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COMMON PLEAS


HOW TO FILE A NEW CIVIL COMPLAINT

$653.00 Filing Fee for Civil Foreclosures

$253.00 Filing Fee for all other Civil Complaints or an Affidavit of Indigency

Must caption complaint with the kind of civil action being taken:

  • Administrative Appeal

  • Foreclosure

    ***Note to Defendants in Foreclosure and Other Legal Actions: Please see attached "Important Notice" attached hereto as a "PDF" file.

  • Product Liability

  • Professional Tort

  • Other Civil

  • Other Torts

  • Workers’ Compensation

Must file an original with an original signature and enough copies to serve all defendants

HOW TO FILE A JUDGMENT LIEN

There are two (2) kinds of judgment liens:

(1) A judgment lien transferred from another court into Trumbull County

  • Fee to file is $25.00

  • Must obtain the certificate of judgment from Clerk of Courts Office where the judgment originated.

  • The certificate and fee is then filed with the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts Office

(2) A judgment lien from Trumbull County Common Pleas

  • Fee to file is $27.00

  • Need a precipe for a certificate of judgment with relevant judgment information

  • Precipe is then filed with the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts Office

  • A standardized form is available from the Clerk of Courts Office

HOW TO FILE A FOREIGN JUDGMENT

  • Fee to file is $25.00

  • Need an exemplified/authenticated copy of the judgment

  • Need an Affidavit of the names and addresses of the judgment creditor and judgment debtor

  • Need a Notice of Filing Foreign Judgment

HOW TO RELEASE A JUDGMENT LIEN

There are two (2) kinds of judgments that are released with the Clerk of Courts Office:

(1) State Lien

  • The filing fee is $20.00 for each full state lien

  • The filing fee is $5.00 for each partial state lien

  • Need an original release from the State of Ohio

(2) Civil Lien

  • The filing fee is $5.00

  • Must file the Release of Judgment by the creditor or the creditor’s attorney

HOW TO RECORD YOUR NOTARY

Effective 09/20/2019

See following link for Notary Information:

https://www.sos.state.oh.us/notary

PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS

If you have received a cost statement, payment must be made in cash, money order or credit card. You can come to the Clerk of Courts Office to pay, mail in the payment (money order or certified check, only) or you may pay by credit card over the phone at 330-675-2557. Please make sure you provide the case number for proper payment of the court costs.

PUBLIC TERMINALS

Public computer terminals are available at the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts Offices located in the Trumbull County Courthouse, 161 High Street, N.W., Warren, Ohio and in the Passport Office, 5th floor of the Administration Building, 160 High St, NW, Warren, Ohio.

You can use these public computer terminals to search information about a case filed in the Trumbull County Common Pleas or in the Domestic Relations Division. You can either search by a name of a party on the case or by the case number.

SEARCHES

There is a $5.00 fee to have an individual or a business name searched. The information needed by the Clerk of Courts Office is a letter requesting the search which includes the name to be searched, the time period to conduct the search, and the $5.00 fee. Searches are usually requested for a five (5) year period.

NOTE: You can come to the Clerk of Courts Office and search something yourself. There is no fee.

COPIES

Effective 1/1/2008, there is a $0.05 per page fee for a copy of a public record.

SIGNING OUT FILES

No files can be signed out. If there is a need for a copy of a file, copies can be made for $0.05 per page.

CIVIL COST SCHEDULE (Effective 04/01/2019)

Complaints

Fees

FORECLOSURE COMPLAINTS

$653.00

Professional Tort, Product Liability,
Other Torts, Workers Compensation,
Administrative Appeal, Other Civil, Replevins

$253.00

CounterClaim, Amended Complaint,
Third-Party Complaint,
Answer and CounterClaim

$0.00

 

(IF REQUESTING SERVICE)

$60.00

Cognovit (without precipe)

$213.00

Cognovit (with precipe)

$233.00

 

Certificate Of Judgment  

Fees

Judgment Lien (from other Court)

$25.00

Judgment Lien (from Trumbull County)

$27.00

For Transfer

$5.00

Revivor Of Judgment

$25.00

Satisfaction/Release (full or partial)

$5.00

Foreign Judgment

$25.00

State Lien Release

$20.00

 

Miscellaneous

Fees

Executions

$25.00

Debtor Exam

$25.00

Writ of Possession

$25.00

Garnishment (personal earnings)

$25.00

Garnishment (other than personal earnings)

$25.00

Appeal of Arbitration

$180.00

Civil or Criminal Search

$5.00

Copies (each page)

$0.05

Certification of Copy

$1.00

Exemplified Copy

$5.00

Court of Appeals

$150.00

Witness Fees (whole days + $.67/mile)

$12.00

Witness Fees (half days + $.67/mile)

$6.00

Motion for Expungement

$50.00

Subpoena

$0.00

Order of Sale BY PRIVATE SELLER

$0.00

Order of Sale BY SHERIFF (REAL AUCTION)

$220.00

Passport Fee to Clerk

$35.00

Passport Fee to U.S. DEPT OF STATE

$130.00

Passport Fee to U.S. DEPT OF STATE **fifteen years of age and under**

$100.00

Passport Card (16 and over) TO U.S. DEPT OF STATE**

$30.00

Passport Card (15 and under) TO U.S. DEPT OF STATE**

$15.00

**Additional Fee to Expedite Passport $60.00 per person

 

 

Mailing Address:

Trumbull County Clerk of Courts
Civil Division
161 High Street N.W.
Warren, Ohio 44481

Phone: (330) 675-2557

Office Hours:

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

You may now pay by credit card in person or by phone at 330-675-2625
New Filing Fees - See below:


How to File a Divorce Complaint

$301.00 Filing Fee or an Affidavit of Indigency plus a Financial Affidavit for proof of indigency

Must file an original with an original signature and a copy to serve the defendant

How to File a Dissolution Complaint

$301.00 Filing Fee or an Affidavit of Indigency plus a Financial Affidavit for proof of indigency

Must file an original with an original signature. There is no service required on dissolutions.

How to File a Domestic Violence Complaint

There is no filing fee

If you feel you have been a victim of domestic violence, you should call Someplace Safe at (330) 393-3003 or come to the Clerk of Courts Office for a packet of information on how to file a domestic violence action to obtain a civil protection order.

Must file the original packet and a copy to serve.

Post-Decree Motions

There is a $105.00 filing fee to file a post-decree motion (Example:  custody, visitation, support, etc.)

Cross Complaint & Counterclaim

$105.00 Filing Fee

Need enough copies to serve the parties requested in the cross complaint or counterclaim

Payment of Court Costs

If you have received a cost statement, payment must be made in cash or by a money order made payable to Trumbull County Clerk of Courts.  You can either come to the Clerk of Courts Office to pay or you can mail in the payment (money order or certified check, only–no cash).   Please make sure you provide the case number for proper payment of the court costs.

Public Terminals

Public computer terminals are available at the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts Offices located in the Trumbull County Courthouse, 161 High Street, N.W., Warren, Ohio and in the Passport Office, 5th floor of the Administration Building, 160 High St, NW, Warren, Ohio.

You can use these public computer terminals to search information about a case filed in the Trumbull County Common Pleas or in the Domestic Relations Division. You can either search by a name of a party on the case or by the case number.

Copies

There is a $0.05 per page fee for a copy of public record.

Copies of Divorce Decrees

If you would like a copy of your divorce decree, there is a $0.05 per page fee, plus $1.00 to certify.  A self-addressed, stamped envelope must also be provided.

Signing Out Files

No files can be signed out.  If there is a need for a copy of a file, copies can be made for $0.05 per page.

No Personal Checks

No personal checks from an individual can be accepted.  Only cash, certified check, money order, or credit card is accepted. You may now pay by credit card in person or by phone at 330-675-2625.

DOMESTIC COST SCHEDULE - Effective 05/01/2025

Complaints

Fees

Divorce

$301.00

Dissolution

$301.00

Foreign Complaints (RECIPROCAL)

$301.00

Annulments

$301.00

 

Answers

Fees

Answers & Counterclaims
with/without service of summons requested)

$105.00

Answers Only $0.00

$0.00

 

Motions

Fees

Any Post-Divorce Motion
(with/without service of summons)

$105.00

Motion to Reinstate

$55.00

Motion for Continuance

$25.00

Objections to Magistrate's Decision

$55.00

Agreed Journal Entry filed
w/o motion

$55.00

Mediation Fees

$100.00

Partners in Parenting

$20.00

Parenting Coordination Fees

$100.00

Expungement of Domestic Violence

$50.00

Authentication

$5.00

Praecipe to Issue Rule 58
by certified mail

$20.00

Certificate of Dissolution/Divorce

$2.00

Indigency Fee

$25.00

Court of Appeal Filing

$150.00

Appointment of Special Process
Server (one-time)

$25.00

Appointment of Special Process Server (continuing appointment)

$50.00

 

Miscellaneous

Fees

Release of (Domestic) Lien

$5.00

Certified Copies (each)

$1.00

Copies (per page)

$0.05

 

FOREIGN FULL FAITH & CREDIT FILINGS

Custody

$301.00

Divorce

$301.00

Support

$301.00

Visitation

$301.00

Mailing Address:

Trumbull County Clerk of Courts (Domestic Relations)
220 Main Street S.W.
Warren, Ohio 44481

Phone:

(330) 675-2625

Fax:

(330) 675-7907

Office Hours:

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

 

HOW TO FILE A NEW APPEAL

  • $150.00 Filing Fee or an Affidavit of Indigency

  • Need an original and three (3) copies of the Notice of Appeal, Docketing Statement, Instructions for Service, and Journal Entry being appealed.

  • Need one (1) copy of the Complaint from the lower court case.

NOTE: The Notice of Appeal must be filed with the Clerk of Courts of the lower court where the judgment originated. Example: If the judgment entry was from Warren Municipal Court, then you must file your appeal with the Clerk of Warren Municipal Court.

You can get a standardized forms for filing a Notice of Appeal here or at the Clerk of Courts Office.

HOW TO FILE AN ORIGINAL ACTION

An original court of appeals action is directly filed with the Clerk of Courts Office.  There is no appealable judgment entry.  

To file an original action complaint you need an original and one (1) copy for each person to be served. 

HOW TO FILE A MOTION

To file a Court of Appeals motion you need to file an original motion.

HOW TO FILE A BRIEF

To file a Court of Appeals brief you need to file an original brief and one (1) copies.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Copies are $0.05 per page which must be paid in advance

Only the counsel of record may sign out the transcripts for a court of appeals case and only for a period of fourteen (14) days.  No files are permitted to be signed out.  

The Clerk of Courts Office located in the Trumbull County Court House accepts the filings for appeals cases originating in Trumbull County only.  This includes Trumbull County Common Pleas cases and Trumbull County lower court cases.  Cases originating outside of Trumbull County but are still in the 11th District of the Court of Appeals jurisdiction, must be filed with the Clerk of Courts in the county where they originated.  Example: If a case originated in Ashtabula County, then the Notice of Appeal must be filed in Ashtabula County.  

The counties within the jurisdiction of the 11th District Court of Appeals are as follows:   Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage, and Trumbull.

The address for the main office for the 11th District Court of Appeals is as follows:   11th District Court of Appeals,   111 High Street, N.E.,   Warren, Ohio   44481, (330) 675-2650 ,   https://www.co.trumbull.oh.us/11thcourt/

 

Mailing Address:

Trumbull County Clerk of Courts
Appellate Division
161 High Street N.E.
Warren, Ohio 44481

Phone:

(330) 675-2559

Office Hours:

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

 

BONDS

Bonds are set by the court that has jurisdiction for the community in which the defendant was arrested.  The entry setting the bond is filed in the Clerk of Courts office. Ohio law requires bond depositors to pay an $85.00 fee, which is not refunded if the defendant is found guilty.

POSTING A BOND

Bonds may be posted in the Clerk of Courts office Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For after-hours bonds, call the jail at (330) 675-2508. Property bonds may only be posted during regular business hours.

Own Recognizance Bond (O.R. Bond):

If a defendant, who has been released on an O.R. Bond, does not appear in court, a new felony charge may be filed.  
Once the final judgment is filed in a criminal case, the conditions of an O.R. bond are considered met and the bond is released.

Insurance Bonds:

An insurance bond must be posted by a surety agent who is certified by the Ohio Department of Insurance and registered in the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts office.

Property Bond:

The following qualifications must be met to post a property bond:

  • The property must be located in Trumbull County.

  • All property owners must be present to sign the bond.

  • The property must be free of all liens and judgments.

  • The property's value must be at least twice the bond amount, over and above all encumbrances.

  • An attorney must file a notarized affidavit stating that the sufficiency for the property bond has been met.

  • A copy of the deed to the property from the Trumbull County Recorder must be filed.

  • A copy of the last tax statement from the Trumbull County Treasurer must be filed.

  • A lien will be immediately filed against the property in the Trumbull County Recorder's Office. The property may be forfeited if the defendant fails to appear for ALL court appearances.

When the final judgment is filed, the Clerk of Courts office will send notice to the Recorder's Office to release the lien from the property.

Cash Bond:

Cash or a cashier's check are required tender for posting a cash bond.

When the final judgment is filed, the amount of a cash bond will be refunded to the depositor 30 days afterwards in person with proper identification..

Ten Percent Bond:

A 10% bond allows the defendant to be released by posting cash equal to 10% of the bond amount set by the court.

When the final judgment is filed, 90% of the deposit shall be returned upon compliance with all conditions of the bond 30 days afterwards in person with proper identification.

Insurance Bond:

When the final judgment is filed, the bond's conditions are fulfilled and the bond is considered released.

SURETY BAIL BOND AGENT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

To register as a Surety Bail Bond Agent, submit information and the required documents to the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts Legal Division.

In accordance with the Ohio Revised Code:

(A) A surety bail bond agent shall not file a bond in any court of this state unless:
the agent is licensed and appointed pursuant to the Revised Code and has registered with the clerk of courts.

(B) To register with the court, a surety bail bond agent shall file with the clerk of courts, a copy of the agent's surety bail bond license; a copy of the agent's driver's license or state identification card; and a certified copy of the surety bail bond agent's appointment by power of attorney from each insurer that the surety bail bond agent represents.  An agent shall renew the registration biennially by the first day of August of each odd-numbered year.

(C) The clerk of courts makes available a list of court-registered surety bail bond agents to the jail not later than the first day of September.  The clerk of courts sends updated lists, as needed, to the jail.

REGISTERED SURETY BAIL BOND AGENTS

The surety bail bond agents listed below are registered to post bonds with the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts.  It is the agent's responsibility to keep their information current.