This page helps people look for court records in Lorain County, Ohio, including where to search common pleas case information, probate records, and related court dockets.
The Lorain County Clerk of Courts eServices site is the main online path for Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and 9th District Court of Appeals case records. Lorain County Probate Court provides a separate online search for probate-related records.
Lorain County Clerk of Courts eServices
Use the Lorain County Clerk of Courts eServices search for Common Pleas computerized case records. The online system covers Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and 9th District Court of Appeals cases since 1988.
Search options may depend on the information you have available. Helpful details include:
- Party name for the Quick Index or General Index
- Case number for docket sheets
- Attorney bar registration number and email address for attorney registration
For a basic public search, start with the eServices page and follow the public records prompt.
- Enter the letters shown in the image when prompted.
- Select the public records search option.
- Use a party name or case number to locate the case.
- Open the case details to review available docket information.
Limited filing notice: the Clerk notes that only limited filings are available while the eServices site is being updated for a new case management system.
What the online court records include
The Clerk of Courts online records access is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for covered case types. It includes several ways to review case information.
- Court calendars and daily schedules for judges and magistrates, except Probate and Juvenile
- Quick Index, an alphabetical index of cases by party name
- General Index, an alphabetical index with additional case detail
- Docket sheets showing a case summary and filings in chronological order when the case number is known
Some case types may not be publicly viewable online. If a case does not appear, try variations in the spelling of the name, such as a formal name or nickname.
Older court records and in-person access
Online case dockets start from October 1987. Records before that date are available through the Clerk’s Records Division rather than the online docket search.
The Records Division has records and indexes for cases dating back to 1824. Public access terminals for computerized indexes and docket sheets are located in that area.
Records Department office access is available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm.
Lorain County Probate Court records
Probate records are handled separately from the Clerk of Courts eServices search. Use the Lorain County Probate Court records search for probate-related records.
The Probate Court online search is updated every Saturday with the previous week’s information. The searchable database contains probate-related records since 1990, and records are available from 1824 to the present.
Probate search fields include last name, first name, company name, case type, case number, year, type, sequence, and old case number.
Filing, payments, and copy fees
Electronic filing is available through the same Clerk of Courts eServices system. Review the Clerk of Courts court records and e-filing information before filing, especially for General Division and Domestic Relations electronic filing procedures.
Online payments are available by credit card only for closed Criminal and Domestic Relations cases that are not in collections status. Payments made online are reflected in the system in 1 business day.
The Clerk’s fee schedule includes these court-record-related charges:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies of pleadings, process, records, or files, including certificate and seal | $1 per page |
| Electronic transmission of a document | $2 plus $1 per page |
| Certificate of fact under seal of the court | $1 |
| Certificate of judgment | $5 |
| Filing, docketing, and endorsing a certificate of judgment | $10 |
Lorain County court records contacts
Use these contacts for court record access, division-specific filings, probate records, payments, and older records.
-
Lorain County Clerk of Courts, Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court Street, Room 105, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5624 -
Civil Division, 225 Court Street, Room 105, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5536
Fax: (440) 328-2416 -
Criminal Division, 225 Court Street, Room 106, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5538
Fax: (440) 329-5404 -
Domestic Relations Division, 225 Court Street, Room 108, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5277
Fax: (440) 329-5506 -
Records Division, 225 Court Street, Room 109, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5511
Fax: (440) 329-5400 -
Finance Division, 225 Court Street, Room 107, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5625
Fax: (440) 329-5404 -
Lorain County Probate Court, Justice Center, 225 Court Street, Room 611, Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 329-5175
Fax: (440) 328-2157
Email: LCProbate@loraincounty.us
Common questions
Where do I search Lorain County common pleas court records online?
Use the Clerk of Courts eServices search for Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and 9th District Court of Appeals case records covered by the online system.
Why is a Lorain County case not showing online?
Try searching with alternate name spellings or nicknames. Online case dockets start from October 1987, and some case types may not be publicly available on the website.
Where can I get older Lorain County court records?
For records before the online docket coverage, contact or visit the Clerk’s Records Division. It has records and indexes for cases dating back to 1824.
How do I search Lorain County probate records?
Use the Probate Court records search. The online database contains probate-related records since 1990 and is updated every Saturday with the previous week’s information.
Can the Clerk of Courts give legal advice about a case?
No. The Clerk’s office is prohibited by law from giving legal advice. People who need legal help may contact an attorney, the Lorain County Bar Association, or the Legal Aid Society of Lorain County.
Can I file court documents online in Lorain County?
Yes. Electronic filing is available through the Clerk of Courts eServices site. Review the applicable General Division or Domestic Relations filing procedures before submitting documents.