Lake County, Ohio Courts
Lake County has many courts, and some extinct ones, such as Chancery Court and Justice of the Peace Courts. There is a good description and 1940's snapshot of the records of many of them in the Inventory of the County Archives of Ohio No. 43 A nice brochure by the Supreme Court of Ohio, "The Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Judicial System," shows the heirarchy of the Ohio court system, and what each court covers. (off-site)
Common Pleas Court
The Clerk of Courts is in charge of the Common Pleas Court. In addition, falling under Common Pleas, but operating as their own entities is Probate Court, Domestic Court, Juvenile Court, and Chancery Court (discontinued). Additionally, the Clerk of Courts is in charge of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Title Agency for Lake County. The Clerk of Courts has digitized many of the records in that department. You can find them at https://recordroom.cottsystems.com/lakeoh/guest/search/oib. The top search engine is for indexes they hold. The lower searcher is for the actual indexed records and many unindexed records.
Chancery Court
The Chancery Court functioned in Lake County from 1840-1856. It was a court of equity, trying to be fair to all parties within the law. It decided cases such as divorce, petition to partition, debt recovery, property disagreements, etc. This is a treasure trove for genealogical data, cases often containing vital records, land descriptions, and family relationships. These records are available at the Clerk of Courts' site and also on FamilySearch.
Supreme Court Chancery Records
The Supreme Court Chancery Record volume A is from 1841-1851. It was also a court of equity, trying the same type of cases as the Common Pleas Chancery Court, These records are available at the Clerk of Courts' site..
Ohio District Court Chancery Records
The Ohio District Court Chancery Record volume A is from 1852-1854. It was also a court of equity, trying the same type of cases as the Common Pleas Chancery Court, These records are available at the Clerk of Courts' site..
Indexes of Historical Records at the Clerk of Courts' Site
- Judgement Liens 1964-1969
- Naturalization Records 1800's to 1974
- General Index in 10 volumes, 1840-1990+
- Pending Suits, Living Judgements, Executions, 7 volumes 1885-1951, appears to be for Common Pleas.
- Supreme Court (of Lake County Common Pleas), 1 volume 1840-1877
Unindexed Historical Records at the Clerk of Courts' Site (* indexed on this site)
Naturalization records were not included here, as they are listed under Naturalizations.
- Appearance and Execution Docket, Volumes A-U and 1-163, 1853-1976
- Appearance and Execution Docket, Year, Volume 1972-1979
- Applicants for Hearing, Did Not Appear, 1 volume, 1919-1944 (lists of names on letters)
- Bonds (for County officers), Volume A, 1840-1904; Volume 1840, 1840-1861
- * Chancery, Volumes A-D, 1840-1856
- Circuit Court Appearance Docket, 1 volume, 1885-1912
- Circuit Court Journal, 2 volumes, 1885-1899 and 1900-1912
- Circuit Court Record, 3 volumes, 1886-1912 (much like Chancery Court records)
- Civil Cases, annual volumes, 1981-1990 (bottom of cases gives journal vol and pg) computerized thereafter
- Common Pleas Record Volumes A-Z and 1-90, 1840-1945
- Common Pleas Journal Volumes A-Z and 27-57, 1840-1946 (includes probate until 1852 or so)
- Coroner's Inquest 1 volume, 10 pages 1914-1940 (indexed elsewhere)
- Court of Appeals Appearance Docket, Volumes 1-9, 1911-1983
- Court of Appeals Journal, 2 volumes, 1913-1965
- Court of Appeals Record, 1 volume, 1913-1927
- Criminal Appearance Docket Book, volumes 1-20, 1894-1971 (seems to include muni ccourts)
- Criminal Appearance Docket Book by year, 1972-1978
- Criminal Cases by Year 1979-1990, ( includes muni courts)
- Criminal Record, volumes A-P and F in 2 parts at the end, 1840-1859 (includes Ninth District Court)
- Criminal Witness Docket, volumes 3, 4, and 5, 1976-1994
- District Court Chancery Record, vol. A, 1852-1853
- District Court Journal, vol. A, 1852-1884
- District Court Record, volumes 1-3, 1852-1888. Vol. A is actually volume B, starts 1877. Vol. C is actually vol. A, starting 1852. Volume B is actually vol. C, starting 1884.
- Domestic Relations Appearance and Execution by Year, 1972-1976
- Domestic Relations Cases (by Year) 1976-1990
- Execution Docket, Volumes A-P, 1840-1927
- Execution Docket Transcripts for Liens, 1927-1936+
- Foreign Execution Docket, Volume 2, 1874-1906, 2A, a reimage of Vol. 2; and 3, 1900-1924
- * Jail Registry, Volume 1869, 1869-1908, (indexed elsewhere)
- Judgement Lien Docket Volumes 1-59, 1935-1991
- * Justice Criminal Record, 1 volume, 1889-1894
- * Justice of the Peace Criminal Docket, 1 volume, 1875-1894 Willoughby
- Personal Property, Volume 1 1840-1843 Real estate taxes and forfeited land, and Volume 2, probably 1840-1843 Personal property taxes and starting p. 59, building taxes, p. 63 starts occupational taxes, p. 64 miscellaneous notes, p. 65 property sales
- Sheriff Returns, Volume 1, 1840-1885 mostly sheriff sales and fees for summons. Volume 1855 is actually volume A 1855-1883
- Supreme Court Chancery Record Volume 1841 (actually A) 1841-1851
- Supreme Court Journal, Volume 1840, 1841-1851
- Supreme Court Judgement Docket, Volume 1841, 1841-1882
- Supreme Court Record, Volume A, 1841-1845 Index starts p. 570; Volume B, 1846-1851
- Plaintiffs and Defendants, Jurors, Attorneys, etc., abstracted by Marianne Wiley.
Probate Court
The Probate Court has a wealth of genealogical and historical information. Although births, deaths and marriages would be included here, they have been included in "Vital Records." Probate Court was responsible for licensing many types of practicioners, and dealt with several aspects of family life such as guardianships, overseeing institutions, welfare, etc. A few of these records are sampled here.
- Journal of Worthy Blind
A transcription of this listing from 1905-1906 by Becky Falin.
- Guardianship Record Volumes
A listing of the Guardianship Record volumes and years they cover submitted by Becky Falin.
- Probate Estate Record Volumes
This listing contributed by Becky Falin, shows the volumes and years covered, for docket books and will books from 1840-1912
- Probate Record, Volume A, 1840-1842
An index to Volume A, including estates, guardianships, removals, etc. Indexed by Becky Falin.
- Probate Record, Volume B, 1842-1846
An index to Volume B, including estates, guardianships, removals, etc. Indexed by Becky Falin.
- Will Abstracts for Warren A. Munn and Alexander Barte
Two examples of abstracts from Wills Vol. A, 1852-53. Transcribed from "LakeLines" by Cathi Salmi
- Medical and Nursing Licenses
Shows volumes of physician licenses and nursing register. Submitted by Becky Falin.
- County Affidavits for Patents
Transcription of the volume of Patent Affidavits for 1868-1869 by Becky Falin.
- Lake County Estates in Cuyahoga Co. 1811-1852
An abstract by Cynthia Turk of an abstract by ECCGS/OGS of Wills, Estates and Guardianships in Common Pleas Court, Cuyahoga County. Willoughby was still in Cuyahoga County until 1840.
- Cuyahoga County Probate Search
Chagrin or Willoughby Township was part of Cuyahoga County from 1811 to 1840. Also folks who moved to Cuyahoga County before death would be probated there. (off-site)
- Geauga County Estates
This Geauga County FTP site is an index to Geauga estates and miscellaneous records available now on microfilm at the Geauga Co. Library in Chardon. This covers what is now Lake County (except Willoughby area) prior to 1840. (off-site)
- Geauga County Probate and Guardianships 1806-1821
An abstract by Frances Slack, submitted by Cynthia Turk includes Wills, Estates and Guardianships in Common Pleas Court, Geauga County Journal Books A, D, and F.
- Lake County Probate Records Images now on FamilySearch
Browse Administration bonds and letters vol. B-F, 1857-1903; Administration dockets Vol. A-B, 1-3 1840-1901; Executors bonds Vol. B-F, 1861-1903; Executors bonds vol. 23, 1855-1956; Guardian bonds vol. B-E, 1854-1909; Guardians dockets vol. A, 1-3 1840-1940; Journals Vol. A-H, 1852-1879; Probate records Vol. A-E, 1-10, 1840-1902; Real estate records Vol. !-I, 1840-1890; Settlements Vol. A-M, 1843-1903; Wills Vol. A-K, 1853-1901. Estate Packets 1840-1935, with thanks for 4,300 volunteer hours and the LDS imagers! (off-site, use the catalog)
- Lake County Probate Records
The Probate site now has case dockets for civil, Complaint to contest will, conservatorship, correction of birth, estates, guardianships, minor settlements, marriage licenses, medicaid payback trust, and trusteeships from about 1991. Do the Captcha puzzle to get there. (off-site)
Justice of the Peace Courts
These courts were held locally, usually in each of the townships. They covered a wide variety of cases. The Clerk of Courts has placed two volumes on their site, one for Willoughby called Justice of the Peace Criminal Docket, and one for Painesville called Justice Criminal Record.
- Index to the Justice Criminal Record, 1889-1894
Court cases by E. Huntington, Justice of the Peace for Painesville. Index has date, page, offender, complainant, and partial offense. Indexed by Margaret Frank. Images available.
- Index to the Justice Criminal Record, 1875-1894
Court cases by W. A. Lilly and Charles J. Komar, Justices of the Peace for Willoughby. Index has date, page, offender, complainant, and partial offense. Indexed by Margaret Frank. Images available.
Municipal Courts
These courts, in Mentor, Painesville, and Willoughby cover the whole of Lake County. They hear cases involving traffic, other misdemeanors, evictions, and small claims up to $15,000. Their addresses and websites are here. (off-site)
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