving residents of these cities are generally filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas or the applicable municipal court. Here are the major cities with dedicated pages:
Nearby Counties
If you need civil court records from counties near Franklin County, these neighboring counties may be helpful: