Ohio Civil Cover Sheet / Case Information Form

OHIO CIVIL COVER SHEET / CASE INFORMATION FORM

Court of Common Pleas — General Division / Municipal Court

IMPORTANT: Ohio does not have a single statewide civil cover sheet form. Each county Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court maintains its own case designation or case information form. This template is designed as a comprehensive intake worksheet that captures the data fields commonly required across Ohio counties. Always obtain and complete the official form from the specific county where you are filing.

SECTION 1: COURT IDENTIFICATION AND CAPTION

Court Level and Division (select one):

☐ Court of Common Pleas — General Division
☐ Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations Division
☐ Probate Court
☐ Municipal Court (Name: [________________________________])
☐ County Court (Name: [________________________________])

County: [________________________________]

Judge Assigned: [________________________________] (if applicable under local assignment rules)

IN THE [________________] COURT OF [________________] COUNTY, OHIO

[________________________________],
                    Plaintiff(s),

        v.                                          Case No.: [________________]
                                                    (Assigned by Clerk)
[________________________________],
                    Defendant(s).

[JURY DEMAND ENDORSED HEREON]
(Include this notation if jury trial is demanded pursuant to Civ.R. 38)

SECTION 2: JURISDICTIONAL AMOUNT AND COURT LEVEL

Jurisdictional Thresholds (select the applicable court level based on amount in controversy):

☐ Court of Common Pleas — General Division: Original jurisdiction in all civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds the exclusive jurisdiction of county courts and municipal courts (generally claims exceeding $15,000)
☐ Municipal Court: Civil jurisdiction generally up to $15,000 (varies by municipal court; check local limits)
☐ County Court: Civil jurisdiction generally up to $15,000
☐ Small Claims Division: Claims up to $6,000 (Municipal Court) (use separate small claims forms)

Amount in Controversy:

• Monetary damages sought: $[________________________________] (exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees)
• ☐ Amount exceeds jurisdictional threshold of applicable court
• ☐ Amount is within jurisdictional threshold

Non-Monetary Relief Sought:

• ☐ Injunctive relief: [________________________________]
• ☐ Declaratory judgment: [________________________________]
• ☐ Specific performance: [________________________________]
• ☐ Other equitable relief: [________________________________]

SECTION 3: CASE TYPE / NATURE OF SUIT

Instructions: Select ONE primary case type below. Ohio Supreme Court Rules of Superintendence (Rule 44) require courts to report case types using standardized categories. Many counties use letter codes (e.g., A through H) that correspond to these categories. Confirm the exact code with your county clerk.

A. Professional Tort (Code A)

☐ Medical malpractice
☐ Legal malpractice
☐ Accounting malpractice
☐ Other professional liability: [________________________________]

B. Product Liability (Code B)

☐ Product liability — personal injury
☐ Product liability — property damage
☐ Product liability — wrongful death

C. Other Tort (Code C)

☐ Motor vehicle accident — personal injury
☐ Motor vehicle accident — property damage
☐ Motor vehicle accident — wrongful death
☐ Premises liability
☐ Intentional tort (assault, battery, false imprisonment)
☐ Defamation (libel/slander)
☐ Wrongful death (non-product, non-professional)
☐ Other personal injury: [________________________________]
☐ Other property damage: [________________________________]

D. Workers' Compensation (Code D)

☐ Workers' compensation appeal
☐ Intentional tort — employer

E. Foreclosure (Code E)

☐ Residential mortgage foreclosure
☐ Commercial mortgage foreclosure
☐ Land contract forfeiture
☐ Tax lien foreclosure
☐ Mechanics lien foreclosure

F. Administrative Appeal (Code F)

☐ Appeal from administrative agency: [________________________________]
☐ Appeal from Board of Zoning Appeals
☐ Appeal from Bureau of Motor Vehicles
☐ Other administrative appeal: [________________________________]

G. Complex Litigation (Code G)

☐ Complex litigation designation requested
☐ Class action
☐ Mass tort
☐ Environmental litigation
☐ Construction litigation (complex)

H. Other Civil (Code H)

☐ Breach of contract / commercial dispute
☐ Debt collection / cognovit note
☐ Consumer protection
☐ Employment — discrimination
☐ Employment — wrongful termination
☐ Employment — wage and hour
☐ Employment — restrictive covenant / non-compete
☐ Real property — quiet title
☐ Real property — partition
☐ Real property — boundary dispute
☐ Real property — landlord/tenant (non-small claims)
☐ Replevin
☐ Declaratory judgment (standalone)
☐ Injunctive relief (standalone)
☐ Insurance coverage dispute
☐ Habeas corpus (civil)
☐ Appropriation / eminent domain
☐ Forcible entry and detainer
☐ Other civil: [________________________________]

SECTION 4: JURY DEMAND

Ohio Civ.R. 38: A party may demand a jury trial on any issue triable of right by a jury by (1) serving a demand in writing upon the other parties no later than 14 days after service of the last pleading directed to the issue, and (2) filing the demand with the court. The demand may be endorsed upon a pleading. If a jury demand is endorsed upon a pleading, the caption of the pleading SHALL state: "JURY DEMAND ENDORSED HEREON." Failure to include this statement constitutes a waiver of jury trial under Civ.R. 38. Once a jury demand is perfected, it may only be withdrawn with the consent of ALL parties (Civ.R. 38(D)).

☐ Jury trial demanded — Jury demand is endorsed upon the complaint/answer
☐ Non-jury (bench trial)
☐ Jury demand to be filed separately within 14 days of last pleading

Jury Deposit Required: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Amount of jury deposit (per local rule): $[________________________________]

SECTION 5: PARTY INFORMATION

Plaintiff(s) / Petitioner(s)

(Attach additional sheet if more than two plaintiffs)

Defendant(s) / Respondent(s)

(Attach additional sheet if more than two defendants)

Third-Party Defendants / Intervenors

☐ Third-party complaint anticipated
☐ Intervenor(s) anticipated
Names: [________________________________]

SECTION 6: ATTORNEY INFORMATION

Attorney for Filing Party

☐ Pro Se (Self-Represented Litigant)

Note: Attorneys must be registered with the Ohio Supreme Court Office of Attorney Services and in active status to practice in Ohio courts.

SECTION 7: RELATED CASES AND CONSOLIDATION

☐ No related cases
☐ Related cases exist — Provide details below:

☐ Consolidation requested
☐ Transfer from another county (Civ.R. 3(D) — improper venue)
☐ Refiled case (provide prior case number): [________________________________]

SECTION 8: SERVICE OF PROCESS

Ohio Civ.R. 4 — 4.6: Service may be made by certified mail (Civ.R. 4.1), personal service through the clerk or a process server (Civ.R. 4.1), residence service (Civ.R. 4.1(3)), or publication (Civ.R. 4.4).

Method of Service Requested (select all that apply):

☐ Certified mail, return receipt requested (Civ.R. 4.1(1)) — default method
☐ Personal service by sheriff / constable
☐ Personal service by private process server
☐ Ordinary mail (Civ.R. 4.6 — after failed certified mail)
☐ Service by publication (Civ.R. 4.4) — ☐ Affidavit of diligent search attached
☐ Service on Secretary of State (long-arm, Civ.R. 4.3)
☐ Service outside state (Civ.R. 4.3)
☐ Service outside country (Civ.R. 4.5)
☐ Waiver of service requested

Service Addresses for Each Defendant:

SECTION 9: E-FILING INFORMATION

Ohio Sup.R. 26 — 27: Ohio courts have implemented electronic filing through local rule. Most Ohio counties now require mandatory e-filing for attorneys. Self-represented litigants may be exempt from mandatory e-filing requirements in some counties.

E-Filing System Used:
☐ Ohio Courts Network / local e-filing portal
☐ File & ServeXpress
☐ Other: [________________________________]

E-Filing Status:
☐ Mandatory e-filing county — attorney filing electronically
☐ Exempt from e-filing (self-represented litigant)
☐ Paper filing approved by court order

Document Format Requirements:

• ☐ PDF format (required for most e-filing systems)
• ☐ Microsoft Word format accepted
• Maximum file size per local rule: [____] MB

SECTION 10: SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

☐ Complex Litigation — Case meets criteria under local rule for complex litigation track
☐ Class Action — Civ.R. 23 class action certification anticipated
☐ Mass Tort
☐ Expedited Track — Case eligible for expedited disposition
☐ Arbitration Track — Case eligible for court-annexed arbitration (per local rule)
☐ Mediation — Mediation requested or required under local rule

Case Involves:
☐ Minor party (initials may be required; consider Sup.R. 44-47 confidentiality)
☐ Incompetent or incapacitated party (guardian required)
☐ Government entity as party (notice requirements under R.C. 2744.04)
☐ Foreign entity or party
☐ Sealed or confidential filing requested

SECTION 11: ADA ACCOMMODATIONS AND INTERPRETER SERVICES

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Ohio courts are required to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow adequate time for arrangements.

☐ No accommodations needed
☐ Accommodations requested:
☐ Wheelchair-accessible courtroom
☐ Assistive listening device
☐ Sign language interpreter — Language: [________________________________]
☐ Real-time captioning (CART)
☐ Large-print documents
☐ Other: [________________________________]

☐ Foreign language interpreter needed
Language: [________________________________]
☐ For party ☐ For witness

Note: Contact the court ADA coordinator at least 7 days before any hearing. Interpreter requests should be made at the earliest opportunity.

SECTION 12: FILING FEE INFORMATION

Filing Fee: $[________________________________] (Fees vary by court and case type; confirm with the clerk)

Common Ohio Filing Fees (approximate — verify with clerk):

• Court of Common Pleas — new civil action: approximately $250–$375 (varies by county; includes $26 legal aid surcharge under R.C. 2303.201)
• Municipal Court — new civil action: approximately $75–$150
• Small Claims: approximately $35–$60

☐ Fee paid
☐ Fee waiver requested (Affidavit of Indigency / Poverty Affidavit filed — Civ.R. 45)
☐ Government entity exempt from fees

SECTION 13: CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

I certify that the information provided in this cover sheet is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, formed after reasonable inquiry. I understand that this cover sheet is for administrative and statistical purposes and does not constitute a binding judicial determination of any issue.

Date: [__/__/____]

________________________________________
Signature

________________________________________
Printed Name

________________________________________
Ohio Supreme Court Reg. No. / Pro Se

________________________________________
Attorney for: [Plaintiff/Defendant]

________________________________________
Firm Name

________________________________________
Address

________________________________________
Phone / Email

PRACTICE TIPS: COMMON FILING ERRORS IN OHIO CIVIL CASES

1. Missing Jury Demand Notation: Under Civ.R. 38, if a jury demand is endorsed on a pleading, the caption MUST state "JURY DEMAND ENDORSED HEREON." Omitting this language waives the jury right even if the demand appears elsewhere in the document. Once waived, all parties must consent to reinstate it.

2. Wrong Court Level: Verify the jurisdictional amount for the specific court. Filing in Common Pleas when the claim belongs in Municipal Court (or vice versa) will result in dismissal or transfer, causing delay and additional fees.

3. Incorrect Case Type Code: Each county may use different letter codes or numerical codes for case types. Using the wrong code can result in assignment to the wrong judge or track. Confirm codes with the clerk before filing.

4. Failure to Pay Legal Aid Surcharge: R.C. 2303.201 requires a $26 additional filing fee for each new civil action in Common Pleas, allocated to legal aid societies. Some clerks will reject filings if this surcharge is not included.

5. E-Filing Format Errors: Most Ohio e-filing systems require PDF format. Word documents, scanned images without OCR, and oversized files are common rejection reasons. Check maximum file size limits per local rule.

6. Incomplete Service Instructions: Ohio defaults to certified mail service (Civ.R. 4.1(1)). If you need an alternative service method, you must specifically request it. Failure to provide correct addresses delays service and can result in dismissal for failure to prosecute.

7. Missing Related Case Disclosure: Many counties require disclosure of related pending or prior cases. Failure to disclose can result in sanctions and raises ethical concerns under the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct.

8. Foreclosure-Specific Requirements: Foreclosure actions require additional documentation including a military service affidavit, loan modification affidavit, and mediation certification in many counties. Check county-specific foreclosure packets.

9. Poverty Affidavit Deficiencies: When seeking a fee waiver, the poverty affidavit must be fully completed and signed under oath. Incomplete affidavits will be rejected, and the case will not be filed until the fee is paid or a proper affidavit is submitted.

10. Local Rule Variations: Ohio has 88 counties, each with its own local rules. Always review the local rules for the specific county before filing. Some counties require additional local cover sheets, case management statements, or ADR certifications.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov
• Ohio Supreme Court Rules of Superintendence: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/LegalResources/rules/superintendence/Superintendence.pdf
• Ohio Revised Code, Title 23 (Courts — Common Pleas): https://codes.ohio.gov
• Ohio E-Filing Information: Contact specific county clerk of courts
• Ohio Supreme Court Attorney Registration: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Ohio counties maintain their own official cover sheets and case designation forms — always use the official form required by the specific county court where you are filing. Consult a licensed Ohio attorney before filing.