Ohio Public Records Search
Use this guide to start searches across Ohio state and county sources, including business, recorded land documents, parcels and taxes, court dockets, and vital records.
On this page:
Start Here
- Start with the Ohio Secretary of State for business entities and UCC debtor/name searches
- Check your County Recorder index for deeds, mortgages, and liens by grantor/grantee
- Use your County Auditor parcel search for owner, address, or parcel ID lookups
- Search the County Clerk of Courts online docket by party name or case number
- Request birth or death certificate copies through the Ohio Department of Health or local health district
Record Routing
- Recorded land documents → County Recorder
- Parcels, ownership, valuation → County Auditor
- Property tax billing and payments → County Treasurer
- Civil and domestic court filings → Clerk of Courts
- Business entities and UCC filings → Secretary of State
Search Inputs
- Owner name
- Parcel ID
- Address
- Recording date range
- Document or instrument number
- Business name or registration number
Ohio Source Map
| Source / Office | Best For | Search Method | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Secretary of State | Business entities, trade names, UCC filings | Online index by business name, registration/charter number, or debtor name (UCC) | Business registrations and UCC are centralized at the state level in Ohio. |
| County Recorder | Deeds, mortgages, liens, releases | Index by grantor/grantee, legal description, or instrument number; images available in some counties | Land records are recorded at the county level in Ohio. |
| County Auditor | Parcel ownership, characteristics, assessed values | Parcel search by owner name, site address, or parcel ID | Property characteristics and valuation are maintained by county auditors in Ohio. |
| County Treasurer | Property tax bills, payment status, delinquencies | Tax lookup by parcel ID, owner, or address | Real property tax billing and collection are handled by county treasurers. |
| Clerk of Courts | Civil and domestic relations dockets, filings, and calendars | Docket search by party name, case number, or filing date | Court case records are filed with county clerks; online availability differs by county. |
| Ohio Department of Health / Local Health District | Birth and death certificates (vital records) | Index or request lookup by name and date; certified copies from the holding office | Vital records are issued through state and local health offices; marriages are with county probate courts. |
Ohio Public Records FAQs
Where should I start an online public-records search in Ohio?
Begin with the Ohio Secretary of State for business and UCC, then check your County Recorder for recorded documents and County Auditor for parcel and ownership data.
Which Ohio records are statewide versus county-held?
Business and UCC are statewide with the Secretary of State; deeds, parcels, taxes, and most court dockets are county-held; vital records are issued by state and local health offices.
How do I obtain certified copies?
Request certified copies directly from the holding office: Recorder for recorded documents, Clerk of Courts for case records, and health offices for birth and death certificates.
What if my county has no online index?
Contact the office by phone or email and ask about index access, copy requests, and in-person search options; some offices provide lookups upon request.