Franklin County OH Probate Court: Case Search & Records

Franklin County, Ohio • Probate Division • Columbus

Franklin County OH Probate Court: Case Search & Records

Trying to locate a Franklin County probate case, check whether an estate was opened, find a will, review a guardianship proceeding, search a name-change case, or obtain a certified marriage record? The Franklin County Probate Court provides several official records services, but you must choose the correct search for your task.

This guide explains exactly how to use the Probate Court’s General Case Search, locate filed case documents, search marriage licenses, request copies, review historical records, and handle common problems such as an old case number, missing electronic image, or confidential record.

Search Probate Cases Search Marriage Records Request Certified Records

Before you start: the official Probate General Case Index is updated through the previous day. It supports searches using case name, case number, filing date, attorney, fiduciary and other specialized fields. If you need to read available non-confidential filed documents, the court also directs users to its E-Filing Case History.

Independent court-record information guide reviewed October 2026. This website does not operate the probate court, process filings, maintain official case records or issue certified copies.

First identify the record

What Can You Find at Franklin County Probate Court?

The Franklin County Probate Court is a division of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Its jurisdiction includes estate administration, guardianships, trusts, probate-related civil litigation, adoptions, involuntary civil commitments, birth-record corrections, name changes and marriage licenses.

Not every item in that list is publicly searchable. Adoption, mental illness and developmental-disability records have important legal confidentiality restrictions.

Estate Records Has an estate been opened?

Use the General Case Search with the decedent’s name, case number, opening date or fiduciary.

Estate search instructions

Guardianships and trusts Case information and orders

Use the Probate General Case Index for publicly accessible matters. Protected information may not be shown.

General search workflow

Marriage Records Marriage license or abstract

Search the dedicated marriage index for licenses issued January 3, 1995 onward.

Marriage record steps

Name changes Publicly available name-change cases

Search by case name or other supported criteria. Certain matters involving minors have additional protections.

Open name-search guidance

Historical records Older marriages, estates and vital records

Some records are retained on microfilm, microfiche or paper and require assisted research.

See coverage dates

Confidential matters Adoption and civil commitment

These records are not generally available for public inspection and require a lawful access route.

Access restrictions

Wrong court warning: a Franklin County divorce, ordinary felony case, municipal traffic case or general civil lawsuit is not automatically a Probate Court case. If your search concerns those matters, use the appropriate Franklin County court division rather than the Probate General Case Index.

Official probate index

How to Search Franklin County Probate Court Cases by Name or Case Number

The official General Case Search has more search options than many county court portals. A person can search using a case name, case number, case opening date, attorney, fiduciary or fields associated with particular case types.

01Open Official Index

02Choose Search Method

03Verify the Case

04Read Case History

Open the Probate General Case Search. Use the official Franklin County Probate Court search page.
Find Search Method. Choose the option that matches the information you already have.
For a name search, use the required name format. The court displays Last Name, First MI, such as Doe, John B.
For a case-number search, enter the number and suffix separately. The example number format is 000000 with a two-letter case suffix such as AA. Use the actual suffix shown on the case document.
Narrow the search when necessary. Available fields include Case Open Date in MM/DD/YYYY format, Type and optional Subtype.
Use other supported clues. For certain searches, try Attorney Name, Fiduciary Name or the specialized parent-name fields.
Submit the search and open the result. Compare names, case number, case type and opening date.
Review the case’s available information. Locate any docket, case-summary or filing information relevant to your purpose.
Use E-Filing Case History to view eligible documents. The court directs users to find the case number first, then use its e-filing case-document tools.

General Case Search fields explained

Search field	Expected format or use	Best situation
Case Name	Last Name, First MI.	Searching estates or other matters by the principal person’s name.
Case Number	Number in the court’s six-digit example format, with separate suffix.	You already have the case reference from a notice or order.
Case Open Date	MM/DD/YYYY.	Narrowing a search using the opening date.
Type / Subtype	Select available categories; subtype is optional.	Separating estates, guardianships, name changes or another case category.
Attorney Name	Last Name, First MI.	Finding cases associated with a known attorney.
Fiduciary Name	Last Name, First MI.	Searching with an executor, administrator or other fiduciary name.
Mother’s / Father’s Name	Last Name, First MI.	Specialized searches involving minors where permitted.
Chiropractic Register	Last Name, First MI.	Specialized register lookup.

Data freshness: the Probate Court explicitly states that its General Case Search records are current through the previous day. A filing made today may therefore not be reflected in the public index yet.

Portal maintenance: the court warns that routine backups can interfere with the index on weekday evenings between 10 PM and 2 AM, with additional intermittent weekend interruptions. Retry outside that period or contact probate@franklincountyohio.gov if the problem continues.

Finding a deceased person’s case

How to Find Franklin County Estate, Will and Probate Records

A common reason to search this court is to find out whether a deceased person’s estate is being administered, locate the estate case number, identify a fiduciary or obtain the appointment and inventory documents.

Estate case search — practical steps

Gather the deceased person’s full legal name, known name variations and approximate date of death.
Open the Probate General Case Search.
Search by Case Name using the court’s surname-first format.
If you know an approximate probate opening date, use Case Open Date or available case-type filters.
If the executor or administrator is known, consider searching by Fiduciary Name.
Verify the matched estate’s case number, case name and opening date.
Open available case-history or docket details to identify filings such as the will, appointment, inventory, account or orders.
For an unavailable image or certified document, use the Court’s Certified Records service.

Important: a deceased person’s estate does not necessarily have a probate case. Some assets may transfer outside probate, and smaller estates can follow simplified procedures. A no-result name search is not conclusive proof that no estate or assets exist.

What documents might appear in an estate file?

Application to probate a willRequests formal probate of a will when applicable.

Application for administrationRequests appointment of an administrator or other estate authority.

Letters of authorityEvidence of a fiduciary’s court-authorized role.

InventoryA filing identifying probate assets, subject to case requirements.

Estate accountsReports concerning estate receipts, disbursements or administration.

Orders and entriesJudicial decisions affecting the estate or related proceedings.

Small Estate Resource Center

Franklin County Probate Court offers a Small Estate Resource Center that can provide qualifying individuals with free, limited legal assistance from an Ohio attorney for straightforward estate matters.

The Court describes general assistance for estates valued below $35,000 when the decedent was unmarried, or below $100,000 when married, along with certain real-estate-only cases. These figures describe Resource Center assistance criteria; the correct probate procedure depends on separate legal requirements.

Open the Small Estate Resource Center page.
Check whether the estate falls within an assisted case category.
Prepare the deceased person’s name, date of death, assets, any will and applicable real-estate deed.
Call 614-525-7251 and leave a message for a Resource Center attorney.
Follow the Court’s instructions for a telephone consultation.
Use the official Small Estate forms associated with the advised procedure; applicable filing fees remain separate.

Useful local service: the Resource Center says calls are ordinarily returned within three business days, and consultations are by phone. It does not provide legal advice on contested estate matters or unrelated legal issues.

From search result to actual filing

How to View Franklin County Probate Court Filed Documents Online

The court’s General Case Search helps identify the case. For eligible non-confidential filed documents, the Probate Court now provides access through the E-Filing Case History feature.

Start by finding the case number in the General Case Search.
Open the official Probate Court E-Filing page.
Locate the E-Filing Case History instructions.
Review the Court’s guide titled E-Filing How to View Filed Documents.
Open the designated e-filing system and locate the case-history view.
Enter the relevant case identifier using the portal’s instructions.
Review the case summary and available non-confidential documents.
If an important filing is absent, contact the Certified Records department rather than assuming it does not exist.

Document coverage: the Court reports that electronic images exist for most probate filings received on or after August 2, 1998. Older materials may be stored on microfilm, microfiche or original paper.

Viewable does not mean unrestricted: adoption, mental-illness and developmental-disability records are among the matters that the court identifies as confidential by law. Certain guardianship or minor-related filings also require special care.

Marriage license and abstract lookup

Franklin County Probate Court Marriage Records Search

Marriage license records are handled through a separate Probate Court index. The Court maintains marriage records dating back to 1803, while its current public online Marriage License Search covers licenses issued January 3, 1995 to the present.

Search marriage licenses online

Open the official Marriage License Search.
Select the appropriate Search Method.
For a name lookup, use the displayed format: Last Name, First MI.
If the license-issue date is known, enter it in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Review possible matches and verify the names and marriage-related dates.
Check whether the officiant’s signed certificate has been returned when ordering a certified marriage abstract.
For an older record issued before 1995, contact the Probate Court’s Marriage Department rather than assuming it is missing.

How to order a certified marriage abstract

The Probate Court charges $2 per certified marriage abstract. It offers in-person, mail and online ordering through its authorized payment provider.

Confirm the marriage license was issued in Franklin County, Ohio.
Find the marriage record in the official index if the license date is within its online coverage.
Look for the Certif Returned date in the marriage entry.
If no return date appears, contact the officiant because the Court cannot issue the marriage abstract until the officiant’s certification is returned.
Open the Marriage Department instructions.
Choose online order, mail or in-person request and provide both applicants’ names and the approximate marriage year.
Complete the payment and delivery instructions.

Online order charges: the Court lists $2 per certified abstract, postage and a $1 Point & Pay transaction service charge. It also warns that completed orders are nonrefundable, including orders submitted to the wrong county.

Marriage Department contact

373 South High Street, 23rd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: 614-525-3108

Email: marriage@franklincountyohio.gov

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; last marriage license issued at 4:00 PM.

Which county issues the certified record? If the marriage license was issued outside Franklin County, contact the Probate Court of the county that issued the license, even if the ceremony took place in Columbus.

Historical coverage and older records

How Far Back Do Franklin County Probate Records Go?

The Court retains records in various physical and electronic formats. The correct search and request method depends on both the document type and the historical period.

Record category	Published coverage	Where to look
Marriage records	1803 to present	Online marriage index from January 3, 1995; request earlier records from the Marriage Department.
Estates	1898 to present	Probate General Case Search or Certified Records staff for historical files.
Guardianships	1898 to present	General Case Search for eligible public entries; protected records may be restricted.
Name changes	1898 to present	General Case Search and Certified Records for older records.
Electronic filing images	Most filings received August 2, 1998 onward	E-Filing Case History or Certified Records.
Historical birth/death records	1867–1908	Franklin County Probate Court historical records, as applicable.
Later birth/death records	Different custodians for later periods	Ohio History Connection or Ohio Department of Health depending on the date and record.

Vital-record distinction: the Court directs death-record research for December 20, 1908–1944 to the Ohio History Connection. For later birth and death records, use the appropriate Ohio vital-record authority. Do not assume the Probate Court issues modern birth certificates or death certificates for every year.

Older document search procedure

Identify the specific record type and approximate year.
Search the current General Case Index or Marriage License Index where applicable.
Save the case number or marriage reference if found.
Email probate@franklincountyohio.gov with the names, approximate date, document and reference.
Ask whether the record is electronic, microfilm, microfiche or original paper.
Confirm any research, copy or certification charge.
Follow the court’s in-person appointment or mail request instructions.

Official record copies

How to Request Franklin County Probate Court Certified Copies

A searchable index entry is a useful starting point, but an official copy may be necessary for estate administration, financial institutions, government agencies or legal proceedings.

Information to prepare

✓

Case number if available.

✓

Case name, including deceased person’s name or parties.

✓

Document title, such as letters of authority, will, order, inventory or name-change entry.

✓

Approximate filing date or historical year.

✓

Type of copy, such as certified, regular paper copy or CD.

✓

Return address for a mail request.

Request by email

Open the official Certified Records page.
Gather the case number, title, requested document and number of copies.
Email your search or copy request to probate@franklincountyohio.gov.
Ask whether certification is needed and whether the item is available.
Wait for a Deputy Clerk to provide the applicable cost and instructions.
Complete payment and fulfillment using the Court’s instructions.

Request by U.S. Mail

Franklin County Probate Court
ATTN: Certified Desk
373 South High Street, 22nd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6311

Write a clear request identifying the record or case.
State the document names and whether copies must be certified.
Confirm the cost with the Court before sending payment where necessary.
Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Mail the request and payment using the Court’s current acceptable payment method.

Request in person

The Court offers in-person record research by appointment. Contact the court before travelling so the appropriate historical or electronic file can be identified.

Payment timing: the Probate Court is open until 5:00 PM, but its cashier closes at 4:30 PM. The Court asks people with fee-bearing business to arrive no later than 4:00 PM.

Verified costs

Franklin County Probate Court Records and Filing Fees

Record-copy charges are different from the fees charged to open an estate, establish a guardianship, file a name change or obtain a marriage license.

Service	Published amount	Important detail
Certified court document copy	$1 per page	Certified Records service.
Regular paper copy	$0.10 per page	Non-certified copies of available records.
Regular copies on CD	$1 per CD	A CD can hold multiple cases or images.
Certified marriage abstract	$2 per copy	Online orders add postage and provider transaction charges.
Marriage license application	$65	Application requirements and available payment methods apply.
Adult guardianship application	$189	Additional costs may apply.
Minor guardianship application	$114	Other service or hearing costs may apply.
Name-change application	Starts at $128	Publication costs can be separate.
Trust application	Starts at $103	Depends on the specific filing or application.
Will for safekeeping	$25	Published one-time fee.

Verify before payment: the Court’s Court Costs page lists additional estate, guardianship, civil, trust, marriage and miscellaneous case charges. Filing costs are not limited to the examples shown here.

Card payments: the Court lists an additional 3% service charge for credit and debit transactions made in the Probate Court. Online marriage-abstract orders use separate Point & Pay service charges.

If you need to file, not only search

Franklin County Probate Court Forms and Mandatory E-Filing

The court currently requires e-filing for all Probate Court case types, subject to any applicable court order or specific filing instructions. Existing cases must be handled differently from opening a new case.

Find the correct probate form

Open the official Probate Court Forms page.
Use the form-search box on that page.
Enter a form number or words such as estate, inventory, guardianship, name change or trust.
Open the form matching your actual case type.
Review its instructions and current requirements before filing.
Use the Court’s current e-filing workflow to submit the completed document.

2026 form change: the Probate Court has been revising and simplifying forms. Use the current form directly from the Court’s website rather than an old downloaded template.

E-filing an existing probate case

Open the official E-Filing page.
Select the court’s Franklin County e-filing system.
Register or sign in as permitted.
For a pending case, select Existing Cases rather than beginning a new case.
Enter the existing probate case number.
Select the available eFile action and follow the applicable filing-category guidance.
Upload documents in the accepted format and review filing status.
Follow the Court’s instructions for any required deposit, confidentiality redaction or proposed order.

The Court states that documents requiring a new case number or payment of court costs must be filed by 4:30 PM. E-filing technical assistance is available at efiling-probate@franklincountyohio.gov.

Privacy responsibility: the Court expressly places responsibility for removing personal identifiers and confidential information from filed documents on the filer. Follow the Ohio rules and any required confidential-information form.

What is public and what is protected?

Probate Court Records That May Be Confidential

The Court makes many probate filings available for inspection and copying. However, some categories are confidential by law and cannot be treated like ordinary estate dockets.

Adoption records

The Court identifies adoption records as confidential and not available for general public inspection.

Involuntary mental-health matters

The Court identifies mental illness records as confidential by law.

Developmental-disability proceedings

These records are also specifically listed among confidential court records.

Cases involving minors

Certain guardianship, minor settlement, birth-correction and identity-related filings can involve protected information.

Do not infer case nonexistence from an empty search. A confidential record can exist without being exposed in the public online index. Authorized access follows applicable statutes, court rules and court orders.

Contact and courthouse location

Franklin County Probate Court Address, Hours and Phone Numbers

Main Probate Court

Franklin County Probate Court

373 South High Street
22nd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6311

Phone: 614-525-3894

Email: probate@franklincountyohio.gov

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, excluding court holidays.

Cashier closes at 4:30 PM.

Marriage Department

Marriage Records and Licenses

373 South High Street
23rd Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Phone: 614-525-3108

Email: marriage@franklincountyohio.gov

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

Last marriage license issued at 4:00 PM.

Additional department contacts

Department	Phone / contact	Best use
Certified Records	614-525-3899	Records, copies and historical document questions.
Estates	614-525-3894	Estate case information and administration procedures.
Guardianship	614-525-3894	Guardianship case and filing information.
Name Change	614-525-5362	Name-change applications and procedural questions.
Marriage	614-525-3108	Marriage license searches and certified abstracts.
Small Estate Resource Center	614-525-7251	Qualifying simple-estate legal assistance consultations.
Adoption	614-525-3840	Authorized adoption-process questions.
Birth Corrections	614-525-3899	Delayed registration or birth-correction matters.
TTY	614-525-7591	TTY communication.

Verify the official Franklin County Probate Court contact directory.

Search troubleshooting

No Franklin County Probate Case Found? Try These Fixes

Wrong name format

The Court’s index expects surname first, followed by first name and middle initial when known.

Incorrect number or suffix

Use the separate Case Number and Case Suffix fields exactly as directed.

Search during backup

Weekday evening backups and intermittent weekend maintenance can interrupt the public index.

Very recent filing

The Court says the public search index is current through the previous day, not necessarily real time.

Old physical record

Files outside electronic-image coverage may exist on microfilm, microfiche or paper.

Confidential case

Adoption, mental illness, developmental-disability and other protected filings may not be publicly viewable.

Recommended recovery sequence: verify the court division, confirm spelling, retry the correct field and suffix, check the historical coverage date, then contact Certified Records with the most precise information available.

Official court references

Franklin County Probate Court Official Websites and Records Resources

Franklin County Probate Court General Case Search Marriage License Search Certified Records and Historical Coverage E-Filing and Document Viewing Guides Official Probate Forms Court Filing and Copy Costs Marriage Records and License Services Small Estate Resource Center Court Jurisdiction and Local Rules Contact and Court Hours

This is an independent educational guide and not a government office. The Franklin County Probate Court controls official case information, public access, record copying, certification and filing procedures.

Frequently asked questions

Franklin County OH Probate Court: 10 Case Search & Records FAQs

1. How do I search Franklin County Ohio Probate Court cases online?

Use the Franklin County Probate Court General Case Search. Select a search method, enter the case name in Last Name, First MI format or enter the case number and suffix, and open the matching result. You can also narrow searches with a case opening date, case type, attorney or fiduciary.

2. Can I search Franklin County Probate Court cases by a person’s name?

Yes. The official Probate General Case Index provides a Case Name search. Enter the surname first, followed by the given name and middle initial if known. Compare the case number, case type and opening date before assuming a record belongs to a particular individual.

3. How do I find an estate or probate case for someone who died in Franklin County?

Start with the deceased person’s name in the Probate General Case Search. Check any available estate case details, date, case number and fiduciary. An estate may not have been opened, and certain assets can transfer without probate, so a no-result search is not definitive.

4. How far back do Franklin County Probate Court records go?

The Court maintains marriage records from 1803, estate, guardianship and name-change records from 1898, and historical birth and death records from 1867 through 1908. Most electronic filing images are available for documents received on or after August 2, 1998. Older records may require staff-assisted research.

5. Can I view Franklin County Probate Court documents online?

Yes, when the documents are non-confidential and available through the court’s electronic systems. First find the case number using General Case Search, then follow the Court’s E-Filing Case History instructions. Older, restricted or unscanned records may require a copy request.

6. How much does a Franklin County Probate Court certified copy cost?

The Probate Court lists certified court document copies at $1 per page. Regular paper copies cost $0.10 per page and regular copies on CD cost $1 per CD. A certified marriage abstract costs $2 per copy. Extra service, postage or payment-processing charges may apply.

7. How do I search Franklin County Ohio marriage records?

Use the dedicated Marriage License Search for licenses issued January 3, 1995 onward. Enter the requested name or license-issue date. Marriage records from 1803 through 1994 are available through the Probate Court Marriage Department rather than the current online index.

8. Why is my Franklin County probate case missing from the search?

The case may have been filed recently, involve different name spelling or case suffix information, predate electronic coverage, or be confidential. The index is current through the previous day and may be unavailable during backups. Contact the Probate Court if a properly narrowed search continues to fail.

9. Are adoption and mental-health probate records public in Franklin County?

The Court specifically identifies adoption, mental illness and developmental-disability records as confidential by law and not open to ordinary public inspection. Access to protected information follows applicable legal requirements and court orders.

10. Where is Franklin County Probate Court located and what are its hours?

The main Probate Court is at 373 South High Street, 22nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215, phone 614-525-3894. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays. The cashier closes at 4:30 PM. Marriage services are on the 23rd Floor and generally close at 4:30 PM.