About the Court
What is a Magistrate?
A magistrate is a judicial officer who assists a judge and helps the court. While Judges are elected, they may select and hire their magistrates. As a Family Court Magistrate, Sarah is assigned cases in conjunction with the Judges, and then presides over the hearings and issues orders and rulings throughout the pendency of the case. During a final hearing or trial, she takes testimony and reviews the evidence. She then issues a Magistrate’s Decision making Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law based on the evidence presented which is reviewed by the Judge. Once the Judge reviews the recommended decision and any objections of the parties, the Judge issues a final judgment.
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The Family Court... and You
Ohio has 88 counties, each with a Court of Common Pleas, but Logan County is one of only a handful of counties that combines Juvenile, Domestic Relations, and Probate into a consolidated “Family Court” Division. The Family Court handles everything from establishing paternity, child support, divorce, juvenile delinquency, truancy, adult guardianships, and estates.
Because of this, nearly everyone will, at some point, find themselves in Family Court. Many of the most important cases the Court handles involve juveniles and adults in crisis. These may include children in emergent need of a safe and stable home environment; individuals that need court-ordered protection from a family member; or an adult facing an urgent situation that requires immediate court involvement to protect their health, safety, and/or finances. Working in conjunction with local authorities and other agencies, the Family Court serves as a critical resource handling these matters.
And perhaps without realizing it, you and your family interact every day with individuals the Court serves. They may be the child your son or daughter sits next to in class, or even your next-door neighbor. Every Logan County resident deserves to be healthy and safe, and the Family Court works toward that goal.