Attorney Information

                                      NOTICE: ALL ATTORNEYS

The Cleveland Municipal Court is required by Federal Tax Law to issue a 1099-Misc form for Law Firms and Attorneys who have been paid by the Court for any accumulative amount over $600.00 in a calendar year. We are required to file the 1099-Misc form by the end of January for the preceding calendar year.

You may begin submitting your completed W-9 forms immediately. Completed W-9 forms shall be submitted to the Finance Department of the Office of the Clerk of Courts. W-9 forms are available online at www.irs.gov under forms.
Completed forms may also be mailed to the following address:

               Cleveland Municipal Court Clerk of Court
               Finance Department - Level 2
              1200 Ontario Street
               Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Your failure to submit a W-9 in a timely manner will result in the Court withholding 28% of your disbursement check(s) which will be sent to the IRS. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at (216) 664-6191.

The Cleveland Municipal Court is a court of record having jurisdiction in law and equity pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code. The Court has territorial jurisdiction over the City of Cleveland and the Village of Bratenahl. The Court may determine misdemeanor violations of both the City of Cleveland Ordinances and the state of Ohio statutes. The court conducts preliminary hearings and sets bonds in felony cases committed in the City of Cleveland. In civil matters, the Small Claims Division of the Court can determine actions where the amount in controversy does not exceed $3,000.00. The General Division of the Court can determine civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $15,000.00. These civil cases can include, but are not limited to, actions for the recovery of property, injunctions, contracts, personal injury, collection proceedings, and transferred judgments. The court strives to be open and accessible to all stakeholders, including attorneys who have business before the court.

CIVIL

The court recently overhauled its electronic capabilities so as to permit attorneys to file all documents dealing with civil cases online. Click to access eFiling.

Please note the Civil Filing Fees and Cost Schedule (Cleveland Municipal Court, Rules of Practice and Procedure, Rule 17, Schedule C) was updated, effective November 1, 2011. Please click here to review an online copy of the schedule.

REMEMBER: It is important to submit a Change of Address form to the Civil Division if you have relocated your business or mailing address office. Please contact the Civil Division at (216) 664-4870.

CRIMINAL

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Local Rules of Practice and Procedure

The Cleveland Municipal Court seldom seeks attorneys to represent parties when there is a conflict of interest with assigned counsel. Please click here to register as counsel.

FORMS – UPDATED AND AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW

The Cleveland Municipal Court has updated its forms so as to be printable and generally more accessible online. Simply access the forms library, open the form, type in field information, print the form and bring into the court.