Who is the clerk of courts for Franklin County?
There are two. The Honorable Maryellen O'Shaughnessy serves as the Franklin County Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and The Honorable Lori Tyack serves as the Franklin County Municipal Clerk of Courts.
The following information from the Franklin County Clerk of Courts provides details about the clerks' offices. In addition, a PDF providing an explanation of the responsibilities of the clerks of court, the types of public records and payments each handles, and contact information may be downloaded for quick reference.
What many people may not be aware of is that there are two Clerks of Court in Franklin County. Although we both work in the Franklin County Government Complex, within the three attached courts buildings on South High Street between Mound and Fulton Streets, the offices are two separate entities.
The Legal Division of my office, the Franklin County Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, serves as the record-keeper for the Common Pleas Courts. The General Division includes civil complaints in which the monetary amount in contention is over $15,000, and criminal felony cases.
We also support the Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile: divorce cases, custody cases, and juvenile felony and juvenile traffic cases. In addition, my office maintains the records for the 10th District Court of Appeals.
The Honorable Lori Tyack, serves as the Franklin County Municipal Clerk of Courts. The Clerk of the Municipal Court maintains the records for misdemeanor and traffic cases, small claims suits and civil complaints under the dollar amount of $15,000.
All criminal cases are arraigned (the first appearance before a judge) in Municipal Court where it is determined whether the crime was a felony or a misdemeanor. If deemed to be a felony, the defendant is then bound over to be tried in the Court of Common Pleas.
Cases involving buildings, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning and safety codes are heard by the judge of the Environmental Division of the Municipal Court and the files are maintained by the Municipal Clerk's office.
So, if you want to know the status of a civil suit over 15K, a criminal felony case, or a case in appeal; if you want a copy of your divorce decree; if you want to find out if your minor must appear in court for a traffic violation, call our office - the Franklin County Clerk of Courts of Common Pleas at (614) 462-3600. Website is http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/clerk/
However, for adult traffic violations, criminal misdemeanor violations, small claims suits, questions about escrow, or buildings that are not up to code, contact the Franklin County Municipal Clerk's office at (614) 645-7657. That Web site is www.fcmcclerk.com
Although we are happy to redirect callers to the Municipal Clerk's office, it will save you time if you know which clerk's office you want to contact before you pick up the phone.
Maryellen O'Shaughnessy
