Brown County Probate Court Records Lookup

Brown County probate court records are managed by the combined Probate and Juvenile Court in Georgetown, Ohio. Judge Val Lewis II presides over the court, which handles wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes, and mental health cases. You can search Brown County probate court records online through the CaseLook system on the Clerk of Courts website. Records here go back to 1818 for marriages, wills, estates, and guardianships.

Where to Find Brown County Probate Court Records

The Brown County Probate/Juvenile Court is at 510 East State St., Suite 1, Georgetown, Ohio 45121. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Call the probate division at (937) 378-6549 or the juvenile division at (937) 378-6726. The fax number is (937) 378-4729.

Judge Val Lewis II heads the court. Magistrates W. Kenneth Zuk and Massimino Ionna assist. Under ORC Section 2101.24, the Brown County Probate Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes, birth record corrections, mental health matters, civil cases, and trusts. Each case type produces files that become part of Brown County probate court records.

The court has a dress code for hearings. No shorts, sleeveless tops, flip flops, or revealing clothing. If you are going to the courthouse for a hearing related to Brown County probate court records, dress accordingly.

Payment at the court is by cash, money order, or credit card. There is a $3.95 fee for credit card payments. Personal checks are not accepted. Keep this in mind when you need copies of Brown County probate court records.

Search Brown County Probate Court Records Online

The Brown County CaseLook system gives you online access to probate court records. The system runs through the Clerk of Courts website. You can search by party name, case number, or case type. The standard disclaimer applies. Expect a delay of at least 24 hours between when a document gets filed and when it shows up in the search results.

The Brown County Clerk of Courts website hosts the CaseLook tool for searching Brown County probate court records online.

For in-person searches, go to the courthouse during business hours at 510 East State St. in Georgetown. The clerk can pull records by name or case number. You can request plain or certified copies. If you need something exact for legal use, get the certified copy. It costs more but is required for court filings and property transfers.

Brown County probate court records cover a wide range of dates. Marriage records go back to 1818. Wills, estates, guardianships, trusts, and civil records also start in 1818. Birth and death records from 1867 to 1908 are at the probate court. This is a solid collection that covers over 200 years of county records.

Brown County Marriage Licenses and Probate Court Records

Marriage licenses are one of the most common types of Brown County probate court records. The fee is $50.00 for a marriage license. Payment by cash, money order, or credit card ($3.95 fee). Both parties must be present. Both must be at least 18 years old. One party has to be a Brown County resident. The marriage must take place in Ohio.

You need to bring a valid driver's license and either a Social Security card or birth certificate. If you were previously married, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. Unexecuted marriage licenses stay valid for 60 days.

The Brown County Clerk of Courts maintains Common Pleas Court, Municipal Court, and Title Division records. The Brown County Common Pleas Court has general, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile divisions. These offices work together to maintain the full set of Brown County court records.

The Brown County Common Pleas Court oversees the probate division where Brown County probate court records are maintained.

Brown County Probate Court Schedule and Filing Rules

The court closes for all holidays set by the Ohio Supreme Court. These include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and Christmas Day. If a holiday falls on Saturday, the court closes the Friday before. If it falls on Sunday, Monday is the day off.

Filing deadlines matter for Brown County probate court records. If the last day to file falls on a legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next regular business day. The same goes if the clerk's office closes early or stays closed all day. This rule protects filers from missing deadlines due to holiday closures.

The Brown County Probate Court fees and forms page has the current fee schedule and downloadable forms for various probate matters. Check this page before you go to the courthouse so you know what to bring and how much to pay.

Ohio Laws on Brown County Probate Court Records

ORC Section 2101.24 lays out what the Brown County Probate Court can handle. Wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes, trusts, and mental health cases all fall under this statute. Brown County follows the same rules as the rest of Ohio.

The Ohio Public Records Act, R.C. 149.43, controls access to Brown County probate court records. Most are open to the public. You do not need to give your name or reason. Adoption records are sealed. Mental health records are restricted. But estate files, wills, marriage records, and guardianship cases are all public records that anyone can view or copy.

Ohio offers different paths for estate administration that create different types of Brown County probate court records. Full administration handles larger estates with more assets. Release from administration works for smaller estates. Summary release is the quickest path for estates with very few assets. Each one creates its own set of filings in the probate court file.

Brown County Probate Court Records Resources

Use these resources to find Brown County probate court records online or plan a visit to the courthouse.

• Brown County CaseLook for online record searches
• Brown County Clerk of Courts for court records and services
• Brown County Common Pleas Court for court info
• Brown County Probate Fees and Forms for current fees and downloadable forms
• Ohio State Bar Association for finding a probate attorney
• Ohio Genealogical Society for historical record research

The Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics handles birth and death records from 1908 onward. For earlier records in Brown County, the probate court holds files from 1867 to 1908. FamilySearch and Ancestry also have Brown County records in their Ohio wills and probate collections.

Probate Court Records in Nearby Counties

Need probate court records from areas near Brown County? These neighboring counties have their own probate courts: