Fairfield County Background Check

Fairfield County Clerk of Courts

The Fairfield County Clerk of Courts is the gateway to the court system in Fairfield County. Branden C. Meyer serves as the Clerk of Courts. The office is at 224 E. Main St., P.O. Box 370, Lancaster, Ohio 43130. Phone is 740-652-7356. Email is branden.meyer@fairfieldcountyohio.gov. The Clerk's office maintains records for the Common Pleas Court and the 5th District Court of Appeals.

Beyond court records, the Clerk of Courts is also responsible for issuing and maintaining all motor vehicle and watercraft titles in Fairfield County. The office manages an annual budget of more than $2.6 million and has a workforce of 40 employees. Three public offices are open to handle day-to-day legal and title operations. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Saturday hours run 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The office is closed on official holidays and the Saturday before a holiday.

If you need a copy of a court record, a case filing, or any other document maintained by the court, this is where you go. Walk in during business hours or call ahead if you have questions about fees or availability. Copies are available for a per-page fee.

Fairfield County Sheriff Background Services

The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office handles fingerprinting and background check services. They use Ohio's WebCheck system for electronic fingerprint submissions to BCI and the FBI. Bring a valid photo ID. Cash is the most common form of payment at county Sheriff's offices, but confirm before your visit. BCI checks cover Ohio records. FBI checks cover the national database.

Results from BCI through WebCheck usually arrive in one to three business days. FBI results take longer, often up to two weeks. If you need both, plan to pay for the combined check. This is what most employers and licensing boards require. The Sheriff's Office staff can advise you on which type of check is right for your situation.

Background Check Laws in Fairfield County

ORC 109.572 is the Ohio statute that governs criminal records checks. It defines when fingerprints are needed, who can request a check, and what shows up on a report. All background checks in Fairfield County processed through the Sheriff's Office or any other WebCheck provider follow this law. Employers, healthcare providers, schools, and volunteer organizations use it regularly.

Public records access in Fairfield County is governed by ORC 149.43, Ohio's public records act. Any person can request records from a public office. This includes court records, police reports, and government documents held by Fairfield County agencies. Sealed and expunged records are exempt. The Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws page has a full list of exemptions and instructions for what to do if a request is denied.

Note: The Clerk of Courts office is the best place to start for any court-related record request in Fairfield County.

WebCheck in Fairfield County

WebCheck is the electronic fingerprint system used across Ohio for civilian background checks. Fairfield County's Sheriff's Office is a WebCheck provider. There may be other approved providers in the county or nearby. The Ohio Attorney General's WebCheck page lists all approved locations. Search by county or zip code.

Electronic fingerprinting is faster than ink cards. Ink submissions must be mailed to BCI, which adds days or weeks. WebCheck sends prints over the internet and results come back sooner. If speed is important, WebCheck is the way to go. Fees vary by provider but are generally in the $30 to $70 range depending on whether you need a BCI check, an FBI check, or both.

The screenshot below shows the Fairfield County official website, which connects residents to elected officials, departments, and services.

This is a useful starting point if you need to find the right department or office for your records request in Fairfield County.

The next image shows the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts website, where you can find contact information and details about court records.

The Fairfield County government portal also links to the Auditor, Commissioners, Coroner, Domestic Relations, Engineer, Probate and Juvenile courts, Prosecutor, Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer offices. If you are not sure which office handles your request, start here.

Fairfield County Criminal Record Search

Criminal cases in Fairfield County are filed with the Common Pleas Court for felonies and the Municipal Court for misdemeanors. The Clerk of Courts maintains all case records. You can request copies in person at the office in Lancaster or by mail. For a broader search, a BCI check through WebCheck covers all Ohio criminal records, and an FBI check adds national coverage.

If you need to check your own record, you can submit your fingerprints through WebCheck and get a copy of what BCI has on file. This is useful before a job application. You can call BCI at 877-224-0043 with questions about results or to report errors. Corrections may take some time, so start early if you know there is a problem on your record.

Cities in Fairfield County

Lancaster is the county seat and the largest city in Fairfield County. For more on background check services in Lancaster, visit our Lancaster background check page. The city of Fairfield also has a page with local details. Residents across the county use the Sheriff's Office in Lancaster for fingerprinting and record requests.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders Fairfield County to the northwest. Pickaway County is to the west. Hocking County sits to the south. Perry County is to the east. Each county runs its own background check services through the Sheriff's Office and uses Ohio's WebCheck system for electronic fingerprinting.