Legal Division Information and Forms

The Common Pleas Court Clerk's Legal division offices are located on the first floor of the Lorain County Justice Center in Elyria, Ohio.

Civil Division Office

The Clerk's civil division office files cases between parties, foreclosures, and certificates of judgment. They handle civil case filings, appellate case filings, and notary public applications. Appeals cases to the Ninth District Court of Appeals are also handled in this office.

Criminal Division Office

The Clerk's criminal division office handles all felony criminal cases. This includes cases that are bound over from municipal courts and original indictments from the grand jury. Dispositions of criminal cases are reported to B.C.I and I., the State of Ohio's central information storage center. Bonds may be posted in the criminal office.

Domestic Relations Division

The Clerk's domestic relations division handles all documents associated with divorces, no-fault divorces, annulments and civil protection (domestic violence) cases.

Finance Division

The Clerk's finance division tracks financial information for cases in these divisions as well as handling payments made for court costs, fines, and restitution. In addition, the finance division sets up payment plans and processes credit card payments over the phone. This is where you can see the cashier.

Records Division

The Clerk's records division has records and indexes for cases dating back to 1824. Terminals for public access to all computerized index and docket sheets are located in this area.

Juvenile Cases

Juvenile cases are handled by Domestic Relations Court:

225 Court Street
Room 110
Elyria, OH 44035

Phone: 440-329-5187
Fax: 440-329-5271

Contact Us

  1. Civil Division

    Physical Address
    225 Court Street
    Room 105
    Elyria, OH 44035

    Phone: 440-329-5536
    Fax: 440-328-2416

  1. Criminal Division

    Physical Address
    225 Court Street
    Room 106
    Elyria, OH 44035

    Phone: 440-329-5538
    Fax: 440-329-5404

  1. Domestic Relations Division

    Physical Address
    225 Court Street
    Room 108
    Elyria, OH 44035

    Phone: 440-329-5277
    Fax: 440-329-5506

  1. Finance Division

    Physical Address
    225 Court Street
    Room 107
    Elyria, OH 44035

    Phone: 440-329-5625
    Fax: 440-329-5404

  1. Records Division

    Physical Address
    225 Court Street
    Room 109
    Elyria, OH 44035

    Phone: 440-329-5511
    Fax: 440-329-5400

Further Domestic Relations Division Forms

Civil & Court of Appeals Division Forms

  1. Affidavit of Poverty with Financial Disclosure (PDF)
  2. Application for Limited Driving Privileges (PDF)
  3. Case Designation Sheet (PDF)
  4. Civil Instructions for Service (PDF)
  5. Civil Subpoena (PDF)
  6. Clerk Praecipe for Writ (PDF)
  7. Discovery Paper Certification (PDF)
  8. Fax Filing Cover Page (PDF)
  9. Garnishment of Personal Earnings of Judgment Debtor (PDF)
  10. Garnishment of Property Other Than Personal Earnings (PDF)
  11. Lorain County Court of Appeals Fax Filing Cover Page (PDF)
  12. Motion to Restrict Access to Civil or Criminal Case Document Packet (PDF)
  13. Notice of Change of Address (PDF)
  14. Personal Identifier Form (PDF)
  15. Personal Identifier Form for Court of Appeals (PDF)
  16. Praecipe for Certificate of Judgment (PDF)

Further Civil & Court of Appeals Division Forms

Criminal Division Forms

  1. Application to Expunge Record of Conviction (PDF)
  2. Application to Expunge Record of Conviction as Human Trafficking Victim (PDF)
  3. Application to Expunge Record of Improper Handling of Firearm in Motor Vehicle (PDF)
  4. Application to Seal Record of Conviction (PDF)
  5. Application to Seal Record of Non-conviction (PDF)
  6. Criminal Subpoena (PDF)
  7. Motion to Restrict Access to Civil or Criminal Case Document Packet (PDF)
  8. Notice of Change of Address (PDF)
  9. Personal Identifier Form (PDF)