Highland County Civil Records
Highland County civil court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Hillsboro. The office manages all civil case filings for the Court of Common Pleas, including lawsuits, foreclosures, and domestic relations matters. You can search for docket information online through the eAccess portal, though document images are not available through that system. Highland County is part of the 4th Appellate District, and civil appeals go through that court. The clerk's office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you need copies of records, you can visit in person, call the office, or send a written request by mail. Staff can help you find what you need and explain the fees involved.
Highland County Civil Records Overview
Highland County Clerk of Courts
Dwight "Ike" Hodson serves as the Highland County Clerk of Courts. His office handles all filings for civil, criminal, domestic relations, and appellate cases in the Court of Common Pleas. The legal office is on North High Street in Hillsboro. Staff process new case filings, maintain docket entries, and issue copies of court documents. The office keeps regular hours on weekdays and is closed on weekends and state holidays.
| Office | Highland County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Dwight "Ike" Hodson |
| Address | 105 N. High St., Hillsboro, OH 45133 |
| Phone | (937) 393-9957 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM |
The Highland County Clerk of Courts website provides information about the office, including filing procedures, fee schedules, and contact details. You can use the site to learn about how to submit documents and what forms you may need for civil filings.
The Highland County Clerk of Courts official site shows information about the office and how to access court services in Hillsboro.
This page provides an overview of the Highland County clerk's office and the services available to the public.
Searching Highland County Court Records
Highland County has an eAccess portal for searching civil court records online. The Highland County eAccess portal lets you look up case information by party name or case number. The system shows civil, criminal, and domestic docket entries. It does not include document images, so you can see case activity and status but not the actual filed papers. If you need copies of specific documents, you will have to contact the clerk's office.
The record search tool covers cases from the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Civil suits, foreclosures, and administrative appeals are all in the system. Domestic Relations Division records for divorces, dissolutions, and custody cases show up as well. The data stays reasonably current, but for the most accurate case status, call the clerk at (937) 393-9957 or visit the courthouse at 105 N. High St. in Hillsboro.
The Highland County Court eAccess portal provides the online search tool for docket lookups in Highland County civil cases.
This search page allows you to look up docket entries for civil, criminal, and domestic cases filed in Highland County.
Note: Document images are not available through the eAccess portal.
Public Records Access in Highland County
Civil court records in Highland County are public under Ohio Revised Code ยง 149.43. Any person can ask for these records. You do not need a reason. The clerk's office must respond within a reasonable time and provide copies at cost. Some records are exempt, including sealed cases, juvenile files, and certain protected filings in domestic violence matters.
You can get copies of Highland County court records in a few ways. Visit the courthouse in person and ask staff to pull the file. Call the office to check on a case before you make the trip. Or send a written request by mail with the case number and a check for copy fees. The office address is 105 N. High St., Hillsboro, OH 45133. Standard copy fees apply, and certified copies cost more than plain ones. If a public office does not provide records, you have the option to file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims for $25.
Highland County Court System
The Highland County Court of Common Pleas has a General Division and a Domestic Relations Division. The General Division handles civil lawsuits, foreclosures, felony criminal cases, and administrative appeals. The Domestic Relations Division manages divorces, dissolutions, legal separations, custody, child support, and protection orders. A Juvenile Court deals with cases involving minors. The Clerk of Courts maintains records for all divisions at the courthouse in Hillsboro.
Highland County is part of the 4th Appellate District. Appeals from the Common Pleas Court go to the 4th District Court of Appeals. The ECMS portal from the Ohio Supreme Court lets you search appellate filings going back to 1985. You can also check the Ohio trial courts directory for Highland County court details and local rules.
Records retention in Ohio follows Rule 26 of the Rules of Superintendence. Courts store files on paper, digital media, or microfilm. Records older than ten years or created before 1960 need a 60-day notice to the Ohio Historical Society before the court can destroy them. This helps protect older civil records that may have historical value.
Statewide Court Resources
The Ohio Supreme Court opinions database has decisions from all 12 appellate districts. Search by date, court, or WebCite number. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association maintains a directory of all 88 county clerks with contact information. That can help you reach offices in Highland County or neighboring counties quickly.
The eFileOH system supports electronic filing in some Ohio courts. It runs 24 hours a day and works from any browser. You can submit documents, pay fees, and track case progress. It does not need special software to use. While not all courts in Ohio are on the system, it is growing and covers more counties each year.
Nearby Counties
If you need civil court records from counties near Highland County, these neighbors may be helpful: