Not a government site. We do not sell records or host personal data. About us

County Records Guide
Menu

Cuyahoga County court records

Cuyahoga County has 4 courts with their own files and case search, kept by the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts and the Cuyahoga County Probate Court. This page maps each kind of case to its court, then adds the Ohio rules on public and sealed files, statewide searches and copy fees.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Which court has the case
  2. Court of Common Pleas, General Division
  3. Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division
  4. Court of Appeals, Eighth Appellate District
  5. Probate Court
  6. Copies and fees
  7. What is public and what is sealed
  8. Statewide case search and court system
  9. Criminal history checks
  10. Divorce and probate files
  11. Questions people ask
  12. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  13. Sources

Which court has the case

Each court keeps its own files and runs its own case search. Find the kind of case in the second column, then use that court's search or ask its clerk.

CourtCases it hearsFiles kept byCase search
Court of Common Pleas, General DivisionFelony criminal and civil casesCuyahoga County Clerk of CourtsSearch cases1
Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations DivisionDivorce, dissolution, separationCuyahoga County Clerk of CourtsSearch cases2
Court of Appeals, Eighth Appellate DistrictAppealsCuyahoga County Clerk of CourtsSearch cases1
Probate CourtEstates, wills, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changesCuyahoga County Probate CourtSearch cases2

Court of Common Pleas, General Division

Cases: Felony criminal and civil cases.

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts (Criminal Division)

Address
Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 441131
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday bond/cashier window only 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.1

Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division

Cases: Divorce, dissolution, separation.

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts (Civil Division)

Address
Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 441131
Phone
216-443-7951 (Civil); 216-443-7955 (Domestic Relations); 216-443-7937 (Court of Appeals)2
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.1

Court of Appeals, Eighth Appellate District

Cases: Appeals.

Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts (Civil Division)

Address
Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 441131
Phone
216-443-7951 (Civil); 216-443-7955 (Domestic Relations); 216-443-7937 (Court of Appeals)2
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.1

Probate Court

Cases: Estates, wills, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes.

About this search
Docket and Index Search2

Cuyahoga County Probate Court

Address
1 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44113 (Marriage: Room 146)2
Phone
216-443-8764 (alt. 216-443-8765); Marriage 216-443-8920; copies/certified copies (Quality Assurance) 216-443-87924

Copies and fees

What the Cuyahoga County clerks charge:

Fees
Clerk of Courts (Legal Division) copies: $.03 per page if over 33 pages; no cost under 33 pages3

Fees set for Ohio courts generally:

Fees
Clerk of common pleas: $1 per page for copies of pleadings, process, record or files, including certificate and seal5
Copy cost rule
Court or clerk may charge actual costs of responding to a direct-access request and may require a deposit6

What is public and what is sealed

These rules come from Ohio law and court rules and apply to the Cuyahoga County courts as to every court in the state.

What is public
Court records are presumed open to public access (Sup.R. 11.10, formerly Sup.R. 45(A), renumbered July 1, 2026); courts/clerks must provide direct access and may charge actual costs6
Sealed and confidential records
Eligible convictions may be sealed or expunged under R.C. 2953.32; once sealed the proceedings are considered not to have occurred7
Court system
Unified state judiciary under Ohio Constitution Art. IV; trial courts are county Courts of Common Pleas (88 counties) with general, domestic relations, juvenile and probate divisions, plus municipal, county and mayor's courts; records kept by each court's clerk8

Criminal history checks

A court case file and a criminal history report are different records: the courts keep case files, and the state repository issues the report.

State repository
Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI); fingerprint-based checks9
State: fee
$22 for a BCI criminal record check (law enforcement officers exempt); payable to "Treasurer of State of Ohio"10
State: fee authority
Fee set by AG rule ("reasonable fee")11
State: who may order
Employers, licensing bodies and individuals via WebCheck; FBI checks only for specific Ohio employment12
State: who may request rule
Any person may obtain a person's BCI criminal record with that person's full name, address, identifiers, complete fingerprints and signed consent10

Divorce and probate files

Questions people ask

Which clerk has felony case files in Cuyahoga County?

The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts (Criminal Division), for the Court of Common Pleas, General Division (Felony criminal and civil cases).1

What does a certified copy of a Cuyahoga County court record cost?

Clerk of Courts (Legal Division) copies: $.03 per page if over 33 pages; no cost under 33 pages.3

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Cuyahoga County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 12 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Clerk of CourtsCuyahoga County Clerk of Courts
  2. Department A-Z DirectoryCuyahoga County
  3. Clerk of Courts Public Records policyCuyahoga County Clerk of Courts
  4. Court CostsCuyahoga County Probate Court
  5. Ohio Revised Code 2303.20 – Clerk of court of common pleas feesOhio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)
  6. Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of OhioSupreme Court of Ohio
  7. Ohio Revised Code 2953.32 – Sealing or expungement of conviction recordOhio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)
  8. Judicial System StructureSupreme Court of Ohio
  9. Background Check (WebCheck)Ohio Attorney General – Bureau of Criminal Investigation
  10. Ohio Adm.Code 109:5-1-01 Criminal record requestOhio Laws (codes.ohio.gov)
  11. Ohio Revised Code 109.57 – Bureau of criminal identification and investigationOhio Legislative Service Commission (codes.ohio.gov)
  12. Background Check FAQsOhio Attorney General – Bureau of Criminal Investigation