Franklin County Motion to Vacate Judgment
This interview will help you create forms to ask the court to set aside a judgment in Franklin County Municipal Court. You can use it if you did not get a copy of the lawsuit before the judgment was issued.
If you have any questions during the interview, please ask for assistance from The Self Help Center. Staff cannot offer legal advice but can assist in finding helpful resources and provide legal information.
The Self Help Center is located at 375 South High St., 16th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215. It is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The last visitor is accepted at 2:30 p.m. The Self Help Center also offers a web chat service.
Review the forms to make sure that they are complete and accurate. Then:
Step 1. Save your forms. Your forms will not be saved on this site. Please email them to yourself or download them on something you can take with you.
Step 2. Print your forms. You may ask the Self Help Center staff for assistance if you need help with printing your forms. The Self Help Center is located at 375 South High St., 16th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215. It is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The last visitor is accepted at 2:30 p.m. The Self Help Center also offers a web chat service.
Step 3. Attach your evidence. You will need to include any evidence that you listed in your motion to your packet of forms. For example, if your evidence includes a certified mail receipt, or "green card," you will need to get a copy of the receipt from the Clerk of Court's Office, and then add it to your packet of forms.
Step 4. Sign the forms in front of a notary. You will need to sign your forms in front of a notary. The Self Help Center has notaries on staff who can notarize your forms for you. The notary will check your identification, watch you sign and stamp where needed with an official seal. The Motion to Vacate Judgment form should be signed on the first page under "Respectfully Submitted." The Certificate of Service section should be signed on the line above "Plaintiff/Defendant" near the bottom of the page. The Affidavit in Support of Motion should be signed on the line above "Plaintiff/Defendant."
Step 5. Make copies. You should make at least 3 copies of your forms. Make sure you have enough copies so that you can get a time-stamped copy back from the Clerk of Court.
Step 6. File the forms with the Franklin County Municipal Court Civil Clerk. Go to the Franklin County Municipal Court at 375 S. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Go to the 3rd Floor to the Civil Clerk to file. Make sure you have enough copies so that you get a time-stamped copy back. Check with the Clerk to see if you need to submit additional information with your forms.
Step 7. Mail a copy of the forms to the other side. Mail a copy of the forms to the plaintiff's attorney or to the plaintiff if the plaintiff doesn’t have an attorney. Complete the mailing by the date you put in the Certificate of Service.
Step 8. Watch your mail carefully and pay close attention to any mail from the Court. If a hearing is scheduled, attend the hearing. The Court will make the final decision called an “Order” on your motion.