Most of what gets filed in an Ohio divorce is public record. Anyone can request the complaint, the motions, and the final decree from the clerk of courts without giving a reason. That surprises many people in Columbus who assume a divorce is a private family matter.
The good news is that Ohio law carves out the most sensitive parts of a case. Financial disclosures, custody evaluations, and health records are kept out of the public file, and the way you approach your divorce has a lot to do with how much of your personal life ends up on the record. Here is what the public can see, what it cannot, and what a Columbus divorce lawyer can do to help protect your privacy.
Are Divorce Records Public in Ohio?
As a starting point, yes. The Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio presume that court records are open to public access (Sup.R. 45(A)). In a divorce or dissolution, the public file generally includes:
- The docket, which lists every filing and hearing in the case
- The complaint for divorce or the petition for dissolution
- Motions, responses, and the arguments made in them
- Court orders and magistrate decisions
- The final decree, along with the separation agreement that becomes part of it
This matters most in a contested case. If a motion accuses a spouse of hiding money or questions a parent’s judgment, those allegations sit in a document the public can request.
What Ohio Keeps Out of the Public File
In 2015, the Supreme Court of Ohio amended Sup.R. 44 so that certain sensitive records in domestic relations and juvenile cases are no longer treated as public case documents. Those records include:
- Health care documents, including mental health and counseling records
- Drug and alcohol assessments
- Guardian ad litem reports
- Home investigation reports
- Child custody evaluations and reports
- Domestic violence risk assessments
- Financial disclosure statements covering property, debt, taxes, income, and expenses, along with the supporting documents attached to them
That last item is a big one. The financial affidavits each spouse files, and the tax returns, pay stubs, and account statements behind them, are not open to the public. If you are pulling together the financial documents you need before filing for divorce, it helps to know those records are protected once they reach the court.
Personal Identifiers Stay Off the Public Record
Ohio rules also require parties to leave Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar identifiers out of public filings. That information goes on a separate confidential disclosure form that the public cannot access.
What This Looks Like in Franklin County
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts does not make domestic relations documents viewable through its Case Information Online system, so the filings in a Columbus divorce cannot be read online the way many civil cases can. Copies of most domestic documents can still be requested through the clerk’s Records Division. The file is harder to reach, but it is not closed.
Can You Seal Divorce Records in Ohio?
Sometimes, but rarely the whole case. Under Sup.R. 45(E), a party can file a written motion asking the court to restrict public access to specific information or, if necessary, an entire document. The court must find by clear and convincing evidence that the presumption of public access is outweighed by a higher interest, considering factors such as personal safety, the risk of injury, and the potential invasion of privacy.
Even when a request is granted, the judge must use the least restrictive option available, such as redacting a few lines instead of sealing an entire filing. Ohio courts enforce that limit. In 2022, the Supreme Court of Ohio found that a judge improperly sealed 21 of 22 documents in a dissolution case because the order did not explain why wholesale sealing was necessary or whether a narrower option like redaction was considered.
In practice, restriction requests have the best chance when they are narrow and tied to a concrete concern, such as protecting a survivor’s location or a child’s sensitive information. A request to seal everything because the divorce is personal or embarrassing is unlikely to succeed.
How to Keep More of Your Divorce Private
The court rules set the baseline. Your strategy decides how much personal detail ends up in public filings in the first place.
Consider a Dissolution
In a dissolution, spouses work out every issue before anything is filed and submit their agreement together. There is no complaint laying out grievances, and there is usually far less back and forth in front of the court. Our guide to dissolution vs. divorce explains how the two processes differ.
Resolve Disputes Outside the Courtroom When Possible
Under Ohio’s Uniform Mediation Act, mediation communications are privileged (R.C. 2710.03), which generally keeps what is said in mediation out of evidence in court. A signed written agreement reached in mediation is an exception, and mediation discussions are confidential only to the extent the parties agree (R.C. 2710.07), so it is worth settling confidentiality terms before you begin. Our comparison of divorce mediation vs. litigation in Ohio covers when each approach makes sense.
Keep Filings Focused
Every motion becomes part of the record. A careful attorney gives the court what it needs to decide an issue without filling a public document with personal details that do not move the case forward.
Be Careful With What You Share Online
No court rule protects what you post yourself, and posts made during a case can end up as evidence. Read more about how social media affects divorce proceedings before you share anything about your separation.
Raise Safety Concerns Early
If you are leaving an abusive relationship, tell your attorney at the start. Requests to protect an address or other identifying details carry far more weight when they are tied to safety, and a civil protection order may be part of the plan.
Talk to a Columbus Divorce Attorney About Your Privacy
Privacy rarely comes up in the first conversation about divorce, but it shapes decisions you make starting with the very first filing. At The Law Offices of Kenneth R. Kline, we can walk you through what will be public in your case and how to approach your filings with that in mind. Contact KRK Family Law or call (614) 484-0177 to schedule a consultation.