What is the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court?
The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court is one of many different Courts of Common Pleas that are found in the State of Ohio. These Courts are a part of the state courts of the Judiciary system in the state of Ohio.
The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court along with as the other courts of common pleas in Ohio make up the trial courts that have general jurisdiction in Ohio State. These courts are the only trial courts that were created and given authority by Article IV Section I of the Ohio Constitution.
The state of Ohio has one of these courts in each county of the state (a total of 88). The Ohio General Assembly has the power to divide these courts into different divisions. These courts of common pleas are separated into the divisions of probate, domestic relations, juvenile, and general. The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court has one of each of these divisions.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court: General divisions
The General division has all original jurisdiction over civil cases with the amount in controversy that are greater than $15,000, criminal felony cases, and any cases that deal with title to real estate (eviction matters are an exception). Additionally, this common pleas court has appellate jurisdiction over many different state and city administrative agencies in terms of decision making.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court: Domestic relations
The domestic relations division of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court has jurisdiction over court proceedings that deal with legal separation, annulment, divorce, children, spousal support, parental rights, and other related issues.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court: Juvenile divisions
The juvenile division of the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court looks at cases that involve juvenile delinquency along with cases that dealing with dependent, neglected, or unruly children. These courts also have jurisdiction in certain specific adult cases that deal with paternity, child abuse, non-payment of child support, promoting delinquency of minors, and truancy.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court: Probate divisions
Before the Common Pleas Court, probate law was handled by different probate courts. They were given this authority through the Ohio Constitution of 1851. 17 years later, the Ohio Constitution took up the Modern Courts Amendment, which created the court of common pleas’ probate divisions. These common pleas courts now have jurisdiction over issuing marriage licenses, determining mental competency or sanity, adoption proceedings, and certain eminent domain proceedings as well.
More Information About the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court is located at the following address:
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
The office is open from 8:30AM to 4:30PM during the weekdays. The office is closed for weekends, Ohio state holidays, and Federal holidays.
