belmont county ohio public records guide for local searches

What falls under public records

Residents and researchers rely on Belmont County offices for access to deeds, mortgages, court dockets, probate files, marriage licenses, plats, meeting minutes, and certain law-enforcement logs. Many materials are open to inspection under Ohio’s Public Records Act, though some items may be restricted or partially redacted.

Where to look

The Recorder keeps land records, the Clerk of Courts maintains civil and criminal dockets, and Probate Court handles estates and marriages. The Auditor offers valuation data and GIS maps, while the Sheriff posts incident reports and jail information. Commissioners’ journals document budgets, contracts, and resolutions.

• Recorder: deeds, mortgages, liens, plats
• Clerk: case filings, judgments, schedules
• Probate: estates, guardianships, marriage records
• Auditor: parcels, valuations, tax duplicates
• Sheriff: calls, inmate roster, crash reports

Tips for requesting

Provide a clear description-parcel IDs, case numbers, names, and date ranges improve results. Expect copy fees and allowable redactions. Online indexes help you locate volumes, but older books may require an in-person visit.

Online vs in-person

For routine lookups, web portals are fast; for certified copies or extensive searches, plan to visit the counter and allow staff time to retrieve archived materials.