The Clark County Bar Association is committed to providing the public with access to legal information.
Learn more about Ohio’s Court system and access online resources below:
Learn more about Ohio’s Court system and access online resources below:
CLARK COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
The Clark County Municipal Court has limited power and authority to hear only certain types of cases within its geographical territory. The Clark County Municipal Court system has three divisions: Civil Division, Criminal/Traffic Division, and Trusteeship Division.
The Civil Division handles the following:
The Civil Division handles the following:
- All small claims cases for judgments up to $6,000,
- Eviction cases,
- Landlord/tenant cases,
- Appeals of state license suspensions, and
- Contract or personal injury cases for claims up to $15,000.
The Criminal/Traffic Division holds preliminary hearings in felony cases before the case is transferred to the court of common pleas, as well as all misdemeanor cases and traffic cases occurring in Clark County.
The Trusteeship Division is a program that permits debtors a place to pay a portion of their wages to the Court in a trusteeship in order to protect a paycheck from garnishment by creditors. Trusteeships do not prevent creditors from collecting debts on a legal judgement by other means, such as bank garnishments or property liens.
The Clark County Municipal Court is located at 50 East Columbia Street, Springfield, Ohio 45502.
Clark County Municipal Court Forms: https://clerkofcourts.municipal.co.clark.oh.us/web.nsf/DownloadsPage?OpenForm
Clark County Municipal Court Local Rules: https://clerkofcourts.municipal.co.clark.oh.us/web.nsf/RulesPage?OpenForm
The Trusteeship Division is a program that permits debtors a place to pay a portion of their wages to the Court in a trusteeship in order to protect a paycheck from garnishment by creditors. Trusteeships do not prevent creditors from collecting debts on a legal judgement by other means, such as bank garnishments or property liens.
The Clark County Municipal Court is located at 50 East Columbia Street, Springfield, Ohio 45502.
Clark County Municipal Court Forms: https://clerkofcourts.municipal.co.clark.oh.us/web.nsf/DownloadsPage?OpenForm
Clark County Municipal Court Local Rules: https://clerkofcourts.municipal.co.clark.oh.us/web.nsf/RulesPage?OpenForm
CLARK COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
The Clark County Court of Common Pleas hears criminal felony cases as well as cases involving personal injury, real estate, breach of contract, marital conflicts, estate probates, guardianships of minors, and business relationships. The Clark County Court of Common Pleas also has the authority to hear appeals from state and local administrative agencies, as well as municipal and county courts.
The Clark County Court of Common Pleas consists of three divisions: the General Division, Domestic Relations Division (Adult and Juvenile Court Sections), and the Probate Division.
The Clerk of Courts issues motor vehicles titles and maintains the filing, docketing, indexing, and preservation of court pleadings for the Court of Common Pleas and Clark County’s portion of cases filed in the Second District Court of Appeals.
Clerk of Courts Public Record Search: https://commonpleas.clarkcountyohio.gov/eservices/home.page.2
The Clark County Court of Common Pleas consists of three divisions: the General Division, Domestic Relations Division (Adult and Juvenile Court Sections), and the Probate Division.
The Clerk of Courts issues motor vehicles titles and maintains the filing, docketing, indexing, and preservation of court pleadings for the Court of Common Pleas and Clark County’s portion of cases filed in the Second District Court of Appeals.
Clerk of Courts Public Record Search: https://commonpleas.clarkcountyohio.gov/eservices/home.page.2
GENERAL DIVISION
The General Division hears criminal felony cases, appeals from state and local administrative agencies, and civil cases where the amount in controversy is more than $500.00.
General Division Local Rules: https://www.clarkcountyohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3178/Local-Court-Rules?bidId=
General Division Local Rules: https://www.clarkcountyohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3178/Local-Court-Rules?bidId=
DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION
The Domestic Relations Division has separate sections for adult and juvenile cases.
Adult Section
The Adult Section of the Domestic Relations Division hears cases involving divorce or dissolution of marriages, annulments, legal separations, spousal support, allocation of parental rights, and responsibilities for care of children.
Adult Section Local Rules: https://www.clarkcountyohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2787/DOMESTIC-RULES-OF-COURT?bidId=
Juvenile Section https://www.clarkohiojuvcourt.us/
The Juvenile Section hears cases involving children under the age of 18 who are charged with acts that would be considered a crime if committed by adults, as well as cases involving other juvenile matters, such as:
Juvenile Section Local Rules: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Clerk/Local%20Rules/clarkCoJD.pdf
Juvenile Section Forms and Legal Notices: https://www.clarkohiojuvcourt.us/
Adult Section
The Adult Section of the Domestic Relations Division hears cases involving divorce or dissolution of marriages, annulments, legal separations, spousal support, allocation of parental rights, and responsibilities for care of children.
Adult Section Local Rules: https://www.clarkcountyohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2787/DOMESTIC-RULES-OF-COURT?bidId=
Juvenile Section https://www.clarkohiojuvcourt.us/
The Juvenile Section hears cases involving children under the age of 18 who are charged with acts that would be considered a crime if committed by adults, as well as cases involving other juvenile matters, such as:
- Cases involving juveniles alleged to be delinquent, unruly, abused, neglected, or dependent
- Issues of paternity, child support, and custody in cases involving children who were born out of wedlock or when no action for divorce, dissolution, annulment, or legal separation has been filed with the Domestic Relations Division
- Issues of child custody
- Adult cases involving nonsupport, contributing to the delinquency of minors, and failure to send a child to school
Juvenile Section Local Rules: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/Clerk/Local%20Rules/clarkCoJD.pdf
Juvenile Section Forms and Legal Notices: https://www.clarkohiojuvcourt.us/
PROBATE DIVISION
The Probate Division oversees the administration of a deceased resident’s estates, as well as various types of trusts. The Probate Division also issues marriage licenses and handles proceedings that involve adoptions, adult paternity, name changes, birth certificate corrections, determinations of sanity or mental competency, and adult protective services, and other related matters.
Online Marriage Application: https://probate.clarkcountyohio.gov/marriageApplication.php?agencyNumber=1203
Probate Forms and Descriptions of Services: https://probate.clarkcountyohio.gov/forms.php
Probate Division Local Rules: http://www.probate.clarkcountyohio.gov/pdf/courtRules-20180619.pdf
Online Marriage Application: https://probate.clarkcountyohio.gov/marriageApplication.php?agencyNumber=1203
Probate Forms and Descriptions of Services: https://probate.clarkcountyohio.gov/forms.php
Probate Division Local Rules: http://www.probate.clarkcountyohio.gov/pdf/courtRules-20180619.pdf
SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
The state is divided into 12 appellate districts, each of which has a court of appeals that hears appeals from the common pleas, municipal and county courts within its district. Courts of appeals also hear applications for writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, precedendo, prohibition and quo warranto. Clark County is located in the Second District Courts of Appeals http://www.seconddistrictcoa.org/
Second District Court of Appeals Local Rules: http://www.seconddistrictcoa.org/document_center/Ohio%20Court%20Rules/Second%20District%20Local%20Rules%20rev.%207-2021%20(with%20bookmarks).pdf
Second District Court of Appeals Local Rules: http://www.seconddistrictcoa.org/document_center/Ohio%20Court%20Rules/Second%20District%20Local%20Rules%20rev.%207-2021%20(with%20bookmarks).pdf
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO
The Supreme Court of Ohio is the court of last resort in Ohio. The Supreme Court hears appeals from the 12 district courts of appeals as well as original actions seeking special remedies, such as writs of habeas corpus, writs of mandamus and procedendo, writs of prohibition, and writs of quo warranto.
While some appeals are discretionary, the Supreme Court of Ohio must accept appeals that involve the death penalty, questions arising under the United States or Ohio Constitution, conflicting opinions from two or more courts of appeals, cases that originated in a district court of appeals, and Board of Tax Appeals and Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) decisions.
The Supreme Court of Ohio also makes rules about the operation of courts, the practice of law in Ohio, and it has authority over the admission of attorneys to the practice of law as well as the discipline of attorneys who violate rules governing the practice of law.
Standardized Domestic and Juvenile Forms: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/CFC/DRForms/default.asp
Supreme Court Of Ohio Writing Manual: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/manual.pdf
Ohio Rules of Appellate Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/appellate/AppellateProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/civil/CivilProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/criminal/CriminalProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Evidence: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/evidence/evidence.pdf
Ohio Rules of Juvenile Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/juvenile/JuvenileProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/ProfConduct/profConductRules.pdf
Ohio Traffic Rules: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/traffic/Traffic.pdf
Supreme Court Rules of Practice: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/practice/rulesofpractice.pdf
Other Ohio Rules of Court (Code of Judicial Conduct, Rules of Superintendence, Rules for Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases, Mayor’s Court, Court of Claims, Probate Forms, etc.): https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/legalresources/rules/
All Ohio Courts & Local Rules: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JudSystem/trialCourts/
While some appeals are discretionary, the Supreme Court of Ohio must accept appeals that involve the death penalty, questions arising under the United States or Ohio Constitution, conflicting opinions from two or more courts of appeals, cases that originated in a district court of appeals, and Board of Tax Appeals and Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) decisions.
The Supreme Court of Ohio also makes rules about the operation of courts, the practice of law in Ohio, and it has authority over the admission of attorneys to the practice of law as well as the discipline of attorneys who violate rules governing the practice of law.
Standardized Domestic and Juvenile Forms: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/CFC/DRForms/default.asp
Supreme Court Of Ohio Writing Manual: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/manual.pdf
Ohio Rules of Appellate Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/appellate/AppellateProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/civil/CivilProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/criminal/CriminalProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Evidence: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/evidence/evidence.pdf
Ohio Rules of Juvenile Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/juvenile/JuvenileProcedure.pdf
Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/ProfConduct/profConductRules.pdf
Ohio Traffic Rules: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/traffic/Traffic.pdf
Supreme Court Rules of Practice: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/Rules/practice/rulesofpractice.pdf
Other Ohio Rules of Court (Code of Judicial Conduct, Rules of Superintendence, Rules for Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases, Mayor’s Court, Court of Claims, Probate Forms, etc.): https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/legalresources/rules/
All Ohio Courts & Local Rules: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JudSystem/trialCourts/
MISCELLANEOUS QUICKLINKS
Ohio Constitution: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution
Ohio Revised Code: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code
Ohio Administrative Code: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code
Clark County Auditor’s Office: https://www.clarkcountyauditor.org
Clark County Recorder’s Office: https://countyfusion7.kofiletech.us/countyweb/loginDisplay.action?countyname=ClarkOH
Clark County Law Library: https://www.cclawlibrary.org/
Ohio Revised Code: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code
Ohio Administrative Code: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code
Clark County Auditor’s Office: https://www.clarkcountyauditor.org
Clark County Recorder’s Office: https://countyfusion7.kofiletech.us/countyweb/loginDisplay.action?countyname=ClarkOH
Clark County Law Library: https://www.cclawlibrary.org/
