Auglaize County Records Search

Auglaize County public records are managed by offices in Wapakoneta, the county seat. The Clerk of Courts, Recorder, Sheriff, and other county departments each hold different types of public records you can search and request. Auglaize County serves communities including Wapakoneta, St. Marys, New Bremen, Minster, and several smaller towns. Under Ohio's public records act, R.C. 149.43, anyone has the right to inspect and copy records held by county offices. The Clerk of Courts now accepts electronic filing by email, which has made it easier to submit and access court documents.

Auglaize County Clerk of Courts

The Auglaize County Clerk of Courts is the primary office for court public records. Clerk Mandy L. Dunlap serves as both the Common Pleas Court Clerk and the Municipal Court Clerk. The office is at the Auglaize County Courthouse, 201 S. Willipie Street, Room 043, Wapakoneta, OH 45895. You can call 419-739-6765 during business hours, which run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fax number is 419-739-6768.

Electronic filing is now available. As of June 2025, the Auglaize County Clerk accepts e-filing by email. For Common Pleas General and Domestic Relations Division filings, send documents to cpclerk@auglaizecounty.org. For Municipal Court filings, use municlerk@auglaizecounty.org. These email addresses are for electronic filing only, not general questions. This makes it easier to file court documents without visiting the courthouse in person.

The Clerk also runs the Title Division for vehicle and watercraft titling. That office is at 604 1/2 S. Blackhoof St. in Wapakoneta. You can reach it at 419-739-6742, Option 1. Hours match the main office.

Auglaize County Municipal Court Records

The Auglaize County Municipal Court has two divisions that handle different types of public records. The Small Claims and Civil Division can be reached at 419-739-6767. The Traffic and Criminal Division is at 419-739-6766. Both share the same fax number: 419-739-6768. These divisions handle misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims disputes, and civil matters under the court's jurisdiction.

There is also a branch office in St. Marys. The Municipal Court Clerk St. Marys Branch is at 114 N. Main Street, St. Marys, OH 45885. You can call 419-394-3105 or 419-739-6766. The branch is open Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. only. This is useful if you live closer to St. Marys and need to handle Municipal Court business without driving to Wapakoneta.

Payments for Municipal Court traffic and criminal cases can be made online through the Clerk's payment portal. This system is available around the clock. You can also pay in person at either court location or mail payment to the Clerk of Courts, P.O. Box 409, Wapakoneta, OH 45895. One important rule: personal and business checks are not accepted for traffic citation payments.

The Auglaize County website provides access to all county offices and online tools for searching public records.

Auglaize County Property Public Records

The Auglaize County Recorder is Emily Schlenker. The office is at 209 S. Blackhoof St., Suite 103, Wapakoneta, OH 45895. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Phone is 419-739-6735 and fax is 419-739-6736. You can email eschlenker@auglaizecounty.org with questions about property records.

The Auglaize County Recorder maintains property records going back to 1848. The office is responsible for recording, archiving, and making accessible every document that deals with the conveyance and encumbrance of land in the county. That includes deeds, mortgages, liens, and plat maps. The Recorder files and indexes each document carefully and enforces more than 1,000 sections of state law in the Ohio Revised Code that relate to recording duties. Under R.C. 317.08, these records must be indexed so the public can find them. The Recorder also serves on the county's Records Commission, which decides how long records are kept. A fee schedule updated in October 2024 is available through the office.

The Recorder collects fees for documents filed and pays the money into the county's general fund. The office also handles the county's microfilming department and files annual ethics reports and equipment inventories.

Auglaize County Sheriff Public Records

The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Michael L. Vorhees. The office is at 1051 Dearbaugh Ave., Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895. Public records requests can be made by phone, fax, email, or through the website. The Sheriff's office keeps records related to law enforcement activity, incident reports, civil process, and jail operations. Sex offender registration is handled by appointment only.

The lobby schedule for the Sheriff's office varies. Web checks and concealed carry weapon permits are handled Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. by appointment only. Hours are subject to change. CCW permits are good for 30 days past their expiration date, and renewals can be done any time after the expiration date without penalties. These are all public records matters that the Sheriff's office handles for Auglaize County residents.

How to Get Auglaize County Public Records

Requesting public records in Auglaize County follows Ohio law. Under R.C. 149.43, you can ask for records in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. No form is required. You do not have to identify yourself. Just describe the records you need clearly. The office must respond promptly. Standard copies cost about $0.05 per page. Certified copies cost more based on the type of record and the office that holds it.

If your request is denied, the office must tell you why in writing and cite the specific legal exemption. Sealed records, juvenile case files, and active investigation materials are common exemptions. If you disagree with a denial, file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims for $25 or call the Attorney General's mediation line at (800) 282-0515. The Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws page explains your rights in detail.

The Auglaize County government portal lists all elected officials and departments with contact information. Start there if you are not sure which office holds the records you need. All elected officials in Auglaize County must complete public records training under R.C. 109.43.

Nearby Counties

If you need public records from neighboring areas, these counties border Auglaize County.