Montgomery County covers 464 square miles in the southwestern region of Ohio. With over 530,000 residents, it is the fifth-most populous county in the state. The county seat is the City of Dayton.

Courts in Montgomery County

Several trial courts in Montgomery County address different legal matters within their jurisdictions. The Common Pleas Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases in the county. It consists of four divisions, including the General Division, which has original jurisdiction over all criminal felony cases and civil actions exceeding $15,000. The General Division of the Common Pleas Court also has the authority to hear administrative appeals from municipal and county agencies.

The Domestic Relations Division of the Common Pleas Court deals with family law matters, including divorce, civil domestic violence, legal separation, and annulment cases. This division also handles post-judgment issues concerning child custody, child support, time-sharing, and spousal support.

Matters involving minors in Montgomery County are brought before the Common Pleas Court Juvenile Division. This division exercises original and exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving child abuse and neglect, child support, civil protection orders, child custody, juvenile delinquency and dependency, truancy, paternity, and traffic offenses.

The Probate Division of Montgomery County Common Pleas Court oversees the administration of deceased residents’ estates and trusts. It also handles cases concerning guardianships, adoptions, and involuntary commitments for mental illness. The Court issues marriage licenses and approves settlements in wrongful death actions and minor injury claims.

Montgomery County is also home to Municipal Courts that conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases and hold proceedings of misdemeanor criminal cases within their jurisdictions. These courts also handle traffic offenses, small claims cases where the claims do not exceed $6,000, and other civil cases up to $15,000.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts is responsible for keeping the records of all cases filed at the Municipal Courts and the divisions of the Common Pleas Court. The court documents for most traffic, criminal, civil, probate, and domestic relations cases are available for public viewing at the Clerk’s Office. Interested persons can also find public court records in Montgomery County online or request copies from the Clerk’s Office. The Clerk accepts such requests by mail or in person.

Types of Public Court Records in Montgomery County

In Montgomery County, the following types of court records are available to the general public:

• Criminal Court Records
• Small Claims Court Records
• Traffic Court Records
• Probate Court Records
• Domestic Relations Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Montgomery County

In Montgomery County, certain court records or information may be sealed by the court to limit public access or be exempt from public disclosure in compliance with Ohio state laws. These records are confidential and only accessible to individuals authorized by the court or the parties involved in the relevant case. Some examples of confidential court records in Montgomery County are:

• Medical records
• Records of probation and parole proceedings
• Adoption records
• Trial preparation records
• Records containing the names, addresses, or other personal information of minors
• Juvenile court records
• Records containing personal information about victims of domestic violence

Juvenile Delinquency in Montgomery, OH

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Montgomery 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 436 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Montgomery County. Of that total, 0% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 2 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 1 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Montgomery County, OH

https://ohio.gov/

County Seat:	Dayton
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1803
Total Square Miles:	464
2019 Population:	531,542
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Montgomery County, OH Courts