HOURS OF OPERATION:  8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND SATURDAYS (IF NEED BE) AT THE DIRECTION OF THE JUDGE, EXCEPT LEGAL HOLIDAYS

The Courts of Common Pleas, the only trial courts created by the Ohio Constitution are established by Article IV, Section I of the Constitution.  The jurisdiction of Courts of Common Pleas is outlined in Article IV, Section 4, and their establishment is codified in Ohio Revised Code 2301.01.  There is a Court of Common Pleas in each of Ohio’s 88 counties.

The General Division of the Brown County Common Pleas Court has original jurisdiction to hear all adult felony criminal cases and all civil cases regardless of the dollar amount in controversy. The Court also has the authority to issue injunctions and certain legal writs.  The Court has appellate jurisdiction over the decisions of some state and local administrative agencies, boards, and commissions.  In addition, the Court presides over the Brown County Grand Jury, which has the power to hand down indictments in criminal cases.  The Court is responsible for the operation of the Probation Department, which supervises those criminal defendants placed on community control as part of their sentence. The General Division hears and decides allegations of serious crimes committed by adults, civil matters involving contracts, personal injury, business issues, real estate including foreclosures, and all other matters not within the legal authority of the other divisions.The jurisdiction of the General Division of the Common Pleas Court is separate from the other divisions. 

The Domestic Relations Division presides over cases involving divorce, dissolution, child custody, visitation, and support, and other family matters.  The Probate Division, located at 510 E. State St., in Georgetown hears and decides matters involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, name changes, and other matters.  The Juvenile Court, located at 510 E. State St., in Georgetown has legal authority over cases involving children who are alleged to be delinquent, unruly, abused, neglected, abandoned, or otherwise in need of legal attentionIn order to better serve the citizens who appear before it, the Court has created this website as a source of public information about court operations and the legal system.  There are pages on this site with information on jury service, grand jury, probation, mediation, standard court forms and other matters.  There is information on foreclosure mediation with information specifically for individuals facing foreclosure on their homes.  For the convenience of our website visitors, the Court has answers to numerous Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a Legal Glossary on this site.

Common Pleas Judges are elected to six-year terms on a nonpartisan ballot.  The Governor makes appointments to fill vacancies in Courts of Common Pleas that occur between elections.

 

 

The information provided within this website is designed to assist you.  It is not intended to be nor should it be interpreted as legal advice.  Employees of the Common Pleas Court and the Clerk of Courts are prohibited from providing you legal advice of any kind.

The Common Pleas Court has also provided links and information relevant to outside agencies and organizations which you may find helpful.  However, the Common Pleas Court cannot attest to the accuracy of the information provided, any views and opinions contained therein are solely those of the agency or organization providing the information.