Cuyahoga County, established in 1807 in northeastern Ohio, is home to several landmarks, such as the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The county covers an area of approximately 1,246 square miles and has a diverse population of over 1.2 million residents, making it one of Ohio’s most populous counties. Its county seat is Cleveland.

Courts in Cuyahoga County

Cuyahoga County's court system comprises Courts of Common Pleas, Municipal Courts, and Mayor Courts. The Cuyahoga County Courts of Common Pleas has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases but typically presides over cases beyond the authority of other courts. The Common Pleas Court has a separate division for general, probate, juvenile, and domestic relations cases.

The Municipal Courts in Cuyahoga County preside over certain civil and criminal cases, such as felony preliminary hearings, violation of township ordinance, and civil claims of less than $15,000. The Cuyahoga County Mayor’s Court has jurisdiction over some criminal cases in territories outside the jurisdiction of a Municipal court.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Cuyahoga County

Public court records are all court documents and papers relating to legal proceedings that are open to the public for inspection, viewing, and copying. The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts is the official record custodian for court records from the Courts of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts provides access to public court records upon a written request. Record seekers may order or view the record in person at the courthouse or mail requests for the record. Public court records from the Municipal Courts are available through the Cleveland Municipal Court Odyssey Portal. In addition, public court records from the Mayor’s Court are available at the courthouse where the case was heard.

Types of Public Court Records in Cuyahoga County

Cuyahoga County provides access to public court records from civil, criminal, and probate lawsuits. These public court records include:

• Probate Court Records: Documents relating to the administration of an estate, including wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorship, and name change
• Civil Court Records: They include contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, property disputes, and landlord/tenant disputes
• Family Court Records: Divorce records, child support orders, spousal support, and paternity records
• Criminal Court Records: Court documents involving felonies and misdemeanors such as burglary, drug possession, driving under the influence, and assault and battery lawsuits

Confidential Court Records in Cuyahoga County

Confidential court records are any document related to a court case that is restricted from public access by a court order or state or federal statute. Usually, confidential court records contain sensitive information where disclosure would lead to an invasion of personal privacy. Confidential court records in Cuyahoga County include juvenile court records, trade secrets, witness protection records, domestic violence cases, and intellectual property dispute records. Furthermore, sensitive information such as bank account and credit card information, social security numbers, and medical and mental health records are confidential information exempted from public view.

Juvenile Delinquency in Cuyahoga, OH

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Cuyahoga County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Ohio often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 717 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Cuyahoga County. Of that total, 1% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 4 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 2 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Cuyahoga County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Cuyahoga County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Cuyahoga County, OH

https://ohio.gov/

County Seat:	Cleveland
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1808
Total Square Miles:	1,246
2019 Population:	1,248,514
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Cuyahoga County, OH Courts