Find Lawrence County Public Records

Lawrence County public records are held by offices in Ironton, the county seat. The Clerk of Courts keeps court case files. The Health Department handles birth and death certificates. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest and criminal records. You can search civil and criminal court records online through the Clerk's data platform. Ohio's R.C. 149.43 gives everyone the right to ask for and inspect government records. Lawrence County sits along the Ohio River border with West Virginia and Kentucky, and several mayor's courts handle minor offenses across the county's smaller towns.

Lawrence County Clerk of Courts

Michael P. Patterson serves as the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts. The office is at 111 South 4th Street, Ironton, OH 45638. The phone number is 740-533-4352. You can email mpatterson@lawrenceclerk.com with questions. The Clerk maintains court records for all cases filed in Lawrence County courts. The office keeps an online data platform where you can search civil and criminal public court records. You can search by name, case type, case number, attorney, or ticket and citation number.

The Court of Common Pleas handles the more serious cases in the county. These include felony criminal matters, civil disputes, and domestic relations cases like divorce and custody. The Common Pleas Court is at 111 South 4th Street, same as the Clerk's office, and can be reached at (740) 533-4352. Marriage and divorce records are also available through this office. Both need an in-person or written request with proper identification. Fees vary depending on the record type, so contact the Clerk for current rates before you visit.

Lawrence County Court Records

Lawrence County has two municipal courts in addition to the Common Pleas Court. The Lawrence County Municipal Court is at 10916 County Road 1, P.O. Box 126, Chesapeake, OH 45619. Call (740) 867-3127 for information. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The fax number is (740) 867-3547. The Ironton Municipal Court is at 301 South 3rd Street, P.O. Box 237, 3rd Floor, Ironton, OH 45638. That court's phone is (740) 532-3062, fax (740) 533-6088.

Several mayor's courts also handle minor cases in Lawrence County. Coal Grove Mayor's Court is at 513 Carlton Davidson Lane, Coal Grove, OH 45638, phone (740) 532-8921. Hanging Rock Mayor's Court sits at 100 Scioto Avenue, phone (740) 532-7652. Proctorville Mayor's Court is at 301 State Street, phone (740) 886-6366. South Point Mayor's Court is at 408 2nd Street West, phone (740) 377-4011. Records from these courts are public under R.C. 149.43, but each court keeps its own files. You will need to contact them one at a time.

Ohio's statewide records portal can supplement local searches for Lawrence County public records.

Lawrence County Criminal Records

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office is at 115 South 5th Street, Ironton, Ohio 45638. The jail phone is (740) 534-5819. The Sheriff keeps arrest records and criminal files for the county. In 2017, Lawrence County reported 1,032 crimes. Property crimes made up 92.34% of the total. Violent crimes accounted for 7.66%, which included 6 murders, 14 rapes, 10 robberies, and 14 aggravated assaults. Overall crime dropped 12.61% between 2013 and 2017, though rape increased 366.67% and motor vehicle theft went up 61.36% in that span.

The Sheriff's Office runs an Electronic Sex Offender Registration Network, known as eSORN. You can search by name, city, phone number, internet names, email, or non-compliance status. The system lets you sign up for email alerts when an offender moves within one mile of a location you choose. Jail visits are on Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Valid ID is required for all visitors.

Vital Records in Lawrence County

The Lawrence County Health Department keeps birth and death records. The office is at 2122 South 8th Street, Ironton, OH 45638. Call (740) 532-3962 for help. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Birth certificates go back to December 20, 1908. Death certificates start from January 1, 1964. A certified copy costs $25. You need to fill out a Vital Statistics Records Request Form.

You can submit a request in person or by mail. Mail requests go to Lawrence County Health Department, 2122 South 8th Street, Ironton, OH 45638. Money orders are the only payment accepted by mail. For in-person visits, all payment methods work except personal checks and credit cards. The Ohio Department of Health also handles vital records at $21.50 per search for any county in the state. Marriage and divorce records come from the Clerk of Court of Common Pleas at 111 South 4th Street, phone (740) 533-4352.

How to Get Lawrence County Records

Under Ohio's public records law, anyone can request government records without giving a name or reason. Just tell the office what you need. They must respond promptly. Standard copies cost about $0.05 per page. Certified copies cost more. If you get a denial, the office must put it in writing and cite the exact law that covers the exemption. You can challenge a denial through the Ohio Court of Claims for $25 or use the Attorney General's free mediation at (800) 282-0515.

Records that are not public include sealed court files, juvenile cases, active investigation materials, and certain medical records. Everything else should be available. The Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws page has helpful guides for understanding the process. All elected officials in Lawrence County must complete public records training as required by R.C. 109.43.

• No name or reason required for requests
• Standard copies cost about $0.05 per page
• Offices must respond promptly
• Written denials must cite specific exemptions
• Free mediation through Attorney General's office

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lawrence County and may hold records you need.