OH official databases
Ohio Public Records Search
DirtSearch tracks 12 free, official Ohio public-records databases — covering 1 court tools, 2 criminal and public-safety registries, 8 property and business resources, and 1 vital-records portals. Every link below points directly to an official OH state, county, or municipal source.
What you can search in Ohio
Civil, criminal, probate, family, and traffic case dockets across Ohio courts.
Sex-offender registries, inmate locators, most-wanted lists, warrants, and missing persons.
Assessor records, deeds, tax rolls, parcel maps, business filings, UCC, and unclaimed property.
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records sourced from Ohio agencies.
Courts & Legal (1)
Criminal & Public Safety (2)
Property & Business (8)
Vital Records (1)
How to search Ohio public records
- Pick the record category that matches what you need (court, criminal, property, vital, or licensing).
- Click through to the official OH portal listed above — DirtSearch never inserts a paywall.
- Search by name, case number, parcel number, or business name on the government site itself.
- Cross-check the result against a second source (a federal database, a different county portal, or a court docket) before acting on it.
Frequently asked questions about Ohio public records
Are Ohio public records really free?
Yes. Ohio state and county agencies publish most public records online at no charge. Some certified copies (for example, certified marriage or death certificates) carry a fee charged by the issuing agency, but searching the index is free.
Can I run a background check using these OH resources?
You can pull most of the underlying records yourself for free, but if you intend to use the result for an employment, housing, or credit decision the FCRA generally requires a licensed Consumer Reporting Agency. Use the official sources above for personal research and verification.
How current is the data?
Each portal sets its own update cadence. Court dockets are typically updated daily; assessor and deed indexes weekly to monthly; vital-records indexes can lag by several weeks. Check the “last updated” notice on each agency’s site before relying on a result.