About the Clerk's Office

The office of the Clerk is one of the oldest public servants in existence, and can be traced back more than a thousand years in history. In America, when early colonists arrived, the office of the Clerk was one of the first forms of government they established. Through the years, clerks have become the hub of government — the direct link between citizens and their government. Very few offices in county service assist such a wide range of people.

In Ohio, the Clerk of the Common Pleas Court — established by State Constitution in 1802 — serves the citizens, the legal community, and the Common Pleas Court. The office was created by the state’s founders to be responsive to the public, mindful of taxpayers, and independent of the court itself. In 1851, under the State Constitution, the position became an elected position for a three-year term and was extended to a four-year term in 1936. William Henry Harrison, ninth President of the United States, was the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts when he was elected President in 1840. The first Fairfield County Clerk of Common Pleas was Hugh Boyle, appointed in 1803. The Clerk serves as the official record keeper of the court and acts as a safeguard and processor of all monies collected.

Today, Branden C. Meyer and his staff serve one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. The office is committed to quality customer service, technological improvements for more efficient service, and being fiscally responsible. The office has three locations to serve the public throughout the county: the legal offices located in the Hall of Justice in downtown Lancaster, and two title offices — one in Lancaster and one in Pickerington.

The functions of the Clerk of the Common Pleas Court satisfy more than 250 state statutes and court rules. Among the responsibilities of the office are to: provide public access to the records of the Common Pleas Court and the 5th District Court of Appeals; be the first stop in initiating any court action in civil, criminal or domestic relations matters; collect and disburse court-ordered fees, fines and victim restitution in an expedient manner; receive, distribute and preserve official court documents; and be responsible for issuing and maintaining all motor vehicle and watercraft titles in Fairfield County. The Clerk of Courts office is made up of the following departments: Administrative & Fiscal, Legal, and Title.

The Clerk’s office is honored with the responsibility of serving the public by maintaining the records for the Common Pleas Court and the 5th District Court of Appeals, and issuing and preserving all motor vehicle and watercraft titles issued in Fairfield County. Through our continuous quality improvement efforts, our team is dedicated to providing efficient, courteous and professional customer service.

The mission of the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts office is to anticipate, meet and exceed the expectations of our customers. We vow to remain compliant with the law, promise to hold our fiduciary responsibility to the highest possible standard, and pledge to honor the trust bestowed upon this office with the utmost integrity, pride and respect.

Since Fairfield County was established, the following individuals have served as Clerk of Courts: