Ohio Small Claims

In Ohio, small claims is a civil action for the recovery of taxes and money of up to $6,000. The Small Claims Division of Municipal and County Courts handles small claims cases.

What Is a Small Claims Court in Ohio?

In Ohio, a small claims court is any court that hears a civil action for the recovery of taxes and money not exceeding $6,000. The rules governing small claims in Ohio are outlined inChapter 1925 of the Ohio Revised Code. The Small Claims Division of Municipal and County Courts handles small claims cases.

The small claims division is there to settle simple civil disputes involving only monetary damages. The court cannot order the return of property or issue injunctions. Claims such as libel, slander, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, or replevin are not heard in the small claims division.

Small Claims Court Limits in Ohio

The small claims monetary cap in Ohio is $6,000. This means that only cases seeking monetary reward of $6,000 or less can be heard in small claims court.

In Ohio, a counterclaim or cross-claim of $6,000 or lessdoes not affect the jurisdiction of a small claims division. However, if a counterclaim or cross-claim exceeds $6,000, the case will be transferred to the court's regular docket.

You can file a small claims case in the proper municipal or county court where the defendant lives, does business, or where the transaction occurred.

How to File a Small Claims Case in Ohio

To commence a small claims action, you must take the following steps:

1) Start the case (complaint). In Ohio, a small claims action begins when the plaintiff states the amount and nature of the claim to the court.

2) Filing fees. Filing fees are set locally and vary by court. For example, Hamilton County publishes a small-claims filing cost schedule.

3) Service of process. After filing, notice of the filing must be served on the defendant bycertified mail or by sheriff/process server. The court will provide detailed instructions on the service process and proof-of-service forms.

4) Counterclaims and transfers. In a small claims case, the defendant has a right to file counterclaims of up to $6,000. If a counterclaim exceeds this amount, the case can be transferred to the regular civil docket.

5) Lawyers & discovery. In Ohio, lawyers may represent their clients in small claims cases. However, most individuals prefer to represent themselves, as the court hearing is usually informal.

Small Claims Court in Major Ohio Cities (examples)

• Columbus, Franklin County Municipal Court (Small Claims). On the court website, you can find forms, how-to pages, and a comprehensive Small Claims portal. The courthouse is located at 375 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215.
• Cleveland, Cleveland Municipal Court (Civil/Small Claims). The main courthouse contact is at 1200 Ontario St., Cleveland, OH 44113. The city's website provides links to dockets and divisions.
• Cincinnati, Hamilton County Municipal Court (Small Claims). The clerk's resources include guides on filing a claim and information on current fees. The courthouse is situated at 1000 Main St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

What to Expect at a Small Claims Hearing in Ohio

In Ohio, small claims hearings are informal trials led by a magistrate. The plaintiff goes first to present their case, followed by the defendant. Both parties need to present well-organized, labeled evidence, such as contracts, receipts, photos, and printouts of texts or emails. If the defendant was served but does not appear, the court might enter a default judgment.

Once the magistrate files a written decision, the parties usually have 14 days to submit any written objections. After the judge issues the final judgment, a party has the right to appeal to the court of appeals within the time limits set by law.

How to Search for Small Claims Records in Ohio

Information about small-claims cases is generally public unless it has been sealed by law or a court order. You can expect to find details such as case numbers, the names of the parties involved, hearing dates, and judgments.

Ohio does not have a single statewide portal for small-claims cases. Instead, you should check the websites of county or municipal courts:

1. Franklin County Municipal Court – Case Records Search (official). You can search using a name or case number to view hearings, status updates, and balances.
2. Cleveland/Cuyahoga online dockets (official). The Cleveland Municipal Court and the Cuyahoga County Clerk offer public access to case lookups for civil matters.
3. Clerk of Court (official file). If you need certified copies or items that are not available online. You can request them from the clerk of the municipal or county court where the case was originally filed. The clerk's websites will have information on copy policies and their hours.