Access Free Richland County Ohio Divorce Records: Case Lookup

Obtain Richland County, Ohio, divorce records to confirm whether a couple has dissolved their marriage.

Researchers can access information about these cases by searching through county court records — either through databases or directly from the county court clerk — including the date of dissolution and the parties involved. These records can often be acquired for free, though costs may apply to certified documents.

This brief article walks citizens through quickly and seamlessly getting divorce records and information from various sources in Richland County, Ohio.

How To Search Richland County Ohio Divorce Records (Free Methods)

In Richland County, individuals can request divorce records as part of the public record. Sometimes, information confirming a divorce is readily available through court case tools. In other cases, people can request this information from governmental agencies.

Typically, governmental agencies can provide official copies of divorce records, which may be pertinent to the parties to the dissolution. In many cases, an individual needs their official divorce records for legal purposes. However, those who seek information about divorces in the county out of curiosity have far more robust options to search for unofficial records.

Information searchers seeking divorce records in Richland County relating to their own divorces or those of other people have one tool that can pull up all divorce cases since 1990 entirely online and at no cost. The CourtView case search tool allows quick searches by allowing divorces and dissolutions to be selected when filtering cases.¹ Complete the CAPTCHA to gain access to the search function.

Select the name search option for ease of use. This requires users to provide a last and first name, with a field for a middle name to filter out results.

In the Case Type bar, scroll to divorce and select the option. Add the case status if it is known, or leave it at all statuses (the default option). Likewise, select the party type that describes the name entered if it’s known, or leave it at all party types if it is unknown.

Narrow results further by entering a date range when the divorce likely happened, though this isn’t necessary if it’s also unknown.

From there, the database provides any matching records. They present with:

• Case number
• Case type
• File date
• Initiating action
• Party
• Party type
• Case status

Selecting a case number pulls up detailed information about the divorce, including docket information, disposition and service records. However, it does not detail the final judgment, such as custody or alimony. Despite this limitation, it’s a free option, allowing divorce cases within the county to be identified.

Searchers can also contact the Richland County Court Clerk by telephone at 419-774-5549 or in writing at:

County Administration Building
50 Park Avenue East
Mansfield, Ohio 44902

Anyone can request non-certified copies of public records by completing a public records request form.⁴ Certified records are available only to authorized individuals, and a nominal fee is payable for certified copies.

Conduct a Divorce & Dissolution Record Lookup via Cities in Richland County

The same CourtView tool can assist with divorce lookups via cities or small municipalities across the county. However, it requires more finessing, as searching by city or town does not provide a filter-by-name option.

Rather, users can select the case type search to fill in a range of dates, case status, party type, and case type and then filter by city or town. This will result in a list of all divorces within that city or town within the specified range of dates.

Regardless of the municipality, researchers may also request divorce records directly from the Richland County Clerk of Courts.⁵ Before requesting, the department recommends calling the office directly before making a public records request rather than driving to the office first. This ensures the clerk has a reasonable amount of time to provide the records before requestors make lengthier drives.

The Richland County Clerk of Courts does not require specific forms to access public information but recommends completing a Public Records Request form to speed up the process.⁴ It includes information on the fee schedule, which includes no fees for fewer than ten copies of a record.

When more than 11 are requested, the fee will be $0.05 per copy, which must be paid in advance. Records may also be inspected at no cost within the building.

Contact this department at:

Records Manager of the Richland County Clerk of Courts Legal Division
Richland County Courthouse
50 Park Avenue East
Mansfield, OH 44902

Phone: 419-774-5549

How To Find Divorce Information Throughout Ohio

Sometimes, a search for divorce records in Richland County reveals that the case must have occurred in a different county. When this happens, Richland County clerks will not be able to assist.

After a judge finalizes a divorce, the courts archive records about this legal separation and this information is held with the county clerk. Sometimes, an individual may require official documentation of their divorce when separating assets from their ex-spouse, such as refinancing a mortgage or changing their name to a maiden name. Sometimes, interested parties want to know whether a divorce has been finalized.

In many states, the Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains a divorce index, which individuals can access and request records from.⁶ This does not include common-law divorce. However, in Ohio, there is no statewide index or department where all statewide records are held. Because of this, the state recommends contacting county court clerks to locate this information.

Therefore, the process of gaining records across the state varies from county to county, though users can expect a similar process. A list of all Ohio county clerks is available online, allowing searchers to quickly locate the correct contact information if they know which county a divorce has occurred.⁷

Contact the clerk’s office directly or visit the county clerk’s website to find information about requesting public records. Beyond this, users can search for an individual county’s online court record database to see if relevant information presents itself.

Alternatively, a third-party source may assist researchers when the exact county is unknown. These can pull records from numerous databases and narrow down the search process by identifying the correct county.

For example, state or independent historical society libraries may hold records for divorces that took place prior to 1954.⁸ However, any records obtained from these sources are for information only and cannot be used for official purposes.

Are Divorce Records in Richland County Available for Anyone’s Viewing?

In Richland County, divorce records are available for anyone to view. The state defines public records as any records kept by public offices.⁹

Some exemptions apply, such as medical records, probation and parole, adoptions and other cases where records contain personal sensitive information. However, because these dissolutions involve the court and a legal process, citizens can access public divorce records.

Though divorce papers are considered public, in many cases, sensitive information is redacted. For example, typically, only parties to the divorce can receive certified copies of a divorce decree, which details the divorce terms like alimony and child custody. Records available to unrelated individuals may only confirm that two parties terminated their marriage and the sensitive information will be withheld.

While third-party sources may offer some insight using what’s publicly available, the information may be somewhat limited. They may pull records that have yet to be archived or those in locations outside of the county, but unless the state or county government endorses that third party, the records are not considered official. Parties needing official proof of divorce must seek records through one of the government agencies.

Individuals can find divorce records through government case-search tools and county clerks. This guided resource simplifies the process of finding Richland County Ohio divorce records, offering step-by-step instructions and valuable insights for a successful search experience. Researchers can access a wealth of information, often for free, ensuring a thorough investigation into publicly available divorce certificates and records within the county.