Ashtabula Court Information

The Ashtabula Municipal Court is located in Ashtabula and covers the townships of Ashtabula, Saybrook and Plymouth. A single presiding judge and two magistrates are responsible for hearings all the trials at the Ashtabula Court. The clerk of the Ashtabula court is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining all court documents.

Jurisdiction

The municipal court of Ashtabula has four prominent divisions with diverse functions. The jurisdiction of the divisions is somewhat restricted as the municipal court is a court of limited jurisdiction. The courthouse is located at

110 West 44th St, Unit 4,
Ashtabula, OH 440 04

Civil Division

The civil division deals with personal injury or damage of property as well as forcible entry and eviction matters. Civil cases of up to $15,000 are within the jurisdiction of the court. Matters related to trustees as well as Rent Escrow are dealt by the civil division of the Ashtabula Municipal Court. A list of the filing fees can be viewed from the official website of the Ashtabula Court at http://www.ashtabulamunicourt.com/. The contact numbers for obtaining information about civil court rules and procedures are (440) 992-7110 and (440) 992-7150.

Criminal/Traffic Division

Criminal cases handled by the Ashtabula Court are restricted to misdemeanor cases only. Preliminary hearings of felonies may be filed at the municipal court in certain circumstances. The final disposition, however, is heard by the Ashtabula county common court of pleas. Inquiries about criminal cases can be made at (440) 992-7147.

The Police department, Sheriff’s office, and the Ohio highway patrol all issue traffic citations through the Ashtabula Municipal court. Traffic court is held only on Mondays and Wednesdays within the court premises of Ashtabula City. Information about traffic offenses and payment of fines can be obtained at (440) 992-7112. It is also possible to pay fines by contacting the deputy clerk in charge of back fines at (440) 992-7148.

Small Claims

All claims amounting to a maximum of $3,000 need to be filed with the civil division of Ashtabula court. However, you need to remember that the division is meant for recovery of money only and does not deal with return of lost property. A small claims suit can be filed in the Municipal court of Ashtabula in accordance with ORC 1925.04. Filing a case through an attorney is not a prerequisite; you do not need an attorney in small claims court. Corporations looking to recover lost money are required to have a legal representative who will assume responsibility on their behalf. You need to contact (440) 992-7148 if your question concerns matters pertaining to small claims cases.

Probation

The probation department of the Ashtabula Municipal Court is responsible for all offenders placed on probation. The chief probation officer ensures that criminals as well as traffic offenders comply with the terms of the probation as directed by the court. Probation measures include community service and counseling as well as regular alcohol and mental check ups. The department can be contacted at (440) 992-7131.