Ottawa County Criminal Court Records
Ottawa County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Port Clinton. The office serves as the record keeper for the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court. Christopher Enoch currently serves as the Clerk, having stepped into the role in late 2025. You can search for criminal court records online through the Record Search portal or visit the office during business hours. The online system covers Common Pleas, felony criminal, domestic relations, civil, court of appeals, and county court traffic and criminal cases. Ohio law gives the public the right to access most court records.
Ottawa County Clerk of Courts Office
The Ottawa County Clerk of Courts is at 315 Madison Street, Room 106B, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. The phone is (419) 734-6755 and the fax is (419) 734-6875. Email and email filings can go to cpclerksfilings@co.ottawa.oh.us. Christopher Enoch leads the office with legal experience and a strong commitment to service.
The Clerk's office is the record keeper for the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court. Court records are available through the online Record Search system. Civil and Domestic Cases need a Case Designation Form filed with the Clerk when a new case starts. This form helps the court categorize and route cases to the right division and judge. The office maintains all official records including indictments, motions, plea entries, court orders, judgments, and sentencing data.
Search Ottawa County Criminal Records Online
The Ottawa County Clerk of Courts provides online access through the Record Search portal. You can search by name, case number, or other criteria. The online records include Common Pleas, felony criminal cases, domestic relations, civil court cases, court of appeals, certificate of judgments, and county court traffic and criminal cases. That is a broad range of records for a single online tool.
The Record Search page includes important notices. Information on the website is for public information only and is not to be used as evidence. Certified copies of records must be obtained from the Clerk's Office. The site also includes a notice for prospective employers: do not base final hiring decisions on this information alone. A brief call to the court having jurisdiction can help determine final conviction status.
The Ottawa County Municipal Court also has its own Record Search at their search page. You can look up misdemeanor criminal and traffic case records by case number or party name. The Municipal Court handles misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, OVI cases, and conducts preliminary hearings in felony cases.
Under ORC Section 149.43, you have the right to access most court records without giving a reason.
Criminal Court Records in Ottawa County
The Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas is at 315 Madison Street, Room 301, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. The phone is (419) 734-6790 and the fax is (419) 734-6852. Email goes to ottawacountycpcinfo@gmail.com. The Honorable Bruce Winters serves as Judge, elected in November 2008. The court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, major civil litigation, domestic relations, and appeals from lower courts under ORC Chapter 2301.
The Ottawa County Clerk of Courts Record Search portal gives you access to felony criminal case data and other filings.
This screenshot shows a resource page for Ottawa County court records. Use this tool to search for criminal case information.
The court also provides a Today's Docket page showing the schedule of hearings, though this page is subject to change and gets updated close to 4:30 PM each day for the next day's schedule. The Domestic Relations Division handles divorce, dissolution, legal separations, spousal support, allocation of parental rights, and protection orders, with Magistrate Brian Goodell and Magistrate Stephanie Jess.
Ottawa County Court Record Fees
The Clerk charges standard fees for copies and certified copies. Certified copies carry the Clerk's official seal. Call (419) 734-6755 for current rates. For statewide criminal background checks, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation charges $22 for state-only and $34 for combined state and FBI checks.
Note: The online Record Search is free to use, but getting official copies of documents costs a fee.
Ottawa County Legal Resources
Ohio Legal Help has free guides on court records, record sealing, and finding a lawyer. The Ohio State Bar Association runs a referral service. The Ohio Department of Public Safety covers expungement and record sealing. For records disputes, the Ohio Court of Claims handles complaints about denied requests.
Cities in Ottawa County
Ottawa County includes Port Clinton, which serves as the county seat, along with Put-in-Bay, Marblehead, Oak Harbor, and other communities. None of the cities in Ottawa County have populations over 100,000, so all felony criminal court records go through the Ottawa County Clerk of Courts in Port Clinton.
Nearby Counties
Each neighboring county keeps its own criminal court records:
A case filed in Erie County will not appear in an Ottawa County search. Always check the right county for the records you need.