Holmes County
Holmes County was established in 1824 and is located in northeastern Ohio. It is known for having one of the largest Amish Communities in the United States, with over half of its population identifying as Amish. Holmes County covers 422.6 square miles and has a population of about 44,273 as of 2022. The county seat is Millersburg, a small town that serves as the administrative and judicial hub.
Holmes County's court system is made of the Mayor's and Municipal courts, and the Court of Common Pleas. Holmes County Court of Common Pleas enjoys a general jurisdiction and handles felony criminal cases and civil cases with disputes exceeding $15,000. It is categorized into specialized divisions based on case type. They include General and Domestic Relations, Juvenile and Probate Divisions The General and Domestic Relations Division is also responsible for domestic relations matters, including divorce, child custody, and child support. The Juvenile Division addresses juvenile cases such as delinquency and dependency matters. Moreover, probate cases involving estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships may be resolved by the Probate Division. The Holmes County Municipal Court oversees misdemeanors, traffic offenses, most violations of township resolutions, civil cases, and municipal ordinance breaches involving claims of $15,000 or less. Additionally, preliminary hearings for felony cases are also tried in the court.
Holmes County court records are created during legal proceedings and include:
- Criminal case records
- Probate records
- Small claims records
- Civil litigation records
- Family law and domestic relations records.
Under the Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, most public court records are accessible to the public. Exceptions include sensitive documents such as adoption and mental health records. Individuals can request records in person, by phone, or via email through the Clerk of Courts. The Clerk of Courts Records Division can be reached at:
1 East Jackson Street
Millersburg, OH 44654
Phone: (330) 674-0286
Email: rsteimel@co.holmes.oh.us
Additionally, Holmes County provides an Online Search platform for Common Pleas and Municipal Court records. Users can search by case number or party name for free but may need to pay for physical copies of records. Uncertified physical copies cost $0.10 per page while certified copies may incur additional fees.
