Warren County Genealogical Society Warren County, Ohio Chapter of Ohio Genealogical Society Probate Court Contacts & Inventory
(513) 695-1144	406 Justice Drive, Lebanon, Ohio 45036 Hours: 9 AM-4 PM Monday through Friday Driving Directions	wcgs@co.warren.oh.us

Probate documents also called probate dockets / packets / files / or boxes contain valuable information for genealogists.  Often times, they provide proof of family relationships, activities involved with or supported, lifestyles, financial status and sometimes quarrels.  It is one of the best ways to establish relationships, residences and marriages.  To find probate records you need to find either the OCP number or box number.  There is a general index or principles index that can assist in finding if the record exists.  The early records (prior to 1852) are filed as OCP; with later ones (after 1852) starting with Box 0.  These original records are currently housed in a secured room at the Edna L. Bowyer Record Center & Archives.  The copybooks (DE- Docket of Estates; WR - Will Record Book; and CD - Civil Docket) are shelved in their research room.  WCGS is currently working on a master index.  Our current index is available through DE book 18 (of 57) approximately 1936. We are willing to make copies of whatever records you need.  Please contact our research department for more info.  Please note that as of April 2009, probate records from 1940 through 1964 that list social security numbers, required that these numbers be removed from all documents.  For probate records after 1964, you will need to contact the Probate Court directly.  Please specify exactly what you want copied.  The Ohio Historical Society also has Warren County marriage licenses from 1818-1827 (only 5 records though) on microfilm.   

Warren County Probate Court

Sue Roberts, Chief Deputy Clerk

Location:  570 Justice Dr., Lebanon, OH 45036

Phone: (513) 695-1180

Email: Sue@warrenprobate.org

Web Site:  http://www.co.warren.oh.us/probate_juvenile/index.htm

Hours: M-F 8:00 AM -5:00 PM

Holdings:  Probate court keeps records for wills & estates, guardianships, lunacy, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes and other miscellaneous court records.

These are subject to change.  Most of the earlier records have been sent to the Archives for storage.  Probate Court maintains minimal amount of records including microfilms from 1985 –1992 and then computerized files 1993 afterwards.  Check with receptionist for availability.  This listing is accurate as of 2009. 

For elected Probate / Juvenile Court Judges click here. 

Below are some of the types of documents that can be found in the Warren County Probate Court Records.   

• Birth Records (1867-1908)

• Corrected Birth Records

• Late Birth Records

• Death Records (1867-1908)

• Assessor Birth & Death  Records

• Marriage Records (1803-current)

• Adoptions & Name Changes

• Guardianships (1803-current)

• Wills (1803-current)

• Estate Settlements (1803-current)

• Insanity & Lunacy Cases

• Naturalizations

• Records of Account

• Coroner’s Inquests

The Probate Court existed in Ohio prior to statehood, but was abolished upon statehood in 1803.  From 1803 to 1851 probate cases had jurisdiction in the Common Pleas Court.  The 1851 State Constitution created the Court of Probate to handle probate cases, grant marriage licenses, and control land estate sales by appointing executors, administrators or guardians.  Births and deaths were recorded in the Probate Court until December of 1908 when the Warren County Combined Health Department took over recording of these vital records.  The Probate Court has jurisdiction over appointment of guardians for minors and the mentally ill since the 1850’s, and can commit mentally ill individuals to institutional care.  Adoptions and name changes are also recorded in this court.  The Probate Court has had jurisdiction for naturalizations until the federal government took over about 1906. Judges elected to the Probate Court serve for six year terms and must be licensed attorneys who have practiced law for at least six years prior to the election. Currently the Warren County Probate Court Judge also is the Juvenile Court Judge.  The Juvenile Court was established with jurisdiction relating to minors.  Most Probate & Juvenile Court records are open to the public except mental and medical exams, adoptions after 1964, or probation & parole of minors.  Most of these records are in storage at the Edna L. Bowyer Record Center and Archives.

Probate Court records include: Accounts Records; Administration Records; Adoption Records; Appeal Bonds; Assignees & Trustees Dockets; Bills of Exception; Birth Records; Board of County Visitors Records; Bonds & Letters; Boys Industrial School Records (Reform School Records); Case Files; Civil Dockets (appearance docket, mentally ill / lunacy dockets, miscellaneous, no administration, no tax, probate of wills and tax); Complete Records (final record, Record, misc. record); Cost Bill Records; Court Calendars; Criminal Appearance Dockets; Criminal Execution Dockets; Criminal Journals; Criminal Records; Criminal Trial Dockets; Death Records; Epilepsy Records; Execution Dockets; Feeble-Minded Person’s Records; General Index to Births; General Index to Deaths; Girls’ Industrial School Records; Guardian Dockets; Heirship Records; Index to Case Files; Index to Civil Dockets; Index to Estates, Assignments & Trusts; Index to Guardians & Wards; Index to Land Sales Records; Index to Marriages (bride / groom); Index to Real Estate Records;  Index to Registration & Correction of Birth Records; Index to Will Records; Inheritance Tax Records; Inventory & Appraisement Records; Journal; Judgment Index; Jury Records; Land Sales Records; Marriage Records; Marriage Returns; Mentally Ill Persons’ Records (Lunacy); Motion Dockets; Name Change Records; Notice Records; Nurse Records; Permit to Give Public Entertainment Records; Petition Records; Physicians, Surgeons & Limited Practitioners Records; Praecipe Dockets; Pre-Marital Physical Examinations; Records of Birth Registration & Correction; Records of Examination of the Treasury; Records of Feeble-Minded youth; Records of Ministers Licenses; Records of Wills on Deposit; Register of Patents; Sale Bill Records; Schedule of Claims, Debts & Liabilities Record; Statement of Births; Statement of Deaths; Vital & Social Statistics; Will Records; Wills; Witness Records.