Clark County Public Records

Clark County public records are managed by multiple offices at the courthouse in Springfield. You can search court filings, property deeds, and vital records through the Clerk of Courts, Recorder, and Health Department. The county seat of Springfield serves as the hub for all record keeping. Clark County courts have computerized records going back to January 1, 1990, and the municipal court offers e-filing for electronic document submission. Under Ohio's R.C. 149.43, all public records are open for inspection by anyone. The county also hosts the Probate Court, which keeps birth, marriage, death, and estate records dating back to 1818.

Clark County Municipal Court Records

The Clark County Municipal Court Clerk's Office in Springfield provides access to court records that used to require a trip to the office. E-filing is now live for electronic document submission. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can reach them toll free at (800) 544-1694, or call the criminal and traffic division at (937) 328-3700. The civil division is at (937) 328-3715. Filings that come in after 4:00 PM may not be processed until the next business day.

Computerized court public records in Clark County go back to January 1, 1990. The municipal court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, small claims, and civil matters within its jurisdiction. Some case types cannot be e-filed yet, including defaults, trusteeship, escrow, garnishments, motions to seal or expunge, and out-of-state filings. For those, you still need to file in person or by mail. The clerk's office is the place to go for certified copies of any municipal court filing.

Parking tickets are handled through a separate line at (937) 328-3713.

Clark County Court Public Records

The Clark County Courthouse sits at 101 N. Limestone St., Springfield, Ohio 45502. Phone is 937-521-1680. The Common Pleas Court handles felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, and domestic relations matters. The Clerk of Courts keeps all records for past and pending cases in the Common Pleas system. You can request copies at the clerk window during business hours.

The Clark County Probate Court is at 50 E. Columbia Street, Springfield, Ohio 45502. Phone is 937-521-1845. The Probate Judge has birth, marriage, death, probate, and naturalization records going back to 1818. Marriage records show both applicants' names, the date the license was issued, the ceremony date, the recording date, and the license number. Divorce records can be obtained from the County Clerk's Office and include the parties' names, document number, and the date the divorce was recorded. These are all public records under R.C. 149.43.

The Clark County court system provides online access to case records through its municipal court website.

Clark County Vital Records

The Clark County Combined Health District issues certified birth abstracts for anyone born in the State of Ohio from 1908 to the present. The office also has death certificates from 1908 forward for deaths that took place in Clark County. Call ahead if you are not sure where the death actually occurred. The Health District does not issue uncertified certificates.

Walk-in service is available at the Health District office. Certified copies of birth abstracts and death certificates cost $24.00 each. Online ordering is also available through VitalChek at the same $24.00 rate plus shipping and processing fees. For mail-in requests, print the form from the Health District website and send it with a cashier's check or money order payable to CCCHD. They do not take out-of-state checks. The Health District is at 529 East Home Road, Springfield, OH 45503. Phone is 937-390-5600.

Older records from 1888 to 1908 are at the Springfield-Clark County Heritage Center. That is a good resource for genealogy work.

Clark County Property Public Records

The Clark County Recorder is at the A.B. Graham Building, 31 North Limestone St., Springfield, OH 45501. Phone is (937) 521-1705. Fax is (937) 328-4620. The Recorder of Deeds keeps all land records and documents for the county. You can do a free search of Clark County recorded land documents and UCC filings by name, book and page, or instrument number through the online search tool.

Property public records in Clark County include deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other real estate documents. The Recorder files and indexes each document so you can find it by several different search methods. Certified copies run $2 per page plus a certification fee. The county office is always the cheapest source for official property records. Watch out for private companies that mail homeowners offering to sell deed copies at inflated prices. The actual cost from the Recorder is a fraction of what those firms charge.

How to Get Clark County Public Records

Ohio law makes it simple to get public records in Clark County. Under R.C. 149.43, you can request records in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. You do not need to give your name or state a reason. Just be clear about what you need. The office must respond promptly. Copy costs run about $0.05 per page for standard paper at most offices. Certified copies cost more and vary by department.

If an office denies your request, they must explain why in writing and cite the specific exemption. Sealed records, juvenile files, active investigation materials, and certain medical records are among the protected types. Everything else is open. You can challenge a denial through the Ohio Court of Claims for $25 or use the Attorney General's free mediation program at (800) 282-0515. The FamilySearch Clark County page also has useful information for historical record lookups and genealogy research.

• No form or ID needed to request records
• Standard copies cost about $0.05 per page
• Certified vital records are $24.00 each
• Court records go back to 1990 online
• Probate records date to 1818

Springfield Public Records

Springfield is the county seat and largest city in Clark County. All county offices that handle public records are located in Springfield. If you live in the city, the Clark County courthouse and municipal court are your primary sources for court records, property filings, and vital record requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Clark County and may have records you need.