Geauga County Criminal Court Records
Geauga County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts in Chardon. Sheila M. Bevington leads the office and oversees all legal records for the Court of Common Pleas and the 11th District Court of Appeals. The county offers e-filing and online case search tools for public use. You can also visit the office in person or request records by mail. The Chardon Municipal Court handles misdemeanor and traffic cases for the county. Geauga County also has a separate archives department that stores older records dating back to the county's founding. If you need a criminal case file, this guide walks through where to look and how to get copies.
Geauga County Clerk of Courts
The Geauga County Clerk of Courts Legal Division is at 100 Short Court Street, Suite 300, Chardon, Ohio 44024. Clerk Sheila M. Bevington runs the office. Call (440) 279-1960 for case questions or to request copies. Email the office at smbevington@geaugacourts.org. The Title Office is at a different location: 470 Center Street, Building 8, Chardon. Hours for both offices are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Legal Division handles all filing and docketing for the Geauga County court system. Records stored here cover civil cases, felony criminal cases, domestic relations matters, and 11th District Court of Appeals cases. The office also maintains notary commissions and other official records. E-filing is available for many case types, which lets attorneys submit documents around the clock. The office has both computerized records for recent cases and historical records in older formats for cases filed before the digital era.
Note: The Title Office at 470 Center Street handles vehicle titles only and does not process criminal court record requests.
Search Geauga County Criminal Records Online
Geauga County provides online access to case information through its electronic filing and case management system. You can search case dockets and view basic case details from home. The system covers recent cases and is updated as new filings come in. For older cases, you may need to call the office or visit in person.
The Geauga County Clerk of Courts website has links to the case search tools and e-filing portal. Under ORC Section 149.43, you can inspect public court records without giving a reason. The Clerk must provide access during regular business hours. Public access terminals at the office let you review case data on site. If you need certified copies, bring the case number and payment. For records from archives, call ahead so staff can pull the files.
The Chardon Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases and traffic tickets. The court is at 111 Water Street, Chardon. Call (440) 286-2670 for traffic and criminal matters. The criminal line is (440) 286-2684. Email at municriminal@co.geauga.oh.us. Hours run from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. These are separate records from the Common Pleas Court.
Criminal Court Records in Geauga County
The Geauga County Records and Archives page provides access to public records including court files, property records, and vital records.
This screenshot shows the Geauga County Records system where you can start searching for court and public records kept by the county.
The Geauga County Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases under ORC Chapter 2301. Drug charges, theft, assault, burglary, and other serious offenses all go through this court. Civil cases, domestic relations matters, and appellate cases from the 11th District are also here. The Probate and Juvenile Divisions at the Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, handle estates, guardianships, adoptions, and juvenile cases. Probate phone is (440) 226-4446.
The Department of County Archives and Records Enterprise (CARE) at 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon, stores historical records. Call (440) 279-1970. Archives staff can help with older court files, property documents, and genealogical research. Some records go back to the county's earliest days. Older files may be on microfilm or in bound volumes.
Fees for Geauga County Court Records
Copy fees at the Geauga County Clerk of Courts follow rates set by court rule. Certified copies cost extra. Filing fees for new cases depend on the case type. The office takes cash, check, and money order. For an estimate on a large request, call (440) 279-1960. Archives at CARE may charge research fees for staff time on complex requests.
For statewide background checks, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation does fingerprint-based checks at $22 state-only or $34 combined. Federal cases from Geauga County go through the Northern District of Ohio with courthouses in Cleveland and Akron. Search federal records at PACER.
Geauga County Legal Resources
Ohio Legal Help has free guides on record searching and legal aid. The Ohio State Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service. The Ohio Department of Public Safety covers expungement and record sealing. If your records request is denied, the Ohio Court of Claims handles those disputes.
The Geauga County Probate and Juvenile Court at the Courthouse Annex manages estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses. Juvenile records are confidential. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association links to all 88 county clerk websites across Ohio.
Cities in Geauga County
Chardon is the county seat and home to the courthouse. Other communities include Bainbridge, Middlefield, and Burton. None of these cities have populations over 100,000. All felony criminal court records for the county are handled by the Geauga County Clerk of Courts in Chardon. Misdemeanor and traffic cases go through the Chardon Municipal Court.
Nearby Counties
Need records from a neighboring area? These counties each have their own courts and clerk offices:
Criminal court records are county-specific. A case from Cuyahoga County will not show up in a Geauga County search.