A. TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION – PROPER VENUE
Pursuant to R.C. §1907.01, the county court shall have jurisdiction throughout a county court district that shall consist of all territory within the county not subject to the territorial jurisdiction of any municipal court.
The territorial jurisdiction of the Butler County Area I court includes the City of Oxford and all of Milford, Morgan, Oxford, Reily and Wayne Townships. The territorial jurisdiction of the Butler County Area II Court includes all of Fairfield, Hanover, and Liberty Townships. The territorial jurisdiction of the Butler County Area III Court includes the City of Monroe and all of West Chester Township.
B. SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION
1.) Criminal Cases
Pursuant to R.C. §1907.02(A)(1), county courts have jurisdiction over all misdemeanor cases. A county court has jurisdiction to conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases, to bind over alleged felons to the court of common pleas, and to take other actions in felony cases as authorized by Criminal Rule 5.
2.) Parking Violations
Pursuant to R.C. §1907.02(B), a county court has jurisdiction over the violation of a vehicle parking or standing ordinance, as defined in R.C. §4521.01, if the violation is committed within the limits of the court’s territory, and if the violation is not required to be handled by a parking violation bureau.
3.) Civil Cases
Pursuant to R.C. §1907.031, a county court has original jurisdiction within its district in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:
(a.) in an action or proceedings at law for the recovery of money or personal property of which the court of common pleas has jurisdiction;
(b.) in an action at law based on contract, to determine, preserve, and enforce all legal and equitable rights involved in the contract, to decree an accounting, reformation, or cancellation of the contract, and to hear and determine all legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete determination of the rights of the parties to the contract;
(c.) in an action or proceeding for the sale of personal property under chattel mortgage, lien, encumbrance, or other charge, for the foreclosure and marshalling of liens on the personal property, and for the rendering of personal judgment in the action or proceeding;
(d.) in an action or proceeding to enforce the collection of its own judgments and to subject the interest of a judgment debtor in personal property to satisfy judgments enforceable by the county court;
(e.) in an action or proceeding in the nature of interpleader;
(f.) in an action of forcible entry and detainer;
(g.) in all civil actions pursuant to R.C. §3736.41(B)(1) that relate to public nuisance.
4.) Monetary Limits - Civil Actions
Pursuant to R.C. §1907.03, county courts have exclusive original jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of sums not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) and original jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of sums not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).
5.) Small Claims Division
Pursuant to R.C. §1925.02, the small claims division has jurisdiction in civil actions for the recovery of taxes and money only, for amounts not exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000), exclusive of interest and costs.