The Sheriff does not guarantee clear title. A title search is recommended, Sheriff sale information is available in our office at 373 S. High Street, Second floor, on our website, or in the Tuesday edition of the Columbus Dispatch newspaper. For questions of legal nature, contact a legal advisor.
Understand that the Sheriff's Office acts in the capacity as an agent for the sale of real estate (properties) in compliance with a court order. Properties are appraised by independent appraisers, advertised, and sold at public auction. Properties are advertised in the Tuesday Edition of the Columbus Dispatch Newspaper which is available at most newsstands. Public libraries with a newspaper file may also carry this publication for your review. Information is also provided on the Sheriff's website. The ad from the Columbus Dispatch will provide you with the same information that the Sheriff's Office has on any given property. The Columbus Dispatch also has the terms of sale which includes how long you have after the sale before the balance of the purchase price is due to the Sheriff's Office.
A Foreclosure action that results in the actual sale of the property by the Sheriff is a lengthy process. Key steps in the Process are as follows:
Once the clerk stamp copy of the confirmation and deed are delivered to The Sheriff’s Office reviewed and signed by The Franklin County Sheriff. Sheriff’s Office will contact the buyer to say that the deed is ready and if the balance has not been paid yet will let the buyer know amount of funds to be paid the Sheriff’s Office.
The Common Pleas Clerk of Courts Civil Division is located at 345 S. High St., 1st Floor. They are the keeper of records and have the entire case file for each foreclosure case. Their phone number is (614) 525-3621. Responses to questions posed to the Clerk of Courts office will be limited to the type of paperwork filed. You can access the same information they can provide through their website clerk.franklincountyohio.gov. To learn the specific content of any case document, you would have to review the actual case file by visiting their office.
Since search options with the Clerk of Courts is by defendant name or case number, you will have to get the name of the current owner of that property. Call the map room at (614) 525-4663 and give them the address of the property and they will be able to give you a name. Also, you can access this information yourself by visiting the auditor's website at www.franklincountyauditor.com. Keep in mind until a praecipe is filed, the property will not proceed to sale. Properties are set for Sheriff Sale after the date of praecipe.
As defendant, you have redemption rights up until the confirmation is filed. The average time for confirmation to be filed is 30-60 days from the sale date. This means, if you can pay off your mortgage or acquire new financing, you can keep your home. Once the confirmation is filed, you no longer have the right to redeem, and the purchaser is awarded a writ of possession. (Some confirmations contain language to award the writ immediately upon filing of the confirmation, others may require that the property be paid for, and the deed recorded before the writ can be filed.) This gives the purchaser the right to file paperwork to have the Sheriff notify you to vacate. The Sheriff will notify you when you need to vacate.
The purchaser may allow you to continue to live on the property or may file for the Sheriff to give you notice to vacate. Legal questions arising from your relationship as a renter/lessee with the defendant in the case must be addressed by your legal advisor.
Deposit amounts are set by ORC Section 2329.211. The Sheriff has no input in the matter.
You are free to deposit funds in excess of the minimum amount, provided the amount does not exceed the purchase price. This is for in-person sale. Deposits for online sales are wire transfer or ACH debit will only take the required deposit amount.
The confirmation (see above) awards the purchaser possession of the property. Until it is filed, any investment in the property is risky for two reasons 1.) you do not own the property and have not been awarded a right to possession 2.) the defendant can still redeem the property.
There are no keys for these properties.
The Sheriff has nothing to do with closing. Financing and closing must be arranged by the purchaser. Since the Sheriff is not involved in the closing, the Sheriff's Office will not sign any settlement statements or closing documents.
The Sheriff's Office is not provided with a copy of the appraisals. Therefore, it is recommended that lenders do their own appraisal, once the property is vacated.
If there is no distribution in your name in the confirmation filed, check the confirmation for funds to be held by either the clerk or the Sheriff's Office. In order to have the excess funds paid, you must obtain an order from the court signed by the judge assigned to your case, directing the clerk or sheriff to disburse the excess funds to you.
The Auditor's appraisal is done by law and is completed by a contract mass appraiser who appraises all property in Franklin County for tax purposes. Appraisers appointed by the court only appraise the specific property being sold. Since appraisal is an opinion of value, it may vary.
A title company can pay as long as they present a title company check payable to the Sheriff of Franklin County to pay off the balance of the purchase price. However, once a deed is paid for, the Sheriff’s Office will take the deed up to the Franklin County Auditor and Franklin County Recorder.
A Cashier's check payable to the Franklin County Sheriff is required to pay the balance for a property purchased at Sheriff Sale. The Sheriff's Office will also accept a title Company check if it is made payable to the Franklin County Sheriff.
Deposit refunds are set up for payment immediately upon receipt of the court order to set aside the sale and refund the purchaser's deposit. Checks payable to more than one payee must be signed for by all payees, before the check is released.
No. A cashier's check is required for all deposits at Sheriff Sale.
Failure to follow through with the purchase of a Sheriff Sale property may result in all or part of your deposit being forfeited.
No. It is a public auction.
For in-person sales no registration is required. For online sales registration is required if bidding and it’s free to register.
No. Properties purchased at Sheriff Sale are not available for inspection.
Since the only way deed information can be changed after the sale is by court order, making sure how you want the property deeded before the sale is very important. The delivery of the deed may be delayed for failure to provide accurate information.
No. A standard Sheriff's Deed will be issued.
Sometimes the property will be reappraised or a court order to reduce the amount of the starting bid will be obtained. The property will be set for a subsequent sale.
Sale results are on The Franklin County Sheriff’s website.
If you have other questions, you can contact our office at (614) 525-4231.