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Muskingum County, Ohio State Court Records

Ohio Revised Code § 2303.901 defines a court record as "any document, or information in any document, that is submitted to a court or filed with a clerk of court in a court action or proceeding, including any exhibit, pleading, motion, order, or judgment, or any documentation prepared by the court or clerk in the action or proceeding."

Court records exist to ensure that the judicial system operates fairly, as all actions and inactions will be open to the public. There are several court clerks in the county tasked with the preservation of court records within their respective courts. Court records often link directly to other public records in the county, such as arrest records and vital records.

Are Muskingum County Court Records Public?

Yes. Court records in Muskingum County are considered public records in accordance with Rule 45 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio. The rule establishes a presumption of open access and directs court clerks on how to make the record available to the general public. The rule also demands the redaction of certain confidential details from a record before the record is revealed to the public. These include

  • Social security numbers, except the last four digits
  • Financial account digits
  • Employer/employee identification numbers
  • Juvenile information
  • Sealed court records
  • Domestic violence risk assessments
  • Asset appraisals and evaluations
  • Guardian ad litem reports
  • Child custody evaluation and reports

What Information is Available in Muskingum County Court Records?

An individual accessing a court record in Muskingum County will generally encounter the following details, provided the record is not sealed:

  • Case Information: Case number, case status, case type, and filing date
  • Party Information: Names of the individuals involved in the case and their attorneys
  • Court Docket: The list of all events and actions in the case
  • Judgments: Court orders, motions, and outcomes

Muskingum County Court Records Search

Accessing court records in Muskingum County depends on the court handling the case and the type of record needed. Below are the general ways individuals can search for court records in the county.

Online Access

There are several online case search portals that members of the public can use to look up case information in Muskingum County. These include

Searches can generally be done using a name and a case number. The Muskingum County Juvenile Court and Domestic Relations Court do not provide case search portals for access to their records.

In-Person Access

Individuals looking to obtain a copy of a record or access a court record from a court that does not have a searchable online database, such as the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, may visit the relevant Clerk of Court's Office. Similar to online searches, requesters have to provide a name or case number, and any other known detail about the record to the Clerk of Court. The clerk may charge the requester a fee if copies are to be made.

Mail and Phone Requests

Inquirers can also choose to obtain a copy of a court record through the mail. Mail-in requests comprise three components: the request, payment, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The request should be a written, clear description of the court record in view and the specific documents or information needed. Payment should be in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Clerk of Court's Office. Requesters can call the Clerk's Office beforehand to confirm how much the copy will cost.

Fees for Court Records in Muskingum County

The fee for obtaining court records in Muskingum County slightly differs depending on the relevant Clerk of Court's Office. Below are the published court record fees of some courts in the county.

Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas

  • Regular Copies: 20 cents per page
  • Certified Copies: $5 per document
  • Mailed Copies: Averagely $8 (certified copy plus postage)

Muskingum County Court

  • Regular Copies: 10 cents per page
  • Certified Copies: $1 per page
  • Courtroom Audio Recording: $5 if the requester provides the flash drive and $10 if the court provides the drive

Zanesville Municipal Court

  • Regular Copies: 5 cents per page
  • Certified Copies: $1 per page

Researchers can totally avoid these fees by searching for the record online. However, this only applies to records of courts with an online case search portal.

Muskingum County Courthouse Locations

The Muskingum County court system primarily comprises the Court of Common Pleas (including the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts), the County Court, the Probate Court, and the Zanesville Municipal Court. Below are the addresses of the courts.

Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas and Probate Court

401 Main Street

Zanesville, Ohio 43701

Court of Common Pleas Phone: (740) 455-7104

Probate Court Phone: (740) 455-7113

Muskingum County Court

27 North 5th Street

Zanesville, Ohio 43701

Phone: (740) 455-7138

Fax: (740) 455-7157

Muskingum County Domestic Relations Court

22 North 5th Street

Zanesville, Ohio 43701

Phone: (740) 455-7190

Muskingum County Juvenile Court

1860 East Pike

Zanesville, Ohio

Phone: (740) 453-0351

Fax: (740) 453-1066

Zanesville Municipal Court

332 South Street

Zanesville, Ohio 43701

Phone: (740) 454-3269

Fax: (740) 455-0739

Criminal Records Access in Muskingum County

A Muskingum County criminal record is any document that pertains to an individual's involvement with the criminal justice agencies, such as law enforcement and the criminal court. Common examples of criminal records are arrest records, jail records, prison records, and case files resulting from criminal proceedings.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), a department operating under the Ohio Attorney General's Office, manages criminal history reports in the state. A criminal history report is a single document that compiles all of a person's criminal record into one profile. In Ohio, a criminal history report may only be accessed by the subject of the record. Individuals interested in obtaining their records may visit any location of the private vendor that processes requests.

Meanwhile, anyone can access a criminal court record by visiting the Clerk of Court's Office where the record was filed. If the case was handled by the Muskingum County Common Pleas Court or Muskingum County Court, the record may also be available on the court's web-based case search portal.

Muskingum County Probate Records

Muskingum County probate records are documents and filings created when the court supervises the settling of a person's estate after they die, and court oversight over incapacitated persons or minors. Probate records in the county include wills, guardianship records, marriage licenses, name change certificates, and estate inventories.

Probate files are exclusively handled by the Muskingum County Probate Court. These records are presumed to be public, so members of the public can visit the Probate Court's Office to inspect a record. Alternatively, probate records can be searched online on the Muskingum County Probate Court Online Record Search Portal.

Muskingum County Family Court Records

Family court records document the history of legal disputes involving domestic and family members. These records are managed by the Domestic Relations Court or the Juvenile Court, depending on the case. The Domestic Relations Court handles cases, like divorces and adult custody disputes, while the Juvenile Court handles child matters, such as abuse and neglect cases.

Family court records from the Domestic Relations Court are public, while Juvenile Court records are not public. Members of the public can obtain a public family court record from the Muskingum County Clerk of Courts' Office. Family court records are not available online.

Federal Court Records in Muskingum County

Federal court records are files created by the federal judiciary to document cases that violate federal law. Federal cases arising out of Muskingum County are heard by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The District Court does not have a courthouse in Muskingum County, so all cases are heard at the Eastern Division courthouse located in Columbus.

Researchers can access federal court records from the District Court on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. Members of the public have to create an account before initiating a search. The search fee is generally 10 cents per page.

Muskingum County Court