The Lorain County Clerk of Courts Office
Lorain County uses a single, unified Clerk of Courts for its Common Pleas records. The county does not split the job into a separate district clerk and county clerk the way some states do. The current Clerk is Tom Orlando, reached at 440-329-5624. The office sits in the Justice Center at 225 Court Street in Elyria, with legal division offices on the first floor.
The Clerk serves the Court of Common Pleas across its civil, criminal, domestic relations, and Ninth District Court of Appeals work. It is the keeper of the official record for those cases. For the court itself, its divisions, and its judges, see the Court of Common Pleas page.
The Clerk follows Ohio's open records law in how it keeps and releases records. That statute is shown below.
The Clerk's record duties flow from Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, the Public Records Act.
That law sets the baseline for how the Clerk handles every public records request it receives.
What the Clerk of Courts Does
The Clerk handles the administrative and ministerial work of the Court of Common Pleas. That covers a clear set of duties tied to the court record and court money.
- Creates and files new case records.
- Maintains and retains court records over time.
- Reports case data and issues court process, such as summons and subpoenas.
- Receives and disburses money paid into the court system.
- Maintains the official docket for public search.
Because the Clerk holds the official record, a case stays on file even after it ends. The office cannot erase a case just because a debt was paid, which the FAQ section below explains.
Vehicle Titles and Passport Services
The Clerk of Courts does more than court files. The office maintains certificates of title for vehicles and watercraft owned by Lorain County residents. It reports preparing roughly 150,000 new titles each year, a large slice of the office's daily work.
Title offices also handle U.S. passport applications, and they take passport applicants without an appointment. These services are separate from the court docket, but they share the same Clerk of Courts office. For broader county records beyond the court, see the Lorain County public records page.
Searching Clerk of Courts Records Online
The Clerk runs a free online docket through its eServices system. It is open 24 hours a day, every day. The portal holds computerized case records for civil, criminal, domestic relations, and Ninth District Court of Appeals cases since 1988. Online dockets reach back to October 1987.
The Clerk warns that search engine links may not match the current dockets, so start at the official Clerk page rather than a stray result. The portal offers Court Calendars, Quick Index, General Index, and Docket Sheets. A Docket Sheet is a case summary that lists every filing in date order when you know the case number.
| Tool | Best For | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Index | Finding a case by party name | A name |
| General Index | Name search with more detail | A name |
| Docket Sheets | Reading one case in full | The case number |
| Court Calendars | Daily judge and magistrate schedules | A date or court |
The full record search walkthrough sits on the court records page, and docket reading is covered on the court dockets page.
Electronic Filing Through the Clerk
The Clerk accepts electronic filing through the same eServices site used for searching. Registered filers can submit documents online instead of bringing paper to the counter. The Clerk page links the General Division and Domestic Relations administrative orders that spell out the e-filing rules.
E-filing speeds civil and family filings and gives attorneys and self-represented filers a clear path. Filers should read the administrative order for their division before they start, since rules differ between the General Division and Domestic Relations.
Note: Always open the official Clerk page first, since the Clerk warns that outside search links may not match the current court dockets.
Lorain County Clerk of Courts Fee Schedule
The Clerk charges set fees for copies and many filings. Inspecting a record costs nothing. Fees apply when you want copies, certified documents, or court action like a lien or garnishment. The most common charges come from the official Common Pleas fee schedule.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy per page, uncertified | $0.10 |
| Copy per page, certified | $1.00 |
| Authentication per document | $7.00 |
| Seal or expungement application | $50.00 |
| Notice of appeal to Ninth District | $125.00 |
| Judgment lien from Lorain County Common Pleas | $35.00 |
| Satisfaction or release of judgment | $5.00 |
| Garnishment of personal earnings or property | $200.00 |
A financial disclosure form on a court-appointed counsel case runs $25, and subpoena service through the sheriff is listed at $40 in the November 2025 schedule. Confirm current amounts with the Clerk before you file.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy is an official record the Clerk stamps and signs. Courts and agencies often require a certified copy, not a plain printout. The steps below get you one.
- Find the case using the online docket, or call the Clerk if the case predates October 1987.
- Note the case number and the exact document you need.
- Ask the Clerk for a certified copy in person, by mail, or by the office's listed method.
- Pay the per-page copy fee plus the certification cost.
- Pick up or receive the stamped, signed copy for legal use.
Common Pleas forms such as the Civil Case Designation Sheet and Civil Instructions for Service are available through the Clerk's Legal Division. Sealing packets are there too.
Older Records and the Records Department
Not every case is online. Online dockets start from October 1987, so anything older is not on the portal. Those records live in the Clerk's Records Department and can be viewed in person.
The Records Department is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. If a name search fails for a recent case, the Clerk suggests trying spelling variations, since a name like James Smith may be filed as Jim Smith. Some case types may also not appear online at all.
Clerk of Courts FAQ and Legal-Advice Limits
The Clerk handles records, not legal questions. Two common questions come up often, and the answers shape what the office can do for you.
Can the Clerk give legal advice? No. The office is barred by law from giving legal advice. The Clerk directs people without a family attorney to the Lorain County Bar Association or the Legal Aid Society to see if they qualify for help.
Why does a paid judgment still show? The fact that a case was filed, a judgment entered, and the judgment satisfied stays part of the public record. The Clerk has no authority to remove a case absent a law or a court order.
For lawyer referrals, the Ohio State Bar Association keeps a statewide list, shown below.
You can reach those referral services through the Ohio State Bar Association, and more answers sit on the FAQ page.
Clerk of Courts Contact and Hours
The Clerk's main office and Records Department are in the Justice Center in downtown Elyria. Use the contact card for the office address, phone, and records hours.
Lorain County Clerk of Courts
Justice Center, 225 Court Street
Elyria, OH 44035
440-329-5624
Records Dept: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Probate records are kept separately by Probate Court, not the Clerk of Courts, so estate and marriage files are searched through a different portal.