About Public Records in Indiana

• General Jurisdiction / Upper Courts


• Superior Courts - one or more courts for each county in Indiana. These courts handle the following case types:
• Civil - Torts, Contracts, real property rights, and small claims from $3,000.
• Civil - Estate, mental health, civil appeals.
• Domestic relations and divorce.
• Criminal felony, criminal appeals.
• Juvenile cases, criminal and civil.


• Circuit Courts - one or more courts for each county in Indiana. These courts handle the following case types:
• Civil - Torts, Contracts, real property rights, and small claims from $3,000.
• Civil - Estate, mental health, civil appeals.
• Domestic relations and divorce.
• Criminal felony, criminal appeals.
• Juvenile cases, criminal and civil.


• Probate Court - one court.
• Estates.
• Adoptions.
• Juvenile Cases.


• Limited Jurisdiction / Lower Courts


• County Court - 4 courts. These courts handle the following case types:
• Small claims up to $3,000.
• Tort, contract, and real property claims up to $10,000.
• Criminal felony, misdemeanor, drunk driving, domestic violence.
• Civil domestic violence and restraining/protective orders.
• Traffic, Parking, and Infractions.
• Preliminary hearings.


• City Courts - 48 cities. These courts handle the following case types:
• Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, domestic violence.
• Traffic, Parking, Infractions, and Ordinance Violations.


• Town Courts - 25 towns. These courts handle the following case types:
• Criminal misdemeanor, drunk driving, domestic violence.
• Traffic, Parking, Infractions, and Ordinance Violations.

Indiana real and personal property tax records are kept by the County Assessor in each county.
 

Indiana deeds and general document recording are handled by the County Recorder in each county. Records kept include deeds, mortgage documents, easements, powers of attorney, and liens.

Certified copies of birth and death certificates are available from the Indiana State Department of Health or available from the local health department in the county where the event occurred. All requests require proper identification. Birth records in the ISDH Vital Records office begin with October 1907. Prior to October 1907, records of birth are filed only with the local health department in the county where the birth actually occurred. Death records in the ISDH Vital Records office begin with 1900. Prior to 1900, records of death are filed only with the local health department in the county where the death actually occurred. For deaths occurring from 1900 to 1917, the city and/or county of death is required in order to locate the record.