Medina County, Ohio State Court Records
Medina County court records are official documents detailing cases handled by local courts. These records document the proceedings of a case from its inception to final judgment. They are essential for legal research and may be used to establish legal precedent in future cases. Some examples of Median County court records include court orders, dockets, judgments, pleadings, motions, trial exhibits, and transcripts.
The Medina County Clerk of Courts is the central custodian of court records generated and filed with the County Common Pleas Courts. Meanwhile, each municipal and mayor’s court has its own court clerk’s office that maintains court records from cases it handles. Generally, the Ohio Public Records Act governs the public release of Medina County court records and other government records, such as vital records and arrest information. In contrast, the Freedom of Information Act, codified in 5 U.S.C. § 552, governs public access to federal case files.
Are Medina County Court Records Public?
The Ohio Public Records Act, codified in Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, grants everyone the right to access government records, including Medina County court records. As a result, custodians of these records are required to release them upon request. However, certain court records and information are protected from public access pursuant to exemptions under the Ohio Public Records Act and relevant federal and state laws. Some of these protected records and information include:
- Juvenile cases
- Adoption proceedings records
- Sealed records
- Trial preparation records
- Child abuse reports
- Protective orders
- Probation and parole records
- Personal information, such as social security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive information.
What Information is Available in Medina County Court Records?
The typical contents of Medina County court records vary depending on the type of case. Nonetheless, most court records usually contain the following general information:
- Case number
- Court type
- Docket entries
- The presiding judge’s name
- Case filing date, status, and type
- Case parties’ personal information and their attorney’s details
- Case events, such as case filings and court orders.
Medina County Court Records Search
The Medina County Clerk of Courts and other local court clerks’ offices offer multiple avenues for conducting court records searches using identifiable information, such as a party’s name or a case number. These avenues include:
- Online - Individuals may use the Medina County Clerk of Courts Docket Search portal to search and access court documents and information about cases handled by the County Common Pleas Court. Meanwhile, municipal courts provide independent online resources for accessing court records for cases they handle. Examples include the Median Municipal Court Case Access portal and the Wadsworth Municipal Court Public Court Record Search portal. These portals are free and typically searchable by case number or party name.
- In-Person - Public computer terminals are available at the Medina County Clerk of Courts office and Municipal Courts for accessing court records electronically. Interested persons may visit local courthouses during regular business hours (typically between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm ) to use these terminals. They may also request physical copies of court records in person from the clerk’s office for a fee.
Fees for Court Records in Medina County
According to the Medina County Clerk of Courts Fee Schedule, record seekers may be charged the following fees for court records:
- Photocopies: $0.10 per page
- Certified copies: $1.00 per page in addition to the photocopy charge
- Exemplified copy or triple seal authentication certified of record: $5.00 in addition to the photocopy and certified copy charge
- Certificate of judgment: between $35.00 and $45.00
- Certificate of judgment for transfer: $10.00
- Satisfaction of judgment: $2.00 per page.
Medina County Courthouse Locations
There are three types of courts in Medina County: a Court of Common Pleas, two (2) Municipal Courts, and three (3) Mayor’s Courts. The Medina County Court of Common Pleas is the primary trial court in the county, and it is divided into three divisions (the general division, domestic relations division, and probate/juvenile division).
The General Division has original jurisdiction over all criminal felony cases and civil cases involving more than $500 in controversy. It also has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil cases involving more than $1,500 in controversy and appellate jurisdiction over some state administrative agencies’ decisions. Meanwhile, the Domestic Relations Division has the authority to hear all proceedings involving annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriages, legal separation, spousal support, parental rights allocation, and responsibilities for the care of children. Whereas the Probate/Juvenile Division has jurisdiction over the following:
- Cases involving individuals under 18 years who have been charged with an offense that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult.
- Cases involving unruly, dependent, and neglected children
- Adult cases involving child abuse, paternity, nonsupport, contributing to a minor delinquency, and failing to send children to school.
- Adoption proceedings, marriage license issuance, and determination of sanity or mental competency.
On the other hand, Medina County Municipal Courts have the authority to conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases and can hear traffic and non-traffic misdemeanor cases. It also has limited jurisdiction over civil cases with a controversy of less than $15,000. Medina County Mayor’s Courts can only hear cases involving violations of local ordinances and state traffic laws. The addresses and contact information of Medina County courthouses are listed below:
Medina County Courts of Common Pleas
Medina County General Division Court
Medina County Courthouse
225 East Washington St
Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-725-9722
Medina County Domestic Relations Court
Medina County Courthouse
225 East Washington St
Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-725-9740
Medina County Probate & Juvenile Court
Medina County Courthouse
225 E. Washington St,
4th Floor
Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-725-9709 (Juvenile division)
Phone: 330-725-9703 (Probate division)
Fax: 330-725-9173 (Juvenile division)
Fax: 330-725-9119 (Probate division)
Medina County Municipal Courts
135 N Elmwood Ave,
Medina, OH 44256
Phone: 330-723-3287
Fax: 330-225-1108
120 Maple St,
Wadsworth, OH 44281
Phone: 330-335-1596
Fax: 330-335-2723
Medina County Mayor’s Courts
4095 Center Rd,
Brunswick, OH 44212
Phone: 330-558-6870
Fax: 330-220-1348
Lodi Mayor’s Court
108 Ainsworth St,
PO Box 95,
Lodi, OH 44254
Phone: 330-948-2040
Fax: 330-948-3017
Westfield Center Mayor’s Court
6701 Greenwich Rd,
PO Box 750,
Westfield Center, OH 44251
Phone: 330-887-5151
Fax: 330-887-5601
Criminal Records Access in Medina County
In Medina County, individuals may conduct state-level criminal history background checks on themselves through the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) WebCheck locations. Fortunately, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office is one of these WebCheck locations. The agency charges $27.00 for a BCI check (statewide criminal history) and $30.00 for an FBI check (nationwide criminal history). Additionally, the agency accepts payment by check or money order only.
Interested persons may conduct criminal history background checks through the Medina County Sheriff’s Office by completing the agency’s WebCheck form. They must submit the complete form and relevant fee payment in person at the agency during prescribed hours (8:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm), Monday to Friday. Requesters must also bring a photo ID, preferably an Ohio driver’s license that includes their date of birth.
On the other hand, criminal case records in Median County are accessible through the clerk’s office of the specific court that handled the case or via court-provided resources. For instance, interested persons may access criminal cases handled by the Medina County Courts of Common Pleas through the County Clerk of Courts Docket Search portal. Alternatively, they may visit the courthouse and use available computer terminals to access relevant criminal case records electronically. They may also request copies of court documents for a fee.
Medina County Probate Records
In Medina County, the Probate/Juvenile Division of the County Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction of probate proceedings, such as the administration of a decedent’s estate and deposits or probate of wills. The probate division also handles other matters, including the following:
- Marriage license issuance
- Name changes
- Adoptions
- Involuntary commitment of mentally ill persons
- Guardianships
- Conservatorships
- Trusts
- Birth registration/record corrections.
Similar to other court records, most Medina County probate records are subject to the Ohio Public Records Act. These include wills, estate records, and other probate filings. Notwithstanding, certain probate records are exempt from public access. Most notably, adoption proceedings records are confidential per OH Rev Code §149.43(d), and deposited wills remain confidential until an application to probate them is filed under OH Rev Code §2107.07.
Public probate records and information are accessible online through the Medina County Clerk of Courts Docket Search portal. Record seekers may also visit the County Clerk of Courts’ office to access probate documents electronically through available computer terminals or request confidential probate records. Individuals are typically required to provide a valid ID to access confidential probate records.
Medina County Family Court Records
In Medina, all family law cases are handled by the Medina County Courts of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division. These include cases involving annulment, divorce or dissolution of marriage, legal separation, spousal support, allocation of parental rights, and responsibilities for the care of children. The Ohio Public Records Act governs the release of Medina County family court records. Although most family court records are presumed public under the Act, certain records may be restricted due to sensitive information they contain.
Notwithstanding, interested persons may use the Medina County Clerk of Courts Docket Search portal to access public family court records online. However, they must visit the County Clerk of Courts to obtain confidential records or request certified copies.
Federal Court Records in Medina County
Medina County falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. It handles all federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases in Medina County.
There are primarily three (3) ways to look up court records of federal cases heard by the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Ohio: online, by phone, and in person. Interested persons may use the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) portal to access federal court records. They must register a PACER account or log in to use the portal. Additionally, users are charged $0.10 per page to access case information on PACER. These fees are capped at $30.00 for a single document and may be waived if a user accrues no more than $30 in charges in a quarter.
Individuals may call the Multi-court Voice Case Information System (McVCIS) at 1-866-222-8029 (toll-free) to search and access limited case information by phone. Searches may be conducted by participant name, corporation name, case number, or Social Security Number. Alternatively, interested persons may access federal court records in person by visiting the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Ohio courthouses. Public access terminals are available at these courthouses, allowing users to search for records electronically. They can also request copies of records from the court clerk’s office in person at $0.50 per page and $11.00 for certified documents. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has four (4) courthouses, with the closest to Medina County located in Akron. The addresses and contact information of these courthouses are outlined below:
John F. Seiberling Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
2 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Phone: 330-252-6000
Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse
801 West Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Phone: 216-357-7000
James M. Ashley and Thomas W. L. Ashley U.S. Courthouse
1716 Spielbusch Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Phone: 419-213-5500
Thomas D. Lambros Federal Building & US Courthouse
125 Market Street
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
Phone: 330-884-7400