Washington County
Washington County was established in 1788 and named after George Washington. It is located in southeastern Ohio as part of the Parkersburg Marietta Statistical Area. It covers approximately 632 square miles and has a population of about 59,639 residents. Marietta serves as the county seat and is known for its historic significance as the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory.
Washington County's judicial framework includes the Court of Common Pleas, Municipal Courts, and Mayor's Courts. These courts handle the county's civil, criminal, domestic, and probate cases. Washington County Court of Common Pleas operates across several specialized divisions such as the General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile, and Probate. The General Division handles major civil disputes over $15,000 and criminal cases, including felonies. It also hears appeals from administrative agencies. The Domestic Relations Division oversees family law matters such as divorce, child custody, child support, and spousal support. Conversely, the Juvenile Division deals with cases involving minors, such as delinquency, abuse, neglect, and custody issues. Cases related to estates, wills, guardianships, adoptions, and mental health commitments are managed by the Probate Division. On the other hand, the Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil claims under $15,000. Meanwhile, the Mayor's Courts exercise jurisdiction over local ordinance violations, minor criminal matters, and traffic offenses within municipality limits.
Court records in Washington County are legal documents created during court proceedings. These documents typically contain case filings, complaints, charges, petitions, evidence, court transcripts, orders, and judgments. They are useful for background checks and precedents for similar future judgments. Members of the public can view, inspect, and request copies of court records per Ohio's Public Records Act. Common court records in Washington County include:
- Criminal case records
- Civil case records
- Probate records
- Juvenile records
- Domestic relations case records
However, mental health and adoption records are not available to the public. Individuals interested in public court documents can mail, phone, or visit the Washington County Courthouse at:
205 Putnam Street
Marietta, OH 45750
Phone: (740) 373-6623
Alternatively, public access to case information is available through the Ohio Courts Case Search Portal or the Washington County Clerk of Courts website. The online platforms provide free access to court records filed in the Common Pleas and Municipal Courts. Users can access desired case files by choosing the county's trial court and then searching by case number or name. Copies of court records typically cost $0.10 per page, with extra charges for certified copies.
