Ohio
88 counties indexed · 24,664 est. 2025 filings
E-Filing Portal
County-Specific E-Filing Portals
Doc Format
File Size Limit
Varies by county (typically 10–25 MB)
Mandatory E-Filing
No
Foreclosure Process Overview
Ohio is a 100% judicial foreclosure state. The lender files a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, General Division. A Preliminary Judicial Report (title search) is typically required. After service and default or contested hearing, a Decree of Foreclosure is entered. The property is sold by the county Sheriff (or online via Realauction.com in many counties). After confirmation of sale, a Sheriff's Deed is issued.
Statewide Filing Requirements
Document Standards
E-Recording Vendors
Typical Documents Filed
HB 138 Mediation Notice — Mandatory in Cuyahoga, Franklin & Summit Counties
Ohio House Bill 138 (codified at R.C. §2323.07) requires lenders to provide borrowers with notice of available foreclosure mediation programs before proceeding to judgment in certain counties. Failure to comply with county-specific mediation notice requirements is a leading cause of dismissal and delay in Ohio residential foreclosures.
Cuyahoga County
- • Mandatory mediation referral program
- • Notice must be filed with complaint
- • Borrower has 28 days to request mediation
- • Case stayed during mediation period
- • Administered by Cuyahoga Foreclosure Prevention Program
Franklin County
- • Mediation notice required at filing
- • Borrower may request mediation within 28 days
- • Court may order mediation sua sponte
- • Administered by Franklin County Foreclosure Mediation
- • Non-compliance may result in dismissal without prejudice
Summit County
- • Mediation notice required at filing
- • Borrower has 28 days to opt into mediation
- • Summit County Mediation Services administers program
- • Lender must participate in good faith if borrower elects
- • Failure to participate may result in sanctions
Statewide HB 138 Requirements (R.C. §2323.07)
Beyond the three high-volume counties above, HB 138 requires all Ohio courts to maintain a list of available mediation programs and to provide that list to defendants upon request. Courts in Montgomery, Hamilton, and Lucas counties also have active mediation programs with local rules that supplement the statewide statute. Always check the local rules of the specific Common Pleas court before filing.
⚠ Best Practice: Attach the county-specific mediation notice form to the complaint at filing. Do not wait for the court to request it. Confirm the current form version with the clerk before filing, as mediation program administrators periodically update their required forms.