Athens County
Located in southeastern Ohio, Athens County was established in 1805 and named after the City of Athens in Greece and to commemorate the establishment of Ohio University around 1804. With a total area of 508 square miles, the county is home to over 62,000 people.
The trial court system in Athens County consists of Municipal Court, Athens County Common Pleas Court, and Juvenile/Probate Courts. The Municipal Court deals with specific criminal and civil cases such as violations of municipal ordinances, parking violations, traffic and non-traffic misdemeanors, judgment collection actions, and forcible detention.
Similarly, the Athens County Common Pleas Court presides over criminal and civil cases, particularly those that are outside the jurisdiction of other courts. Furthermore, the court hears family law matters through its Domestic Relations Division. The Probate Court handles guardianship issues concerning mentally impaired persons, estate settlements, and the issuance of marriage licenses. On the other hand, the Juvenile Court deals with cases related to neglect, dependency, and the abuse of individuals under the age of 18.
The Athens County Clerk of Courts serves as the custodian of public court records within Athens County. Individuals seeking to file court documents in civil cases or access court records can do so by visiting the Clerk of Courts' Office. To ensure transparency and accessibility, the Clerk of Courts' Office established the Public Records Policy, which outlines the procedures for maintaining and disclosing court records to the public.
Public court records are provided by the Athens County Clerk of Courts and available on the websites of the various courts in the county. Publicly available records include those generated for the following types of cases:
- Felony
- Eviction
- Divorce
- Misdemeanor
- Traffic
- Small Claims
- Estate Settlement
In Athens County, members of the public can look up court records on the websites of the Municipal Court or Probate Court by case type. Alternatively, they can also view court records by visiting the Athens County Clerk of Courts' office during regular business hours.
