Brown County
Created from portions of Adams and Clermont Counties in 1817, Brown County is located in southwest Ohio. It is home to nearly 44,000 residents, and Georgetown is its county seat. It is named for Major General Jacob Brown, an officer in the War of 1812.
Brown County's trial court structure consists of a court of common pleas, a municipal court, and numerous mayor's courts. The Brown County Court of Common Pleas has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. It also has exclusive jurisdiction over cases relating to probate, domestic relations, mental health, and juvenile matters. Civil cases heard in the Common Pleas Court include civil claims for $15,000 and above, while its criminal jurisdiction covers all felonies. Also, it has two divisions with distinct scopes of adjudication, namely:
- The Court of Common Pleas - General Division
- The Court of Common Pleas - Probate/Juvenile Division
The General Division adjudicates criminal cases, civil lawsuits, adult criminal cases, certain administrative agency appeals, and domestic relations cases, such as divorce, child custody, and child support. In comparison, the Probate/Juvenile division oversees all probate-related cases, including wills and trusts, estate administrations, and guardianships/conservatorships.
It also handles juvenile-based matters, such as adoptions, paternity, and mental illnesses.
The Brown County Municipal Court is a limited jurisdiction court that presides over initial felony hearings, municipal ordinances and parking violations, civil claims for $15,000 and less, contracts, and temporary protection orders. Other cases within the Municipal Court's purview include traffic and non-traffic misdemeanors, small claims for $3,000 and less, forcible entry and detainer, and personal property recovery.
The Brown County Mayor's Courts exercise limited jurisdiction over criminal cases that occur within the county limits but are not under the Municipal Court's jurisdiction. Typical cases under the Mayor's Court purview include certain violations of parking violations, municipal ordinances cases, DUIs, and other related criminal traffic offenses.
Brown Court records are official documents containing detailed legal information about court trial activities. They capture various events during court cases and encourage citizens' participation in the judicial processes. Typical court records in Brown County include:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Family Court records
In general, court records may be in paper or digital form and usually contain docket entries, case transcripts, affidavits, and minutes of trials.
The Brown County Clerk of Courts keeps and protects court records, including civil, criminal, and traffic records. Individuals can view and reproduce copies of non-confidential court records under state law. Online access to Brown County court records is available on the Clerk of Courts' website. Additionally, in-person requests, using such criteria as the party's name and case number, can be made at the Clerk of Courts' Office at:
101 S. Main Street
Georgetown, OH 45121
Phone: (937) 378-4740
