Court Rules
Common questions about Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division rules

Are courtesy copies required in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for time sensitive motions. Details: 1 copy, delivery upon filing, by chambers drop off. Counsel must provide the judge’s assignment commissioner with one courtesy copy of every time-sensitive motion directly in chambers or by email.

View ruleSource: page 23, section 13.K. COURTESY COPIES

What formatting rules apply to filings in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division's formatting rule includes letter paper and single-sided white paper. All documents filed with the Clerk of Courts must be on 8.5 by 11-inch, single-sided white paper.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 5. FILING REQUIREMENTS

What must be included with court filing filings in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

The rule requires judge name, case number, and certificate of service. Every filing must include the parties’ names, case number, assigned judge, filer contact information, and a completed certificate of service.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 5. FILING REQUIREMENTS

What must be included with civil filing filings in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Every civil filing must include a completed Civil Information Sheet.

View ruleSource: page 8, section LOCAL RULES – CIVIL, 10.A. CIVIL INFORMATION SHEET

How may parties contact Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

Counsel must inform the assigned judge’s chambers of the plea agreement terms before the plea hearing.

View ruleSource: page 22, section 13.G. PLEA HEARINGS

How does Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division handle sealed or redacted filings?

Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Personal identifiers included in a filing must be redacted or omitted.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 5. FILING REQUIREMENTS

How do I request an adjournment or extension in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The request must include reason for request and number of previous requests. A continuance request must be in writing and filed or made orally on the record, state the reason and number of prior continuances, and state that counsel consulted or attempted to consult opposing counsel.

View ruleSource: page 12, section 10.K. CONTINUANCES

Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

A fee is required for covered filings. A civil-case party requesting a jury must post the clerk's required deposit by noon on the Friday before trial, or the preceding non-holiday day if that Friday is a court holiday; if both parties request a jury, only one must post it, and failure waives jury trial.

View ruleSource: page 12, section 1. JURY DEPOSIT

Is electronic filing required in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

No. Electronic filing is prohibited for the covered filings. Civil protection order petitions must be filed in person with the Clerk during regular business hours, and electronic filing is prohibited for documents in these cases.

View ruleSource: page 16, section 11.E. CIVIL STALKING PROTECTION ORDER/CIVIL SEXUALLY ORIENTED OFFENSE PROTECTION ORDER CASES

When is a filing treated as filed in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. A party timely objecting to a magistrate’s factual findings must obtain and file the transcript within thirty days after filing the objections, unless the Court extends the transcript-preparation time.

View ruleSource: page 8, section LOCAL RULES – CIVIL, 10.D. MAGISTRATES, 1. OBJECTIONS TO MAGISTRATE’S DECISIONS

What rule applies to serving all parties in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: all parties. Parties must timely and properly serve all necessary parties under the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, and failure may result in dismissal for lack of prosecution.

View ruleSource: page 9, section 10.E. SERVICE
Complete rules summary for Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

The Clerk’s Office can be contacted by phone at 740-652-7360 regarding record requests, filing fees or questions, payment, and bond inquiries.

Judge Berens’ Chambers can be contacted by phone at 740-652-7431.

Judge Trimmer’s Chambers can be contacted by phone at 740-652-7427.

The Magistrate’s Chambers/Court Administration can be contacted by phone at 740-652-7434.

Parties should contact the respective judge’s chambers with questions about the court’s technological capabilities and equipment.

All documents filed with the Clerk of Courts must be on 8.5 by 11-inch, single-sided white paper.

Every filing must include the parties’ names, case number, assigned judge, filer contact information, and a completed certificate of service.

Personal identifiers included in a filing must be redacted or omitted.

Documents may be filed in person at the Clerk of Courts office during its stated hours.

Documents may be mailed to the Clerk’s Office and are deemed filed on the date received.

For mailed filings, copies are returned only if a return-postage envelope is provided; otherwise, the copies will be shredded.

Electronic filing is available through the court’s e-services website.

A mailed filing is deemed filed on the date it is received.

When a mailed document has an associated filing fee, the submission must include a check.

Court costs, restitution, and probation fees may be paid in person by check, credit card, debit card, or cash.

Court costs, restitution, and probation fees may be paid by mail only by check.

Court costs, restitution, and probation fees may be paid online by credit or debit card.

Court costs, restitution, and probation fees may be paid by phone by credit or debit card during the stated hours.

The Clerk may refuse to accept a filing containing unredacted personal or private information.

When partially redacting a social security number in a filing, only the last four digits should be used.

An applicant for a standing special process server must submit an affidavit and order for the Administrative Judge to sign.

When partially redacting a financial account number in a filing, only the last four digits should be used.

When partially redacting the name of a minor child in a filing, only the child’s initials should be used.

A redacted copy must identify itself as “REDACTED COPY” in the caption and redact the individual’s personal information throughout the document.

The original document containing unredacted personal information must be submitted for the Court’s confidential processing.

After the Administrative Judge signs, the standing special process server affidavit and order must be filed with the Clerk of Courts.

Every civil filing must include a completed Civil Information Sheet.

A party timely objecting to a magistrate’s factual findings must obtain and file the transcript within thirty days after filing the objections, unless the Court extends the transcript-preparation time.

The transcript filed to support objections must conform to App.R. 9(B)(6)(a)-(e) and (h)-(i).

Parties must timely and properly serve all necessary parties under the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, and failure may result in dismissal for lack of prosecution.

More Judges in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas, General Division

David A. Trimmer
Judge
Richard E. Berens
Judge