Stark County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Stark County was established in 1808 and was named after John Stark, a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War. According to information provided in 2022, Stark County has a population of 374,199 people. Its seat, Canton City, is one of the largest municipalities in Ohio. The county's court system consists of the Court of Common Pleas, Municipal Courts, and Mayor's Courts.

The Stark County Court of Common Pleas has authority over a wide range of cases in the county. The court is divided into the General Division, Family Court, and Probate Court. The General Division has jurisdiction over felony cases and civil cases involving over $15,000. Likewise, the Probate Court handles matters relating to wills and a deceased estate, while the Family Court handles domestic relations and juvenile matters. The Municipal Courts operate in Stark County cities, towns, and villages. They have jurisdiction over civil cases involving less than $15,000 as well as misdemeanor cases. The court also handles small claims, parking violations, and municipal ordinance violations. The Municipal Courts are located in Alliance, Canton, and Massillon. Similarly, East Canton, Hartville, Louisville, Minerva, and Waynesburg have Mayor's Courts that adjudicate traffic tickets and municipal ordinance violations.

According to the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, in 2022, Stark County had a crime rate of 2,098 per 100,000 residents for crimes against persons and a rate of 3,890 per 100,000 residents for crimes against property. Likewise, in 2023, the Court of Common Pleas had a total of 2,091 criminal and 2,428 general civil case dispositions. Records of these cases, as well as those of the family and probate court, are maintained by the Stark County Clerk of Court. Unless declared confidential by law, interested persons can access the records by requesting them from the Clerk's Office in person or by mail. Also, Municipal and Mayor's court records can be obtained by contacting the relevant court. Stark County public court records are also available online on the county's Case Docket Search Portal. Notable examples of confidential court records that are exempt from public access are juvenile, adoption, and probation records.

In summary, the Court of Common Pleas, Municipal Courts, and Mayor's Courts form the judicial system in Stark County. The hearing of civil disputes and criminal allegations in these courts ensures the smooth running of the county by providing access to justice to its residents. Additionally, the court ensures that records of most of its cases are open to the public unless such publication affects the privacy rights of the parties.