Which Ohio court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Municipal/County Court: Small Claims Division Money/tax recovery up to $6,000. | Up to $6,000 | Ohio Rev. Code § 1925.02 |
| Limited civil | Municipal Court (or County Court) Civil up to $15,000 (housing/environmental divisions exempt). | Up to $15,000 | Ohio Rev. Code § 1901.17 |
| General civil | Court of Common Pleas Over $15,000. | No limit | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.01 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 28 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Ohio Civ.R. 12(A)).
12 Ohio forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Ohio practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Civil Cover SheetOH civil cover sheet
- SummonsOH summons: 28-day answer (Civ.R. 12(A))
- Praecipe for ServiceOH praecipe directing clerk to issue service
- Motion for Default JudgmentOhio Civ.R. 55: failure to answer within 28 days
- Affidavit in Support of DefaultCiv.R. 55: facts and computation of damages
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default Judgment EntryProposed judgment entry for judge signature
- 15-Day Demand NoticeORC 2716.02: required before wage garnishment
- Garnishment of Personal EarningsORC 2716: wage garnishment (25% / 30x min wage)
- Garnishment of Non-Earnings PropertyORC 2716.11: bank accounts & third-party property
- Certificate of JudgmentORC 2329.02: creates lien on debtor's real property
- Case Designation Form (Cuyahoga County)Required with every civil complaint in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Ohio matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Civil Cover Sheet · Summons · Praecipe for Service
Collections: File & Serve
Civil Cover Sheet · Summons · Praecipe for Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit in Support of Default · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment Entry
Collections: Enforce Judgment
15-Day Demand Notice · Garnishment of Personal Earnings · Garnishment of Non-Earnings Property · Certificate of Judgment
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Ohio county are in the 1Court Directory: Ohio.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.