Search Delaware County Public Records

Delaware County public records are held by the Clerk of Courts, Recorder, Probate Court, and other local offices in the county seat of Delaware. The county has grown fast in the last two decades, and its court system handles a large volume of civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases each year. You can search many Delaware County public records for free through online tools run by the Clerk of Courts and the Auditor. Certified copies of most records cost a small fee, and you can get them in person, by mail, or through online ordering systems. Ohio law under R.C. 149.43 gives the public a broad right to view and copy records held by any county office.

Delaware County Clerk of Courts

The Delaware County Clerk of Courts is the main office for court public records. Natalie Fravel serves as Clerk, first elected in 2016 after more than fourteen years of work in the Clerk's offices. The Legal Division handles all court records for the Common Pleas Court and the Fifth District Court of Appeals. This includes civil, criminal, domestic relations, and appellate case filings. The office is at 117 North Union Street, Level 300, Delaware, Ohio 43015. You can call (740) 833-2500 for help. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Clerk also runs a Title Division with two locations. The main Title Office is at 2079 U.S. Route 23 North, Suite 1, Delaware, OH 43015, phone (740) 833-2490. A second office sits in Lewis Center at 8647 Columbus Pike, Lewis Center, OH 43035, phone (740) 657-3945. The Delaware Title Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Saturday hours are closed on holiday weekends. Cash, check, and credit or debit cards are accepted at all locations, though credit and debit cards come with a processing fee.

Delaware County public records from the Clerk cover case dockets, court schedules, and documents filed in all divisions. You can search these records online or visit in person.

Search Delaware County Public Records Online

The Clerk of Courts runs an online records search tool that gives free access to court case data. You can find the portal at the Delaware County Records Search page. The system lets you look up cases by name, including first, middle, or last name, suffixes, and business names. You can also narrow results by case type, case status, party type, and date of birth range. This covers appellate, civil, domestic relations, and felony criminal cases filed in the Common Pleas Court.

Keep in mind that the online data is a copy, not the official record. If you need verified information, you should check the original court file at the courthouse. The system may not show the most recent filings due to processing delays. Records that are exempt by law from disclosure will not show up in the search results. Under Ohio Rev. Code 149.43, most court records are public. But some are protected. Exempt records include personal identifier records, juvenile case records, adoption records, and mental health records. Staff notes, drafts, and financial records tied to restricted cases are also off limits.

The Delaware County Clerk of Courts website provides direct access to the online records search system for case filings across all court divisions.

Delaware County Property Public Records

Property public records in Delaware County are kept by both the Auditor and the Recorder. The Delaware County Auditor is at 145 N. Union Street, Delaware, OH 43015, phone (740) 833-2900, email auditor@co.delaware.oh.us. The Auditor has a Real Estate Data Property Search and a GIS Property Search tool. You can look up parcels by owner name, address, or parcel number. These tools are free and open to everyone.

The Delaware County Recorder handles deeds, mortgages, liens, and other real estate documents. The Recorder is at 145 N. Union Street, Delaware, Ohio 43015, phone (740) 833-2460, fax (740) 833-2459. An E-search portal is available but you need to make an account to use it. Property records in the Recorder's office go back to the formation of the county. These include assessment records, ownership history, property sale data, plat maps, tax records, mortgage information, land contracts, and zoning records. All of these are public records under Ohio law.

Watch out for scam letters. Some private firms send mail to homeowners offering to sell copies of their own deeds at high prices. The county office charges a fraction of what these companies ask.

Vital Records in Delaware County

The Delaware Public Health District handles birth and death records for events in Delaware County. Records go back to 1867. The office is at 470 South Sandusky Street, Delaware, OH 43015. Phone is (740) 203-2021, and you can email rhess@delawarehealth.org for questions. Certified copies cost $25 per copy for mail requests. You need to fill out an Application for Vital Records form. You can order by phone, walk in, mail, or online through VitalChek.

For birth records, you need the name at birth, date of birth, father's name if applicable, and mother's maiden name. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Columbus keeps births from December 20, 1908 and deaths from 1971 forward. The Ohio Department of Health charges $21.50 per record search if you go through the state office instead.

Delaware County Probate Court Records

The Delaware County Probate Court handles marriage licenses, estates, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, trusts, hearings, birth records, and mental commitment records. The court is at 145 North Union Street, P.O. Box 8006, Delaware, Ohio 43015. Phone is (740) 833-2680, fax (740) 833-2679. Marriage records from 1996 to the present are available at the Probate Court. Certified copies cost $2 each.

If you need marriage records from before 1996, those sit at the Delaware County Records Center at 2079 US 23 North, Delaware, OH 43015, phone (740) 833-2140. The Records Center also stores older Clerk of Courts records, probate records, and other county archives that have been moved off-site. This is a good place to check if you are looking for historical Delaware County public records that are not in the main courthouse.

Criminal Records in Delaware County

Criminal public records in Delaware County can come from several sources. The Clerk of Courts has felony criminal case records from the Common Pleas Court. The Delaware County Sheriff's Office at 1776 State Route 521, Delaware, OH 43015, phone (740) 833-2810, keeps local arrest records and criminal records. You can also get statewide criminal record searches through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). A BCI check costs $22 and needs a completed application form, valid ID, and fingerprints.

Court records for misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims are handled at the municipal court level. The Common Pleas Court General Division handles felonies, civil disputes, foreclosures, and administrative appeals. Domestic Relations handles divorces, dissolutions, child support, and protection orders. All of these filings are public records unless sealed by a judge or exempt under state law.

How to Get Delaware County Public Records

Under R.C. 149.43, you can ask for public records in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. You do not need a form. You do not need to give your name or state a reason. Just tell the office what records you need. They have to give them to you promptly. Standard copies run about $0.05 per page.

If an office denies your request, they must put the reason in writing and cite the specific law that applies. Sealed records, juvenile files, active investigation materials, and medical records are among the types that can be withheld. If you believe a denial was wrong, you can file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims for $25. You can also use the Attorney General's free mediation program at (800) 282-0515. The Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws page has guides and training materials about public records rights.

• Be specific about the records you want
• No name or reason needed
• Standard copies cost about $0.05 per page
• Certified copies cost more, varies by office
• Offices must respond promptly under Ohio law

Cities in Delaware County

Delaware County includes parts of the city of Dublin. Dublin spans both Delaware and Franklin counties. If you need public records for events in Dublin, the filing office depends on which part of the city. Matters in the Delaware County portion go through the Delaware County Clerk of Courts and related offices.

For Dublin public records, check which county has jurisdiction first. Court cases, property deeds, and vital records are all filed at the county level in Ohio. The city itself does not maintain these types of records.

Nearby Counties

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