Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

  • Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas - General Division
    Each judge in the General Division of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas has general jurisdiction to hear civil cases where the claim exceeds $15,000 and criminal cases.
  • Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas – Domestic Relations Division
    The Domestic Relations Court presides over divorces, dissolutions, legal separations, annulments, domestic violence petitions, enforcement of foreign support orders, establishment of certain foreign support cases and registration of certain non-Ohio divorce decrees. Judges on the Domestic Relations Court retain jurisdiction to enforce their own orders and to modify decisions relating to child custody and child support.
  • Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas – Juvenile Court Division
    Judges of the Juvenile Court have jurisdiction over cases concerning children under the age of 18. Children who commit crimes or are disobedient in school or home are brought before the Court. The Court also hears cases concerning the abuse, neglect or dependency of children and matters concerning the paternity, financial support, and custody of children of unmarried parents.

Qualification of Candidates for Court of Common Pleas

To qualify as a candidate for election to any division of the Court of Common Pleas, a person must be an attorney admitted to practice in Ohio with at least six years of experience in the practice of law in Ohio.