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How to Find Public Records in Madison County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information related to public records through official county offices and online portals. MadisonCountyRecords.org aggregates publicly available data that may assist individuals in locating records maintained by Madison County agencies. The records accessible through official channels may include court filings, property documents, vital records, and other government-generated materials, subject to applicable exemptions under Ohio law.

Record categories that members of the public may encounter include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and juvenile proceedings)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Marriage and divorce records
Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
Property tax and assessment records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning documents

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

Online Access:

The county court records portal provides links to Municipal Court, Probate Court, Juvenile Court, and Common Pleas Court records
The Madison County Clerk of Courts maintains an online case search interface for civil and criminal filings
Probate records, including estates, guardianships, trusts, and name changes, are searchable through the probate court record search tool
No registration is required to conduct basic online searches through county portals

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Madison County Clerk of Courts at 1 N. Main Street, London, Ohio 43140, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Requestors should identify the record type and provide relevant case numbers, party names, or document identifiers to facilitate retrieval.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the applicable office by mail. Requests should include the requestor's name, a description of the records sought, and a preferred format for delivery. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, public offices are required to respond to records requests within a reasonable period of time.

Phone/Email:

Madison County Clerk of Courts: (740) 852-9776
Madison County Common Pleas Court: (740) 845-1780
Madison County Board of Commissioners (for general public records requests): (740) 852-9717

Official public records request information, including submission guidance, is available through the Madison County public records request page.

What Are Public Records in Madison County?

Public records in Madison County are defined by Ohio state law as any document, device, or item created or received by a public office in the course of its official duties. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, public records are broadly defined to include any record kept by a government body, with specific categories exempted from disclosure.

The following record types are currently maintained by Madison County offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court filings	Madison County Clerk of Courts
Probate, estate, and guardianship records	Probate Court
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens	Madison County Recorder
Marriage and divorce records	Probate Court / Clerk of Courts
Business licenses and fictitious names	County offices / State of Ohio
Property tax and assessment records	Madison County Auditor
Meeting minutes and agendas	Board of County Commissioners
Law enforcement incident reports	Madison County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Madison County Planning Commission

The Madison County Common Pleas Court handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, and domestic relations proceedings. Probate matters, including wills, estates, and name changes, fall under the jurisdiction of the Probate and Juvenile Court division.

Is Madison County an Open Records County?

Madison County operates in full compliance with Ohio's open records laws, which mandate broad public access to government documents. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, commonly referred to as the Ohio Public Records Act, all public offices are required to make records available for inspection and copying upon request.

As stated in the county's official guidance, "In compliance with Ohio Sunshine Laws, any person may request to inspect or obtain copies of public records from a public office that keeps those records." This provision applies to all county departments, including the courts, recorder's office, auditor, and board of commissioners.

The Madison County Clerk of Courts has adopted a formal public records policy, stating that "this office will adhere to Ohio's public records laws in a fashion consistent with the Ohio Revised Code, Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio, and applicable case law." This policy governs the handling of all requests submitted to that office.

The Ohio Attorney General's Office provides additional guidance on compliance with the Ohio Sunshine Laws, which encompass both the Public Records Act and the Open Meetings Act. Madison County offices are subject to both statutes.

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

The cost to obtain public records in Madison County varies by record type and the office maintaining the records. Ohio law permits public offices to charge fees that do not exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Standard Copy Fees:

Item	Fee
Standard paper copies (per page)	$0.05–$0.10 per page (actual cost)
Certified copies of court documents	Varies by document type
Electronic copies	Actual cost of reproduction
Document recording (Recorder's Office)	Statutory fee per document

The Madison County Recorder's Office collects a surcharge established by the Ohio Legislature. As noted in the office's official description, "the surcharge is to support the preservation and digitization of documents and ongoing costs incurred by a county recorder's office." This surcharge applies to recorded instruments and is set by state statute.

Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(1), public offices may charge only the actual cost of making copies and are prohibited from charging fees for inspection of records. Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, or money order. Members of the public are advised to confirm accepted payment methods with the specific office prior to submitting a request.

Certification fees for court documents are set by the Clerk of Courts and may differ from standard copy fees. No search fees are permitted under current Ohio law for standard public records requests.

Does Madison County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Madison County government offices. Under Ohio law, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to public records:

The probate court record search tool allows free online searches of estates, guardianships, trusts, civil cases, and name changes without registration
The county's court records portal provides free access to case index information for Municipal Court, Probate Court, and Common Pleas Court
In-person inspection at the Clerk of Courts, Recorder's Office, and other county offices is available at no cost during regular business hours

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may review records in person without charge, but obtaining physical or electronic copies may incur reproduction fees as described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Madison County?

Any person may request public records from Madison County offices. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, there is no residency requirement, and requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request for most record types.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Ohio retain full rights to request public records from Madison County offices.
Identification: Not required for standard public records requests, though some offices may request identification for administrative purposes.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to explain why they are seeking records for most categories of public documents.
Personal records: Individuals requesting their own records follow the same process as any other requestor, though certain records (such as sealed court files) require a court order regardless of the subject's identity.

Restrictions apply to specific record categories, including juvenile records, sealed court files, and records protected by other statutory exemptions. Criminal record checks through fingerprint verification are available at the Madison County Sheriff's Office, as noted in the City of London's forms and FAQs, and involve a separate process and fee structure.

What Records Are Confidential in Madison County?

Certain records maintained by Madison County offices are exempt from public disclosure under Ohio law. Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(A)(1) enumerates specific categories of records that public offices are not required to release.

Confidential and exempt record categories include:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records: Proceedings and records involving minors are confidential under Ohio law; juvenile court forms and case files are subject to restricted access
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records that would interfere with law enforcement proceedings are exempt during active investigations
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from public records
Medical records: Protected under both Ohio law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Ohio child protection statutes
Personnel records: Certain employee records are exempt, with exceptions for names, positions, and compensation of public employees
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when submitted to government agencies under confidentiality protections
Security and infrastructure plans: Records detailing security vulnerabilities of public facilities are withheld

Ohio courts apply a balancing test in cases where the public interest in disclosure may outweigh the interest in confidentiality, particularly for records not explicitly enumerated in the statute.

Madison County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Office Name: Madison County Recorder

Physical Address:
1 N. Main Street
London, Ohio 43140

Phone: (740) 852-9717
Website: Madison County Recorder

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

Additional Offices:

Madison County Clerk of Courts
1 N. Main Street, London, Ohio 43140
(740) 852-9776
Madison County Clerk of Courts

Madison County Common Pleas Court
1 N. Main Street, PO Box 527, London, Ohio 43140-0527
(740) 845-1780
Common Pleas Court – Madison County

Madison County Board of Commissioners
1 N. Main Street, London, Ohio 43140
(740) 852-9717
Public Records Request Information – Madison County

Madison County Probate and Juvenile Court
1 N. Main Street, London, Ohio 43140
(740) 852-9776
Record Search – Probate Court – Madison County