Court Costs and Fee Payments

Once a case has final disposition, the Bookkeeper for the Clerk of Courts will calculate final costs in the case and assess the party as indicated in the court order. The party that is responsible for the court costs in the case will automatically be set up on a payment plan per the Payment Policy, which is based on the balance due.

The party that is responsible for the court costs may pay the balance in full at any time. Payments can be made online, in person, or by mail. If your account has been placed with the Ohio Attorney General’s office, you cannot make your payment with the clerk’s office.

How to make a payment in your case online:

First, you must find your case by doing a public record search.

Select Name Tab and enter your first and last name, or company/business name.

Choose the case type to narrow down the search.

Click Search – Once you find your case, click the Pay Button.

The Clerk of Courts has the statutory responsibility to maintain the judgment docket for judgment liens rendered by the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas or liens transferred from other courts.  When a judgment lien is filed with the Clerk of Courts, it becomes a “Certificate of Judgment” that may be executed upon by the creditor.

To release a judgment/civil lien, the debtor must satisfy the debt obligation and obtain a certified copy of the Entry of Satisfaction from the original court of jurisdiction.  The certified copy must be filed with the clerk along with the appropriate release fee.

The Ohio Department of Taxation files judgment liens in the Clerk of Courts office to recover revenue for a variety of taxes, including but not limited to sales tax, withholding tax, and personal income tax.

To release a tax lien, the debtor must contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office of Collections and Enforcement to determine the exact amount of tax owed.   Payment of the original tax must be remitted to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

Once the tax is paid, the State of Ohio will issue the debtor a Release and Satisfaction of Judgment.  To properly release the state tax lien, the debtor must file this document in the Clerk of Courts’ office along with the appropriate release fee.  The Clerk accepts cash, check, money order, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.

QUESTIONS ON COURT COSTS: Please reach out to Kimberly Hill, Bookkeeper, at 740-432-9234.

PROBATION FEES AND/OR RESTITUTION:  Adult Probation Department at 740-432-9255.

Traffic fine payments cannot be made with the Common Pleas Clerk of Courts office.

If you want to pay traffic fines, please contact the Cambridge Municipal Court at 740-439-5585.