Erie County Common Pleas Court

Erie County Common Pleas Court cases in Erie County, Sandusky, OH

Erie County Court of Common Pleas, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is the county's state trial court of general jurisdiction. Through its General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate divisions, it adjudicates civil cases beyond municipal-court limits and other complex civil matters; felony criminal prosecutions (and related misdemeanors); divorce, dissolution, legal separation, custody, and child/spousal support; juvenile delinquency, dependency/neglect, paternity, custody, and juvenile traffic; and probate matters including estates, guardianships, adoptions, and name changes. Routine adult traffic and misdemeanor cases are generally handled by municipal courts, while the Common Pleas Court hears traffic offenses that are felonies or connected to felony indictments.

Erie County Common Pleas Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Erie County Common Pleas Court

Erie County Court of Common Pleas provides trial-level judicial services. It accepts filings, maintains records, schedules hearings and trials, and issues orders in:
- Criminal: felony and serious misdemeanor cases, arraignements through sentencing.
- Civil: tort, contract, property, injunctions, small-claims appeals.
- Domestic relations/family: divorce, dissolution, custody, support, paternity.
- Juvenile: delinquency, dependency/abuse-neglect, truancy.
- Probate/Orphans' Court: estates, adoptions, guardianships, name changes.
- Protective orders: domestic-violence and stalking protection (e.g., PFA/CPO).
Additional public services include:
- Jury services: summoning, qualification, deferrals, juror orientation and payment.
- Case information: docket access, certified copies, transcripts.
- Dispute resolution: mediation/settlement conferences; specialty dockets (e.g., drug/mental health/veterans).
- Administrative and agency appeals as authorized by law.