Seneca County
Established in 1820, Seneca County, Ohio, is named after the Seneca Native American tribe. The county is located in northwestern Ohio, and it covers an area of approximately 552 square miles. As of July 1, 2023, Seneca County had an estimated population of 54,527, according to the United States Census Bureau. The county seat is Tiffin. Seneca County's court system comprises Courts of Common Pleas, Mayor's Courts, and Municipal Courts.
The Common Pleas Court for Seneca County has jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The court is divided into the General and Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate divisions. The General and Domestic Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles felonies, civil disputes, and domestic relations cases, including divorce and child custody matters. The Probate Division handles wills, estates, adoptions, and guardianships. The Juvenile Division hears cases involving minors, such as child welfare and delinquencies. Municipal Courts in Seneca County handle criminal offenses, traffic violations, and small claims under $15,000. In smaller localities, minor infractions and violations of local ordinances are handled by the Mayor's Courts.
The Seneca County Clerk of Courts maintains the county's public court records, which typically include judgments, case dockets, and orders. In compliance with the Ohio Public Records Act, the Clerk of Courts makes court records available and accessible to the public. These, however, do not include confidential files, such as juvenile and family law cases. Publicly available court records in Seneca County include:
- Criminal records
- Civil case records
- Traffic violation records
- Small claims records
- Probate records
Seneca County's public court records are available online through the Court Case Inquiry. Any interested person may also request court records in the county by calling or visiting the Clerk of the Court during regular business hours at:
103 E Market Street
Tiffin, OH 44883
Phone: (419) 447-0671
