Union County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Union County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information related to public records through UnionOHRecords.us, which aggregates data drawn from official sources across Union County, Ohio. Records that may be located through official channels include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax assessments, and law enforcement logs, subject to applicable exemptions under state law. The following categories represent the principal types of records maintained by county offices:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, domestic relations)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Tax and assessment records
Business licenses and permits
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Arrest logs and incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by Union County government.

Online Access:

The Union County, Ohio official website provides access to several online portals, including property search and tax assessment tools, GIS/mapping search, and court records search with eFiling capabilities. The Public Records Search and eFiling portal allows members of the public to search court case indexes without registration. The Union County Recorder's official records search provides images and indexes online from 1995 to the present, with deed indexes for grantor and grantee records extending back to 1875. No account registration is required to conduct basic searches through these portals.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Union County Clerk of Courts, located at 215 W. Fifth Street, Marysville, Ohio 43040. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Requestors should identify the specific record sought and present the request to the clerk on duty. Public access terminals are available on-site for self-service searches.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests may be submitted by mail to the Union County Clerk of Courts at 215 W. Fifth Street, Marysville, Ohio 43040. Requests should include the full name of the party involved, the case number or document type, and the approximate date of the record. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, public offices are required to respond to written requests within a reasonable period of time.

Phone/Email:

Clerk of Courts main phone: (937) 645-3006
Certified copies and legal inquiries: ClerkofCourtsLegal@unioncountyohio.gov

What Are Public Records in Union County?

Public records in Union County are defined under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 as any document, device, or item, regardless of physical form or characteristic, created or received by or coming under the jurisdiction of any public office, that serves to document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the office. The following record types are maintained by designated county offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil, criminal, probate, domestic court records	Clerk of Courts
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	County Recorder
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Ohio Department of Health / Probate Court
Tax and assessment records	County Auditor
Business licenses and permits	County Auditor / Municipal offices
Voting and election records	Board of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Commissioners
Budget and financial documents	County Auditor
Arrest logs and incident reports	Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	County Engineer / Planning Commission

The Union County Clerk of Courts serves as the official record keeper for the Union County Court of Common Pleas and the Third District Court of Appeals. The public records search index includes Domestic, Civil, Certificate of Judgment, Court of Appeals, and Felony Criminal cases.

Is Union County an Open Records County?

Union County operates in full compliance with Ohio's open records law. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, all public records maintained by Ohio public offices are presumed open and available for inspection and copying by any person at any time during regular business hours. The statute provides that "upon request, a public office or person responsible for public records shall make copies available at cost, within a reasonable period of time."

Ohio's Public Records Act functions as the state's equivalent of a sunshine law, establishing a strong presumption of openness. The Ohio Attorney General's Office publishes guidance on public records compliance, and public offices are required to adopt and post a public records policy. Union County offices adhere to these requirements, and the county's official web presence at unioncountyohio.gov reflects current access tools and policies. Any denial of a public records request must cite a specific statutory exemption.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Union County?

The fee structure for public records in Union County is governed by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, which limits charges to the actual cost of making copies. Standard fees currently applicable include:

Fee Type	Amount
Black-and-white copies (8.5" x 11")	$0.05 per page (standard statutory rate)
Certified copies of court documents	Varies by document type; set by court schedule
Electronic records (where applicable)	Actual cost of duplication
Inspection of records	No charge

Inspection of public records is provided at no cost during regular business hours.
Fees for certified copies of court records are established by the Clerk of Courts and may vary by document type.
The Recorder's Office may charge per-page fees for printed copies of recorded documents.
Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order; some offices accept credit or debit cards.
Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Ohio law, though individual offices may exercise discretion in specific circumstances.

Members of the public are advised to confirm current fee schedules directly with the relevant office prior to submitting a request, as fees may be updated periodically by administrative action.

Does Union County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Union County government offices during regular business hours, as required by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43. Members of the public are not charged to view records in person. The following resources provide free access to records without requiring copies:

The court records search portal allows free online searching of case indexes, including Domestic, Civil, Certificate of Judgment, Court of Appeals, and Felony Criminal cases.
The official records search tool maintained by the Union County Recorder provides free online access to deed images and indexes from 1995 to the present, as well as grantor/grantee deed indexes from 1875 to 1994.
The Union County Auditor's property search and tax assessment database is accessible at no charge through the county's online portal.
GIS and mapping data are available free of charge through the county's online GIS/Mapping Search tool.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records carries no fee, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the applicable per-page or per-document charges described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Union County?

Any person may request public records in Union County, Ohio. Under Ohio's Public Records Act, there is no residency requirement, and requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request. This applies equally to residents and non-residents of Ohio.

Specific provisions include:

Identification: Not required for standard public records requests.
Purpose: Requestors are not obligated to explain why they are seeking records.
Residency: Non-residents of Union County and Ohio retain full rights to request public records.
Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as sealed court files, juvenile records, and adoption records, are subject to access restrictions regardless of who is requesting them.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to access certain records that are otherwise restricted, such as personal criminal history, subject to applicable procedures.

As stated in the Ohio Attorney General's guidance, "The Public Records Act does not require a requester to identify himself or herself or to provide any reason for the request."

What Records Are Confidential in Union County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 and related statutes enumerate specific categories of records that are exempt from public access. The following records are confidential under current Ohio law:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order pursuant to Ohio expungement and sealing statutes.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are restricted under Ohio Revised Code § 2151.18.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records compiled in connection with a pending criminal investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed pursuant to Ohio adoption statutes.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the county Job and Family Services office.
Personnel records: Certain employee records are exempt, with exceptions for name, position, compensation, and related information.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt where disclosure would cause competitive harm.
Security plans and infrastructure details: Records the release of which would jeopardize public safety or security infrastructure.

Where a public office denies a records request, it is required to identify the specific statutory exemption relied upon. Ohio courts apply a balancing test in certain circumstances to determine whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest in confidentiality.

Union County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Union County Recorder's Office
233 W. Sixth Street
Marysville, Ohio 43040
(937) 645-3003
Union County Recorder

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Union County Clerk of Courts
215 W. Fifth Street
Marysville, Ohio 43040
(937) 645-3006
Union County Clerk of Courts