Search Canton Probate Court Records

Canton probate court records are held by the Stark County Probate Court in the Stark County Office Building at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 501, Canton, Ohio 44702. As the county seat of Stark County, Canton is home to the probate courthouse that handles estates, wills, guardianships, marriage licenses, and more. You can search Canton probate court records online through the court's case search system, which has complete indices for most case types. The court also has microfilmed records going back to the early 1800s, with will records from 1811 and marriage records from 1809 available at the Stark County District Library.

Stark County Probate Court Serves Canton

The Stark County Probate Court manages all Canton probate court records. Judge Curt Werren presides over the court. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2101.24, the court handles estates, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes, mental health matters, and trusts. The court also oversees wrongful death cases, minor settlements, and will contests.

The court is at 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 501, Canton, Ohio 44702. Main phone is (330) 451-7755. The Records Center can be reached at (330) 451-7753. Fax is (330) 451-7837. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Marriage License Department stays open until 4:15 PM. Walk in during those hours and staff can help you find specific Canton probate court records.

The Stark County Probate Court website has forms, court rules, and contact details for all departments.

The Stark County Probate Court site gives Canton residents access to forms, filing procedures, and contact info for the court and Records Center.

Search Canton Probate Court Records Online

The Stark County Probate Court case search has complete indices for most Canton probate court records. You can search by case number. The system covers estate cases, guardianship records, name changes, and trust filings. Document images are available for many cases, though some may be temporarily unviewable. You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to see the document images.

One important note: the marriage index only goes back to April 23, 1986, in the online system. For marriage records before that date, you need to use the microfilm at the Stark County District Library or contact the court directly. All other case types have more complete online coverage.

The case search tool lets you look up Canton probate court records by number and view document images for many filings.

The Stark County Courts probate page has additional info on marriage and divorce records. Marriage records are kept by the probate court and include applications, licenses, and certifications. Certified copies cost $2 for licenses and $1 for certificates. You can request them by mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order.

The Stark County Courts site provides details on fees and procedures for getting copies of Canton probate court records including marriage licenses and divorce records.

The Stark County CJIS (Criminal Justice Information System) merges data from all courts of record in the county. But it does not include probate records. For Canton probate court records, you must use the probate court's own search system.

Historical Canton Probate Court Records

The Stark County District Library at 715 Market Ave., North, Canton, OH 44702, has microfilm of older Canton probate court records. Phone is (330) 452-0665. Their holdings include an Index to Guardian Dockets from 1816 to 1900, Marriage Index from 1809 to 1972, Marriage Records from 1809 to 1916, Naturalization Records from 1861 to 1903, Will Index from 1811 to 1942, and Will Records from 1811 to the 1980s. Reference staff can help you use the microfilm readers and navigate the indexes.

The court itself retains estate case files since 1810 and other probate records not on microfilm. For anything not available online or at the library, contact the Records Center at (330) 451-7753. The Canton Historical Society and the Stark County Historical Society both have local history materials that can provide context for family research connected to Canton probate court records.

Laws Governing Canton Probate Court Records

Most Canton probate court records are public under the Ohio Public Records Act, R.C. 149.43. You can ask for them without giving a reason. Adoption records are sealed. Mental health records are restricted. Everything else is available. Certified copies are needed for legal filings. Plain copies are fine for personal use.

Copy fees at the Stark County Probate Court are reasonable. Divorce decree copies from the Clerk of Courts run $0.10 per page or $1 for certified. Marriage license certified copies are $2 each. Marriage certificate certified copies are $1 each. The Ohio State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. The Ohio Genealogical Society can help with genealogical research. The Ohio Department of Health handles birth and death records from 1908 to the present.

Probate Court Records in Nearby Cities

These nearby cities have their own probate court records pages: