Access Union County Public Records

Union County public records are kept by offices in Marysville, the county seat. What sets Union County apart is its online record indexes, which provide deep historical access to court records going back to 1820. The Clerk of Courts, Recorder, and other departments maintain current records too. Ohio law under R.C. 149.43 gives you the right to inspect and copy public records from any county office. Union County has done a good job of putting older records online, making it a strong resource for both legal research and genealogy.

Union County Record Indexes

The Union County Record Indexes website is a standout resource. It provides comprehensive online indexes for genealogical and legal research. The Clerk of Courts indexes cover civil cases, Court of Appeals records, coroner inquests, criminal cases, domestic relations cases, executions and liens, judgments, justices of the peace records, and licenses.

The level of detail in these indexes is impressive. You can search by year, surname, case number, or Soundex code. The system covers records from the early 1800s through the late 1900s. Not every county in Ohio has this kind of historical access online, so Union County is ahead of the curve on this front.

The Union County Record Indexes website provides online access to historical court and civil records dating back to 1820.

Union County Domestic Relations Records

The Union County Domestic Relations Case File Index holds 6,783 records from 1820 to 1977. You can search by year, surname, case number, or Soundex code. Use the % symbol as a wildcard when searching by name. These records come from the common pleas court and are maintained by the Clerk of Courts.

Each record contains the original complaint in a divorce or dissolution proceeding. You will find the plaintiff and defendant names, the grounds for divorce, the date and place of marriage, the names and ages of children, and goods owned by both parties. Separation agreements cover custody, medical expenses, child support, education, insurance, visitation, division of property, settlement of debts, and the court's final order.

A 1913 legislative act created the domestic relations court to hear divorce, alimony, illegitimacy, neglect, abuse, nonsupport, and desertion cases. In Union County, the common pleas judge still hears all case types. Domestic relations files were given blue filing envelopes starting in 1978 to separate them from other civil filings.

Union County Civil Case Records

The Union County Civil Cases Index covers select case types from 1863 to 1950, with 13,245 records. The index does not include all civil actions, only partition and dower cases, probate-related cases, and second trial cases. These are specialized record types that are especially useful for property and estate research.

Partition cases involve requests to divide jointly-held real property into individually owned parcels. Dower cases deal with a wife's right to a life estate in one-third of the land her husband owned upon his death. Probate-related cases include actions to construe, contest, or set aside a will. Before 1968, the common pleas court had original jurisdiction over these matters along with hearing appeals from the probate court.

Second trial cases from 1863 to 1875 are a unique set of records. In 1853, the state took away the right to a second jury trial in district court after one in common pleas court. But the legislature allowed a new second trial in common pleas court instead. This practice ended on February 9, 1875.

Union County Government Records

The Union County government website serves as the main portal for county offices and services. The site uses a .gov domain, which means it is an official government website. All information provided through it is encrypted and secure. The county operates through the standard set of elected offices: Auditor, Clerk of Courts, Recorder, Sheriff, Prosecutor, Treasurer, and Engineer.

Each office maintains its own records. The Auditor keeps property tax and valuation data. The Recorder files deeds, mortgages, and liens. The Sheriff handles law enforcement records. The Board of Elections manages voter registration and election results. Under R.C. 149.43, every one of these offices must make public records available upon request.

How to Get Union County Records

You can request public records from any Union County office in person, by phone, by email, or by mail. Ohio law does not require you to fill out a form, identify yourself, or state your purpose. Just be clear about what records you need and the office must respond promptly. Standard copy fees are typically $0.05 to $0.10 per page, with higher fees for certified copies.

If your request is denied, the office must give you a written explanation citing the specific law that applies. You can challenge improper denials through the Ohio Court of Claims for $25 or use the Attorney General's free mediation service at (800) 282-0515. Most records in Union County are easy to access, especially with the online indexes that cover so many historical files.

• Historical indexes cover records from 1820 to 1977
• Search by name, case number, year, or Soundex
• Current records available through the Clerk of Courts
• No form or ID required for public records requests
• Offices must respond promptly under Ohio law

Nearby Counties

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