Organized February 19, 1810 from Highland and Ross counties — named for the Marquis de Lafayette · county seat Washington Court House. Repository addresses, online record links, and a free printable record checklist below.
Short episodes that walk through Fayette County's records, one record type at a time.
Formation · Settlers & Migration · Probate · Land · Tax · Churches · Newspapers · Where to Look
Watch on YouTube110 E. Court St., 2nd Floor, Washington Court House, OH 43160 · (740) 335-0640
fayette-co-oh.com/272/Probate-Court
Wills, estate administration, guardianships, name changes, and marriage licenses by appointment.
201 S. Fayette St., Washington Court House, OH 43160 · (740) 333-3510 · M–F 10am–2pm
Historical marriage records 1810–January 1988 and older auditor/treasurer ledgers — a key resource separate from the Recorder and Probate Court.
133 S. Main St., #305, Washington Court House, OH 43160 · (740) 335-1770
fayette-co-oh.com/259/Recorder
Deeds, mortgages, liens, land contracts, plats, and military discharge records. Cash or check only.
110 E. Court Street, 3rd Floor, Washington Court House, OH 43160 · (740) 335-6371
fayette-co-oh.com/264/Clerk-of-Courts
Divorces, civil suits (including partition suits that divide land among heirs), and Common Pleas journals. Before 1852, this court also handled wills and estates.
133 S. Main Street, Suite 303, Washington Court House, OH 43160 · (740) 335-6461
Current tax lists and property transfer records. Early tax duplicates are on FamilySearch and at the Ohio History Connection.
127 S. North St., Washington Court House, OH 43160 · (740) 335-2540
Community History Archives, the Record Herald Obituary Index (1911–2005), the Fayette County Death Index (1867–1908), and a Births Index (1909–1999). Houses the Genealogical Room where the OGS chapter meets.
Not to be confused with carnegie.lib.oh.us, the unrelated Carnegie library in East Liverpool.
517 Columbus Ave., Washington Court House, OH 43160 · (740) 335-2953
A separate organization from the OGS chapter above. Operates a 14-room museum in the historic Morris Sharp House; no confirmed dedicated website — reach via Facebook or phone.
317 S. Fayette St., Washington Court House, OH 43160
Birth and death records 1908–present. Records from 1867 through December 19, 1908 are at the Probate Court above.
OhioGravestones.org — Fayette County and Interment.net — Fayette County.
Not sure which office has what? See Which County Office Holds What.
Many Fayette County record books are filmed and free to view at FamilySearch (free account required).
In Full-Text Search, add Fayette County, Ohio as the place to find names inside handwritten deeds, wills, and court books. How to use it.
Fayette County was formed in 1810 from Ross and Highland Counties. For records made before then, search the parent counties:
All of Fayette County lies in the Virginia Military District, land Virginia set aside for its Revolutionary War veterans. It was surveyed in irregular metes and bounds, and the first owners' records follow a warrant, entry, survey, and patent trail.
Titles that covered Fayette County, historic and current, with where to search each one. Not every historic title has been digitized — several survive only on microfilm.
| Title | Years | Where to Search |
|---|---|---|
| Fayette County Herald | 1860–1885 | Chronicling America; Ohio Memory, GenealogyBank, Newspapers.com |
| Ohio State Register | 1864–1928 | Microfilm only — check Fayette County Genealogical Society or Ohio History Connection |
| Record-Republican | 1905–1937 | Microfilm only — check local library or historical society |
| Washington C.H. Record-Herald | 1937–1972 | Chronicling America; Newspapers.com |
| Record Herald | 1972–current | Current at recordherald.com; also Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank |
Fill in what you're looking for, print it, and take it with you to the courthouse or library.
Brick Walls & Buckeyes
brickwallsbuckeyes.com · Fayette County, Ohio
Addresses and links last checked October 2026.
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