Licking County Court Records Lookup

Licking County Courts, OH *

Licking County courts handle all sorts of cases, ranging from minor traffic violations to very complex felony trials and estate matters. County residents may need the courts for issues such as landlord-tenant issues and property disputes, custody and divorce cases, or contract disputes. Employers and landlords also consult court records to see if a person has a prior eviction or criminal case. Lawyers need court records to prepare for future cases. The nearly 200,000 residents in Licking County depend on the court system for help with lawsuits, traffic tickets, probate matters, and family disputes.

How to Access Licking County Court Records

Online Access

The most common way to access court records online in Licking County is through the Clerk of Courts website using the re:SearchOH search feature. Residents will be able to search the Court of Common Pleas case records for both civil and criminal cases, as well as appeals from the county in the Fifth District Appellate Court. Citizens who want to look up municipal court records from the Licking County Municipal Court in Newark can visit the court's website.

Alternative Online Options

A good choice for case record lookup when the official county websites feel overwhelming is CourtCaseFinder, because it searches records across the state and nationwide to find cases residents are looking for, such as divorces, property records, probate records, and arrests from multiple sources. Alternative online sources are helpful when someone isn't sure where the court record originated.

In-Person Requests

Residents of Licking County can also visit the Clerk of Courts Office at the Licking County Courthouse in Newark. The Clerk of Courts office can help people locate case records and provide residents with certified copies of court records they may need for other courts, financial institutions, or agencies. Usually, the Clerk's Office charges a small fee for certified copies. Be sure that you bring as much case information for the Clerk's Office as possible to aid their case record search.

Archived Records

Once a case is finished moving through the court system, it is then archived. If researchers need to cite it as a source, their first stop should be the Licking County Records and Archives in Newark. Some of the records are available digitally, while others are only available for in-person research. Ohio also maintains a State Archives system located in Canton.

Overview of the Licking County Court System

The Licking County Courts operate under the supervision of the Supreme Court of Ohio, which regulates all of the courts in the state. Ohio has a three-tier court system. At the top of the tiers is the Ohio Supreme Court, the state's court of final appeal. The Twelve Appellate Courts of Ohio are the intermediate tier of courts in the state.

The Licking County Courts represent the lowest tier of the court system. Licking County has a Court of Common Pleas, located in the County Courthouse, which hears both criminal and civil cases. The county also has the Licking County Municipal Court, located in the Newark Municipal Building, that hears traffic citations and ordinance violations from across the county. There are three Mayor's Courts as well to hear citations from the city limits.

Types of Courts in Licking County, Ohio

Court of Common Pleas

The Licking County Court of Common Pleas hears both civil and criminal cases in the county. It is divided into several divisions. The General Division hears felony and misdemeanor cases that involve jail sentences or large fines, as well as personal injury cases, contract disputes, and any other civil cases over $15,000. The court's Domestic Division hears cases related to families, children, and dissolution of marriages, as well as protection orders and child support.

Jurisdiction:

• Felony and serious misdemeanor cases
• Family law cases: divorce, child support, child custody
• Civil cases over $15,000
• Personal injury
• Large contract disputes

Primary Location: Licking County Courthouse

Probate/Juvenile Court

Each county in Ohio has a court that serves as the Probate/Juvenile Court with a separate judge or judges. The court hears matters related to juveniles who have entered the court system, as well as cases related to wills, estates, and guardianships.

Jurisdiction:

• Juvenile delinquency cases (criminal offenses)
• Juvenile dependency cases (abuse or neglect)
• Guardianship of an incapacitated adult
• Wills, trusts, and estate matters

Primary Location: Licking County Courthouse

Municipal Court

There is no separate county court in Licking County. Instead, the county has a municipal court that hears smaller cases. In Ohio, small claims cases do not need an attorney to be filed, unless the entity filing is an LLC (limited liability company) or a corporation.

Jurisdiction:

• Misdemeanors
• Small claims cases (under $6,000) and civil cases under $15,000
• Serious traffic offenses, such as DUI or reckless driving
• Referred cases from the Mayor's Courts

Primary Location: Newark Municipal Building

Mayor's Court

Ohio is one of two states in the nation that have Mayor's Courts. Mayor's Courts hear only low-level traffic cases and ordinance violations. The mayor or an appointed city administrator hears cases in the Mayor's Court. There are no jury trials, so if a defendant requests a jury, the case is referred to the Municipal Court. Licking County has three Mayor's Courts, one each in Granville, Pataskala, and Utica, that hear violations within their respective city limits.

Jurisdiction:

• City ordinance violations
• Low-level traffic offenses, such as running a stop sign

Primary Location: Granville, Pataskala, and Utica Village Halls

How to File a Case in Licking County

Ohio has a specific process for filing a civil case in its courts. These procedures are for residents who want to file a case in the Court of Common Pleas or the Municipal Court. It is important to follow the proper procedure when filing a case, or risk the case being dismissed.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Choosing the correct court in Licking County is merely a matter of determining the amount of damages in a civil case. If this case may result in damages exceeding $15,000, it must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas also hears family law cases, such as divorce, child support, and child custody. If a resident has a small-claims case or the damages are under $15,000, the case must be filed in Municipal Court.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

The next step is for a filer to complete all required forms needed to file a case. They can download appropriate forms from the forms list on the Ohio Supreme Court website. Filers also need to check the Clerk of Courts website to make sure that there are no additional local documents that need to be filed. Be sure that all forms are filled out completely. The Clerk of Courts office can help residents make sure their documents are filled out properly.

Step 3: File the Case

In Ohio, residents have the option to file civil cases online or in person. People who choose to file online use efileOH, while people who prefer to file in person can do so at the Licking County Clerk of Courts office. In either case, be sure that everything needed to file the case is ready to go. Residents who have questions should check with the Clerk of Courts office prior to filing.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Licking County makes it easy to pay filing fees. First, residents can find a list of current court fees on the Clerk of Courts website. People who file online will pay their filing fees online as well, using a credit or debit card. If choosing to pay and file in person, the Clerk of Courts office accepts money orders or cashier's checks as payment. Some residents cannot afford to pay court fees. They can opt to file a waiver of court fees, and if approved, they will proceed with their case without paying fees. A small security deposit is required with a fee waiver.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Ohio courts do not allow a litigant in a case to serve the other party in the case. Instead, Licking County residents must file an Instructions for Service form with the Clerk of Courts. When the paper is filed, the filer must make a choice on how they want the other party served: by certified mail, by a sheriff's deputy, or by a certified process server. If a resident cannot find the address of the person they need to serve, they can file an affidavit with the court demonstrating their attempts to serve and then serve by publication in a local newspaper.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

After the litigants have been served, it is important that they continue to monitor the case. Litigants can follow case progress through either eFileOH or re:SearchOH. Also, if a resident cannot look at their case online, they can choose to contact the Clerk of Courts office by phone or in person. It is important to keep up with the court docket in case the court date changes or there is movement in the case.

Licking County Courthouse Directory

Legal and Self-Help Resources

Free Legal Assistance

Not all residents of Licking County can afford to pay for legal help, even if they need it. That's why it is important that they take advantage of the free resources available to them. Here are some free resources they should consider.

• Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio: Provides legal help to citizens of Licking County in civil cases, especially if they have low incomes.
• Ohio Legal Help: Provides resources and information via a self-help portal.
• Licking County Law Library: Available throughout the Licking County Library System, with commonly used documents and research databases.

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