Chapter 2303 | Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas

Section 2303.01 | Clerk of the court of common pleas.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

There shall be elected quadrennially in each county, a clerk of the court of common pleas, who shall assume office on the first Monday of January next after his election and who shall hold said office for a period of four years.

Section 2303.02 | Bond of clerk.

• Effective: March 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 291 - 132nd General Assembly

Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, before entering upon the discharge of official duties, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall give a bond signed by a bonding or surety company authorized to do business in this state, or, at the clerk's option, by two or more freeholders having real estate in the value of double the amount of the bond over and above all encumbrances to the state in a sum not less than ten thousand nor more than forty thousand dollars, to be fixed by the board of county commissioners, and the surety company to be approved by the board. The bond shall be conditioned that such clerk will enter and record all the orders, decrees, judgments, and proceedings of the courts of which such clerk is the clerk, pay over all moneys received by the clerk in an official capacity, and faithfully and impartially discharge the official duties of the clerk's office. The expense or premium for such bond shall be paid by the board and charged to the general fund of the county. Such bond, with the oath of office and the approval of the board indorsed thereon, shall be deposited with the county treasurer and kept in the treasurer's office.

Section 2303.03 | Clerk of court of appeals.

• Effective: October 17, 1996
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 455 - 121st General Assembly

(A) The clerk of the court of common pleas in each county also shall be clerk of the court of appeals of the county and, subject to division (B) of this section and while acting as the clerk of the court of appeals of the county and assuming the duties of that office, shall collect the same fees that the clerk otherwise collects and perform the same general duties that the clerk otherwise performs. In addition to the annual compensation that the clerk receives pursuant to sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code for the performance of the duties of the clerk of the court of common pleas, the clerk, for acting as the clerk of the court of appeals of the county and assuming the duties of that office, shall receive an additional amount equal to one-eighth of the annual compensation that the clerk receives pursuant to sections 325.08 and 325.18 of the Revised Code, as determined by the population of the county and the rates set forth in those sections. The additional amount shall be payable from the state treasury upon the certificate of the presiding or administrative judge of the district in which the clerk serves in the same manner that the compensation of other employees of the court of appeals is paid pursuant to section 2501.17 of the Revised Code.

(B) Under the circumstances described in sections 2969.21 to 2969.27 of the Revised Code, the clerk of the court of common pleas, while acting as the clerk of the court of appeals, shall charge the fees and perform the other duties specified in those sections.

Section 2303.05 | Clerk may appoint deputies.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas may appoint one or more deputies. Such appointment or appointments shall be endorsed by the clerk and entered on the journal of the court.

Last updated August 5, 2021 at 2:44 PM

Section 2303.06 | Things necessary for clerk's duties.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 567 - 134th General Assembly

The board of county commissioners shall furnish the clerk of the court of common pleas all things necessary for the prompt discharge of the clerk's duties.

Last updated February 23, 2023 at 8:58 AM

Section 2303.07 | Oaths and acknowledgments.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas may administer oaths and take and certify affidavits, depositions, and acknowledgments of deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, and other instruments in writing.

Section 2303.08 | General duties.

• Effective: March 18, 1997
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 570 - 121st General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall indorse on each pleading or paper in a cause filed in the clerk's office the time of filing, enter all orders, decrees, judgments, and proceedings of the courts of which such individual is the clerk, make a complete record when ordered on the journal to do so, and pay over to the proper parties all moneys coming into the clerk's hands as clerk. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing any pleading or paper submitted for filing by a person who has been found to be a vexatious litigator under section 2323.52 of the Revised Code and who has failed to obtain leave to proceed under that section.

Section 2303.081 | Filing pleadings or documents.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Pleadings or documents may be filed with the clerk of court either in paper format or in electronic format.

(B)(1) The clerk shall determine whether the filing of pleadings or documents in electronic format may be accomplished either by electronic mail or through the use of an online platform.

(2) The fee for filing pleadings or documents in electronic format may be paid after the filing. The clerk shall not require that any fee for the filing of pleadings or documents in electronic format be paid before the filing, unless the clerk has provided for an electronic payment system for such filing.

(3) The clerk shall not require a fee for the filing of pleadings or documents in electronic format that is greater than the applicable fee for the filing of pleadings or documents in paper format.

(4) Divisions (B)(1), (2), and (3) of this section do not apply to the filing of pleadings or documents in a probate court or juvenile court.

(C) Pleadings and documents filed in paper format may be converted to an electronic format. Documents created by the clerk of court in the exercise of the clerk's duties may be created in an electronic format.

(D) When pleadings or documents are received or created in, or converted to, an electronic format as provided in this section, the pleadings or documents in that format shall be considered the official version of the record.

Last updated August 27, 2024 at 3:05 PM

Section 2303.09 | Filing and preserving papers.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall file together and carefully preserve in his office all papers delivered to him for that purpose in every action or proceeding.

Section 2303.10 | Indorsement of papers.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall indorse upon every paper filed with him the date of the filing thereof, and upon every order for a provisional remedy and upon every undertaking given thereunder, the date of its return to his office.

Section 2303.11 | Writs to issue on praecipe.

• Effective: September 11, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 138 - 127th General Assembly

All writs and orders for provisional remedies, and process of every kind, shall be issued by the clerk of the court of common pleas, or directly by an order or local rule of a court, or by a county board of revision with jurisdiction pursuant to section 323.66 of the Revised Code; but before they are issued a praecipe shall be filed with the clerk demanding the same.

Section 2303.12 | Records to be kept by clerk; online access.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 567 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Case file" means the compendium of original documents filed in a civil action or proceeding in the court of common pleas, including the pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments of the court on a case by case basis.

(2) "General docket" means the appearance docket, trial docket, journal, execution docket, and case files in relation to those dockets and journal.

(B) The clerk of the court of common pleas shall keep records as indicated by the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio. They shall be called the appearance docket, trial docket and printed duplicates of the trial docket for the use of the court and the officers thereof, journal, and execution docket. The clerk shall also keep a record in book form or the clerk may prepare a record by using any photostatic, photographic, miniature photographic, film, microfilm, or microphotographic process, electrostatic process, perforated tape, magnetic tape, or other electromagnetic means, electronic data processing, machine readable media, graphic or video display, or any combination thereof, which correctly and accurately copies or reproduces every case file and other original document, paper, or instrument in writing. The clerk shall keep an index to the trial docket and to the printed duplicates of the trial docket and of the journal direct, and to the appearance docket, record, and execution docket, direct and reverse. All clerks keeping records and information by the methods described in this section shall keep and make readily available to the public the machine and equipment necessary to reproduce the records and information in a readable form.

(C) The clerk of the court of common pleas shall keep confidential information that is subject to a real property confidentiality notice under section 111.431 of the Revised Code, in accordance with that section.

(D)(1) Subject to division (D)(2) of this section, not later than eighteen months after the effective date of this amendment, the clerk of court shall make available online on the clerk of court's web site the general docket of the court for remote access and printing by the public of the information in that docket, including all individual documents in each case file, pertaining to civil cases filed on or after the effective date of this amendment.

(2) The clerk of court is not required to make available online under division (D)(1) of this section either of the following:

(a) The general docket of the division of domestic relations, the juvenile court, or the probate court;

(b) If the court does not have a division of domestic relations, the general docket in civil cases pertaining to domestic relations.

(E) Nothing in division (D) of this section shall be construed as making available online any of the following:

(1) Internal documents such as notes, emails, drafts, recommendations, advice, or research of judicial officers and court staff;

(2) Any document or any information in a case file the public access to which the court has ordered restricted under the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.

Last updated February 23, 2023 at 9:11 AM

Section 2303.13 | Entries on appearance docket and their effect.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall enter upon the appearance docket at the time of the commencement of an action or proceeding, the names of the parties in full, with names of counsel, and forthwith index the case direct and reverse in the name of each plaintiff and defendant. In like manner and at the time it occurs, he shall also index the name of each person who becomes a party to such action or proceeding. At the time it occurs and under the case so docketed, he shall also enter the issue of the summons or other mesne process or order and the filing of each paper, and he shall record in full the return of such writ or order with the date of its return to the court, which entry shall be evidence of such service.

Section 2303.14 | Maintenance of materials.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 567 - 134th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall maintain all materials as referenced in the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio appertaining to the court and record its proceedings.

Last updated February 23, 2023 at 9:13 AM

Section 2303.15 | Record of orders out of court.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 567 - 134th General Assembly

Orders made out of court shall be recorded in a manner consistent with the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.

Last updated February 16, 2023 at 2:32 PM

Section 2303.16 | Deposit of fees for foreign writ.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall not issue a writ in a civil action to another county until the party requiring the issuing thereof has deposited with him sufficient funds to pay the officer to whom it is directed for executing it, and the clerk shall indorse thereon the words, "Funds deposited to pay for the execution of this writ." On the return thereof, the clerk shall pay to such officer the fees for executing such writ, and no officer shall be required to serve such writ unless it is so indorsed.

Section 2303.17 | Clerk shall make complete record.

• Effective: August 4, 1961
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 214 - 104th General Assembly

When ordered on the journal to do so, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall make a complete record within six months after final judgment or order of the proper court. On his failing to make such record within such time, the clerk may be removed by the court of common pleas.

Section 2303.18 | Indexes of judgments not dormant.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Each clerk of the court of common pleas shall make an alphabetical index of the names of all plaintiffs and defendants to pending suits and living judgments, showing therein in separate columns the names, court, and number of the suit or execution. When there is more than one suit or judgment for or against the same party, it shall be sufficient to index the name but once and make entries opposite thereto, of the court and the number of the suit or execution. No such index shall be made in counties where it has already been done.

Section 2303.19 | Index to be made.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

All suits shall be indexed at the time of the filing of the petition and all judgments shall be indexed at the time of the entry on the journal, revival, or the filing of a transcript thereof as required by section 2303.18 of the Revised Code. Whenever the court of common pleas of a county directs, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall make a re-index, in the manner provided in such section, of all pending suits and living judgments, then on the dockets of either the court of common pleas or the court of appeals, in which re-index all new suits and judgments shall be indexed at the time provided in this section.

Section 2303.20 | Fees.

• Effective: September 20, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 263 - 132nd General Assembly

Under the circumstances described in sections 2969.21 to 2969.27 of the Revised Code, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall charge the fees and perform the other duties specified in those sections. In all other cases, the clerk shall charge the following fees and no more:

(A) Twenty-five dollars for each cause of action which shall include the following:

(1) Docketing in all dockets;

(2) Filing necessary documents, noting the filing of the documents, except subpoena, on the dockets;

(3) Issuing certificate of deposit in foreign writs;

(4) Indexing pending suits and living judgments;

(5) Noting on appearance docket all papers mailed;

(6) Certificate for attorney's fee;

(7) Certificate for stenographer's fee;

(8) Preparing cost bill;

(9) Entering on indictment any plea;

(10) Entering costs on docket and cash book.

(B) Two dollars for taking each undertaking, bond, or recognizance;

(C) Two dollars for issuing each writ, order, or notice, except subpoena;

(D) Two dollars for each name for issuing subpoena, swearing witness, entering attendance, and certifying fees;

(E) Twenty-five dollars for calling a jury in each cause;

(F) Two dollars for each page, for entering on journal, indexing, and posting on any docket;

(G) Three dollars for each execution or transcript of judgment, including indexing;

(H) One dollar for each page, for making complete record, including indexing;

(I) Five dollars for certifying a plat recorded in the county recorder's office;

(J) Five dollars for issuing certificate to receiver or order of reference with oath;

(K) Five dollars for entering satisfaction or partial satisfaction of each lien on record in the county recorder's office, and the clerk of courts' office;

(L) One dollar for each certificate of fact under seal of the court, to be paid by the party demanding it;

(M) One dollar for taking each affidavit, including certificate and seal;

(N) Two dollars for acknowledging all instruments in writing;

(O) Five dollars for making certificate of judgment;

(P) Ten dollars for filing, docketing, and endorsing a certificate of judgment, including the indexing and noting the return of the certificate;

(Q) Twenty-five dollars for each cause of action for each judgment by confession, including all docketing, indexing, and entries on the journal;

(R) Five dollars for recording commission of mayor;

(S) One dollar for issuing any license except the licenses issued pursuant to sections 1533.101, 1533.11, 1533.13, and 1533.32 of the Revised Code;

(T) Fifteen dollars for docketing and indexing each aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify judgment, including the filing and noting of all necessary documents;

(U) Twenty-five dollars for docketing and indexing each appeal, including the filing and noting of all necessary documents;

(V) A commission of two per cent on the first ten thousand dollars and one per cent on all exceeding ten thousand dollars for receiving and disbursing money, other than costs and fees, paid to or deposited with the clerk of courts in pursuance of an order of court or on judgments, including moneys invested by order of the court and interest earned on them;

(W) Five dollars for numbering, docketing, indexing, and filing each authenticated or certified copy of the record, or any portion of an authenticated or certified copy of the record, of an extra county action or proceeding;

(X) Two dollars for each certificate of divorce, annulment, or dissolution of marriage to the bureau of vital statistics;

(Y) Two dollars for each electronic transmission of a document, plus one dollar for each page of that document. These fees are to be paid by the party requesting the electronic transmission.

(Z) One dollar for each page, for copies of pleadings, process, record, or files, including certificate and seal.

Section 2303.201 | Computerizing court or paying cost of computerized legal research.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) The court of common pleas of any county may determine that for the efficient operation of the court additional funds are required to computerize the court, to make available computerized legal research services, or to do both. Upon making a determination that additional funds are required for either or both of those purposes, the court shall authorize and direct the clerk of the court of common pleas to charge one additional fee, not to exceed six dollars, on the filing of each cause of action or appeal under divisions (A), (Q), and (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code.

(2) All fees collected under division (A)(1) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer. The treasurer shall place the funds from the fees in a separate fund to be disbursed either upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, in an amount not greater than the actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining computerization of the court, computerized legal research services, or both.

(3) If the court determines that the funds in the fund described in division (A)(2) of this section are more than sufficient to satisfy the purpose for which the additional fee described in division (A)(1) of this section was imposed, the court may declare a surplus in the fund and, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, expend those surplus funds, or upon an order of the court, subject to the court making an annual report available to the public listing the use of all such funds, expend those surplus funds, for other appropriate technological expenses of the court.

(B)(1)(a) Except as provided in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, the clerk of the court of common pleas of any county may determine that, for the efficient operation of the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas, additional funds are required to make technological advances in or to computerize the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas and, upon that determination, authorize and direct that an additional fee, not to exceed twenty dollars, on the filing of each cause of action or appeal, on the filing, docketing, and endorsing of each certificate of judgment, or on the docketing and indexing of each aid in execution or petition to vacate, revive, or modify a judgment under divisions (A), (P), (Q), (T), and (U) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code and not to exceed one dollar each for the services described in divisions (B), (C), (D), (F), (H), and (L) of section 2303.20 of the Revised Code, be charged.

(b) In a county in which the clerk of the court of common pleas is appointed, the county executive may make the determination described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section and, upon that determination, may include such a computerization fee in the schedule of fees and costs.

(2) Subject to division (B)(3) of this section, all moneys collected under division (B)(1)(a) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer to be disbursed, subject to an appropriation made by the board of county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the court of procuring and maintaining technology and computer systems for the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas.

(3) If the county executive or the clerk of the court of common pleas of a county makes the determination described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, the board of county commissioners of that county may issue one or more general obligation bonds for the purpose of procuring and maintaining the technology and computer systems for the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas. In addition to the purposes stated in division (B)(1)(a) of this section for which the moneys collected under that division may be expended, the moneys additionally may be expended to pay debt charges on and financing costs related to any general obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section as they become due. General obligation bonds issued pursuant to division (B)(3) of this section are Chapter 133. securities.

(C) The court of common pleas shall collect the sum of twenty-six dollars as additional filing fees in each new civil action or proceeding for the charitable public purpose of providing financial assistance to legal aid societies that operate within the state and to support the office of the state public defender. This division does not apply to a juvenile division of a court of common pleas, except that an additional filing fee of fifteen dollars shall apply to custody, visitation, and parentage actions; to a probate division of a court of common pleas, except that the additional filing fees shall apply to name change, guardianship, adoption, and decedents' estate proceedings; or to an execution on a judgment, proceeding in aid of execution, or other post-judgment proceeding arising out of a civil action. The filing fees required to be collected under this division shall be in addition to any other filing fees imposed in the action or proceeding and shall be collected at the time of the filing of the action or proceeding. The court shall not waive the payment of the additional filing fees in a new civil action or proceeding unless the court waives the advanced payment of all filing fees in the action or proceeding. All such moneys collected during a month except for an amount equal to up to one per cent of those moneys retained to cover administrative costs shall be transmitted on or before the twentieth day of the following month by the clerk of the court to the treasurer of state in a manner prescribed by the treasurer of state or by the Ohio access to justice foundation. The treasurer of state shall deposit four per cent of the funds collected under this division to the credit of the civil case filing fee fund established under section 120.07 of the Revised Code and ninety-six per cent of the funds collected under this division to the credit of the legal aid fund established under section 120.52 of the Revised Code.

The court may retain up to one per cent of the moneys it collects under this division to cover administrative costs, including the hiring of any additional personnel necessary to implement this division. If the court fails to transmit to the treasurer of state the moneys the court collects under this division in a manner prescribed by the treasurer of state or by the Ohio access to justice foundation, the court shall forfeit the moneys the court retains under this division to cover administrative costs, including the hiring of any additional personnel necessary to implement this division, and shall transmit to the treasurer of state all moneys collected under this division, including the forfeited amount retained for administrative costs, for deposit in the legal aid fund.

(D) On and after the thirtieth day after December 9, 1994, the court of common pleas shall collect the sum of thirty-two dollars as additional filing fees in each new action or proceeding for annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriage for the purpose of funding shelters for victims of domestic violence pursuant to sections 3113.35 to 3113.39 of the Revised Code. The filing fees required to be collected under this division shall be in addition to any other filing fees imposed in the action or proceeding and shall be collected at the time of the filing of the action or proceeding. The court shall not waive the payment of the additional filing fees in a new action or proceeding for annulment, divorce, or dissolution of marriage unless the court waives the advanced payment of all filing fees in the action or proceeding. On or before the twentieth day of each month, all moneys collected during the immediately preceding month pursuant to this division shall be deposited by the clerk of the court into the county treasury in the special fund used for deposit of additional marriage license fees as described in section 3113.34 of the Revised Code. Upon their deposit into the fund, the moneys shall be retained in the fund and expended only as described in section 3113.34 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1) The court of common pleas may determine that, for the efficient operation of the court, additional funds are necessary to acquire and pay for special projects of the court, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of additional facilities or the rehabilitation of existing facilities, the acquisition of equipment, the hiring and training of staff, community service programs, mediation or dispute resolution services, the employment of magistrates, the training and education of judges, acting judges, and magistrates, and other related services. Upon that determination, the court by rule may charge a fee, in addition to all other court costs, on the filing of each criminal cause, civil action or proceeding, or judgment by confession.

If the court of common pleas offers or requires a special program or additional services in cases of a specific type, the court by rule may assess an additional charge in a case of that type, over and above court costs, to cover the special program or service. The court shall adjust the special assessment periodically, but not retroactively, so that the amount assessed in those cases does not exceed the actual cost of providing the service or program.

All moneys collected under division (E) of this section shall be paid to the county treasurer for deposit into either a general special projects fund or a fund established for a specific special project. Moneys from a fund of that nature shall be disbursed upon an order of the court, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, in an amount no greater than the actual cost to the court of a project. If a specific fund is terminated because of the discontinuance of a program or service established under division (E) of this section, the court may order, subject to an appropriation by the board of county commissioners, that moneys remaining in the fund be transferred to an account established under this division for a similar purpose.

(2) As used in division (E) of this section:

(a) "Criminal cause" means a charge alleging the violation of a statute or ordinance, or subsection of a statute or ordinance, that requires a separate finding of fact or a separate plea before disposition and of which the defendant may be found guilty, whether filed as part of a multiple charge on a single summons, citation, or complaint or as a separate charge on a single summons, citation, or complaint. "Criminal cause" does not include separate violations of the same statute or ordinance, or subsection of the same statute or ordinance, unless each charge is filed on a separate summons, citation, or complaint.

(b) "Civil action or proceeding" means any civil litigation that must be determined by judgment entry.

Last updated August 19, 2024 at 12:23 PM

Section 2303.21 | Expenses of transcript or exemplification shall be taxed in costs.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When it is necessary in an appeal, or other civil action to procure a transcript of a judgment or proceeding, or exemplification of a record, as evidence in such action or for any other purpose, the expense of procuring such transcript or exemplification shall be taxed in the bill of costs and recovered as in other cases.

Section 2303.22 | Clerk shall receive and pay over all costs and fees taxed upon writs.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall receive from the sheriff, or other officer of the court, all costs taxed upon any writ or order issued from the court, such as appraisers' fees, printers' fees, or any other fees necessarily incurred in the execution of such writ or order, and on demand pay them to the persons entitled thereto. The sheriff, or other officer of the court, shall tax such costs and collect and pay them to the clerk of the court from which the writ or order issued, giving the name of each individual, and the amount which each is entitled to receive.

Section 2303.23 | Cancellation of uncollectible debts.

• Effective: March 22, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 247 - 129th General Assembly

If at any time the court finds that an amount owing to the court is due and uncollectible, in whole or in part, the court may direct the clerk of the court to cancel all or part of the claim. The clerk shall then effect the cancellation.

Section 2303.26 | Duties of clerk.

• Effective: September 28, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 390 - 131st General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall exercise the powers conferred and perform the duties enjoined upon the clerk by statute and by the common law; and in the performance of official duties the clerk shall be under the direction of the court. The clerk shall not restrict, prohibit, or otherwise modify the rights of parties to seek service on party defendants allowed by the Rules of Civil Procedure, either singularly or concurrently.

Section 2303.27 | Services without compensation.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall make no charge for certificates made for pensioners of the United States government, or any oath administered in pension and bounty cases, or on pension vouchers, applications, or affidavits.

Section 2303.28 | Clerk shall file itemized bill of costs.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In every case immediately on the rendition of judgment, the clerk of the court of common pleas shall make out and file with the papers in the cause, an itemized bill of his costs therein, including the judgment. He shall not issue an execution in any cause for the costs of himself or of any other officer, or receive any costs for himself or any other officer, unless an itemized statement has been rendered.

Section 2303.29 | Appropriations for issuing motor vehicle titles.

• Effective: August 1, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 275 - 114th General Assembly

(A) A clerk of the court of common pleas may, or upon the request of the board of county commissioners by the first day of June shall, submit a request for an appropriation to the board of county commissioners detailing the costs required to administer his responsibilities under Chapter 4505. of the Revised Code. If such a request is submitted, the request shall include an itemized schedule of personnel and supply costs. In addition, the request shall include a summary of the cost of administering Chapter 4505. of the Revised Code during the most recent appropriation period; a detailed estimate of new costs that will result from new responsibilities pursuant to Substitute House Bill 275 of the 114th general assembly or from any subsequent legislation changing fees or poundage established under Chapter 4505. of the Revised Code. If such a request is submitted, it shall be filed with the clerk of the board of county commissioners not later than the first day of November. The board of county commissioners shall consider the request of the clerk and the intent of the legislature prior to adopting the appropriation resolution pursuant to section 5705.28 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board of county commissioners shall budget and appropriate funds for the operation of the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas in an amount sufficient for the prompt discharge of the clerk's duties under Chapter 4505. of the Revised Code.

Section 2303.31 | Clerks of other courts.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The duties prescribed by law for the clerk of the court of common pleas shall, so far as they are applicable, apply to the clerks of other courts of record.

Section 2303.901 | Case documents.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 567 - 134th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Case document" means any document, or information in any document, that is submitted to a court or filed with a clerk of court in a court action or proceeding, including any exhibit, pleading, motion, order, or judgment, or any documentation prepared by the court or clerk in the action or proceeding, including journals, dockets, and indices.

"Case document" does not include any of the following:

(a) Any document or information in any document that is exempt from disclosure under state, federal, or common law;

(b) Personal identifiers;

(c) Any document or information in any document to which public access has been restricted under Rule 45 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio;

(d) Except as relevant to the juvenile's prosecution later as an adult, a juvenile's previous disposition in abuse, neglect, or dependency cases, juvenile civil commitment files, post-adjudicatory residential treatment facility reports, or post-adjudicatory releases of a juvenile's social history;

(e) Notes, drafts, recommendations, advice, or research of court officers or staff;

(f) Forms containing personal identifiers that are submitted or filed pursuant to Rule 45 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio;

(g) Information on, or obtained from, the Ohio courts network, except that the information shall be available at the originating source if not otherwise exempt from public access;

(h) In a court of common pleas or a division of that court with domestic relations or juvenile jurisdiction, any of the following documents, including documents prepared pursuant to section 2151.281, division (E)(3) of section 3105.171, or section 3109.04 of the Revised Code, or Rule 48 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio:

(i) Health care documents, including physical health, psychological health, psychiatric health, mental health, or counseling documents;

(ii) Drug or alcohol use assessments or predisposition treatment facility reports;

(iii) Guardian ad litem reports, including collateral source documents attached to or filed with the reports;

(iv) Home investigation reports, including collateral source documents attached to or filed with the reports;

(v) Child custody evaluations or reports, including collateral source documents attached to or filed with the evaluations or reports;

(vi) Domestic violence risk assessments;

(vii) Supervised parenting time or companionship or visitation records or reports, including exchange records or reports;

(viii) Financial disclosure records or statements regarding property, debt, taxes, income, or expenses, including collateral source documents attached to or filed with the records or statements;

(ix) Asset appraisals and evaluations.

(2) "Personal identifiers" means any of the following:

(a) Social security numbers, except for the last four digits;

(b) Financial account numbers, including debit card, charge card, or credit card numbers;

(c) Employer or employee identification numbers;

(d) A juvenile's name in an abuse, neglect, or dependency case, except for the juvenile's initials or a generic abbreviation such as "CV" for "child victim."

(B)(1) When submitting a case document to the court or filing a case document with the clerk of court, a party to an action or proceeding shall omit personal identifiers from the case document pursuant to Rule 45 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio.

(2) The clerk of court is not liable to any party or any person if a case document that is submitted to the court or filed with the clerk of court contains personal identifiers and the clerk posts that case document on its web site.

Last updated February 16, 2023 at 6:11 PM