Access Franklin County Probate Court Records
Franklin County probate court records are managed at the courthouse in Columbus, Ohio. As the most populous county in the state, Franklin County Probate Court handles a high volume of estate filings, wills, guardianships, marriage licenses, adoptions, name changes, and trust cases every year. Judge Jeffrey D. Mackey presides over all probate matters. The court has dedicated departments for estates, guardianships, marriages, adoptions, and name changes. You can search Franklin County probate court records through multiple online portals or visit the 22nd floor of 373 South High Street during business hours.
Franklin County Probate Court Overview
Where to Find Franklin County Probate Court Records
The Franklin County Probate Court is at 373 South High Street, 22nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215-6311. Call (614) 525-3894 for general questions. You can also email probate@franklincountyohio.gov. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The marriage department on the 23rd floor closes at 4:30 PM, and the last marriage license is issued at 4:00 PM.
Franklin County Probate Court has separate phone lines for each department. Estates: (614) 525-3894. Adoption: (614) 525-3840. Guardianship: (614) 525-3841. Marriage: (614) 525-3108. Name Change: (614) 525-5362. Mental Commitments: (614) 525-3890. Copy Requests: (614) 525-3899. Call the right number to get help faster.
The Franklin County Probate Court website is the main hub for all court services, forms, and online access tools.
The Franklin County Probate Court site has forms, fee schedules, and links to online search tools for all case types.
Search Franklin County Probate Court Records Online
Franklin County has strong online access to probate court records. The Case Information Online portal lets you search by case number, party name, decedent name, filing date, case type, case status, and attorney name. You can filter by estate, guardianship, trust, adoption, and other case types. Basic docket info is free. Full documents may need registration.
The Case Information Online tool gives you access to detailed case data for Franklin County probate court records.
The court also has a General Case Index and a Marriage License Index on its website. The marriage index lets you search by applicant names and certification return date. One thing to know: the court cannot issue a marriage abstract until the officiant signs the certification and returns it. So if you just got married, there may be a wait before the record is ready.
E-filing is available for many document types. The court has an EZ Forms search tool to help you find the right forms. You can file adoption forms, estate forms (both large and small), guardianship forms, marriage forms, name change forms, trust forms, and more through the online system.
Note: Marriage abstracts cannot be issued until the signed certification is returned to the court by the officiant.
Franklin County Probate Court Fees
Franklin County Probate Court fees are specific to each case type. Marriage licenses cost $65.00. Name change applications are $128.00. Certified marriage abstracts are $2.00 each. Court costs for probate only are $75.00. Probate with real estate is $82.00. Probate with real estate and tax is $83.00. If your filing is over 4 pages, there is an extra $1.00 per page charge.
Credit card payments carry a 3% service charge with a minimum of $1.00. There is also a $1.00 Point and Pay fee per transaction. Minor errors on a marriage application cost $5.00 to fix. Amending an application for additional marriages costs $35.00. If you are doing a name change, order several certified copies at once. You will need them for the BMV, Social Security, banks, and other agencies.
Ohio Laws on Franklin County Probate Court Records
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2101.24, the Franklin County Probate Court has authority over estates, guardianships, trusts, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes, birth record corrections, mental health commitments, unclaimed funds, wrongful death trusts, and disinterment proceedings. Each case creates files that become part of Franklin County probate court records.
The Ohio Public Records Act under R.C. 149.43 makes most of these records public. You can access estate files, wills, guardianship cases, marriage licenses, and trust records without giving your name or reason. Adoption records are sealed. Mental health records are restricted. The court removes medical info from copies.
Historical Franklin County Probate Court Records
Franklin County has probate court records from 1803 when the county was formed. Will books are on microfilm. Guardianship bonds go back to 1849. Estate files cover 1803 to 1900 at minimum. FamilySearch has digitized Franklin County probate records from 1803 to 1865, with indexes going to 1932. Ancestry also has Ohio wills and probate records from 1786 to 1998.
The USGenWeb project has Franklin County adoption records from 1866 to 1901. The Ohio Genealogical Society and Ohio Department of Health can also help with genealogy and vital records research. The Ohio State Bar Association can connect you with a probate attorney in the Columbus area.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County probate court records cover all cities and townships in the county. The following major cities have their own pages:
Residents of Columbus and Dublin who need probate court records go through the Franklin County Probate Court since all probate matters are handled at the county level.
Probate Court Records in Nearby Counties
If you need probate court records from areas near Franklin County, these neighboring counties have their own probate courts: