Dearborn County Court Records
What Is Dearborn County Court Records
Court records in Dearborn County encompass the full body of official documentation generated by judicial proceedings within the county's court system. Under Indiana law, these records include case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts of proceedings, exhibits admitted into evidence, sentencing records, and any other documents filed with or produced by a court of law. Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level, such as property records held by the Dearborn County Assessor, vital records maintained by the Indiana Department of Health, or land records filed with the County Recorder.
The following courts within Dearborn County generate and maintain official court records:
- Dearborn Circuit Court — handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, and probate proceedings
- Dearborn Superior Court 1 — hears civil, criminal, and family law matters
- Dearborn Superior Court 2 — handles criminal, civil, and traffic matters
- Dearborn Superior Court 3 — focuses on criminal and civil matters
- Small Claims divisions — adjudicate disputes involving limited monetary amounts
Records maintained across these courts cover civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, family law matters (including dissolution of marriage and child custody), probate and estate proceedings, traffic infractions, and juvenile matters. Pursuant to Indiana Code § 5-14-3, public agency records — including those of the judiciary — are presumed open to inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The Dearborn County Indiana Judicial Branch page provides current information on local court operations and case access.
Are Court Records Public In Dearborn County
Court records in Dearborn County are generally accessible to members of the public under Indiana's open records framework. The Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code § 5-14-3) establishes that public records, including judicial records, shall be open for inspection and copying by any person. Indiana Administrative Rule 9 further governs access to court records specifically, affirming that most court documents are available to the public while identifying categories of records that may be excluded or restricted from disclosure.
Records that are currently open to public inspection include:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Final judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
- Hearing schedules and calendars
- Sentencing records in criminal matters
Certain records are excluded from public access under Indiana Administrative Rule 9, including records containing Social Security numbers, financial account information, juvenile records, certain mental health proceedings, and sealed or expunged records. It is important to note that federal court records for cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana are governed by federal rules and are accessible through the PACER system, which operates separately from Indiana's state court access framework.
How To Find Court Records in Dearborn County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Dearborn County court records through several official channels. The following steps outline the primary methods currently available:
- Online search via MyCase — The Indiana Courts Case Search portal allows users to search for case information by party name, case number, or attorney name across all participating Indiana courts, including those in Dearborn County.
- In-person inspection — Members of the public may visit the Dearborn County Courthouse during regular business hours to inspect records at the clerk's public counter. Staff are available to assist with locating case files.
- Written request — Requests for certified copies or specific documents may be submitted in writing to the Dearborn County Clerk's office. Requests should include the case number, party names, and a description of the documents sought.
- Telephone inquiry — The Clerk's office may be contacted by telephone to confirm record availability and applicable copy fees prior to an in-person visit.
Fees for copies of court records are set by Indiana statute and are currently assessed on a per-page basis. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Inspection of records at the courthouse is available at no charge pursuant to Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, which prohibits agencies from charging a fee solely for the act of inspecting a public record.
Dearborn County Clerk's Office 165 Mary St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8867 Dearborn County, Indiana
How To Look Up Court Records in Dearborn County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Dearborn County court records. Members of the public are encouraged to use these resources before visiting the courthouse in person.
MyCase — Indiana Courts Case Search The primary statewide portal for online court record access is MyCase, maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court. This system includes case information from Dearborn Circuit Court and all three Dearborn Superior Courts. To conduct a search:
- Navigate to the MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov
- Select the search type: by party name, case number, or attorney
- Enter the relevant search terms and select "Dearborn" as the county
- Review the list of matching cases and select the appropriate case to view docket entries, hearing dates, and available documents
Indiana Judicial Branch — Dearborn County Page The Indiana Judicial Branch local court page for Dearborn County provides direct links to case search tools, e-filing information, and court contact details. Attorneys are currently required to e-file in Dearborn County; self-represented litigants may also use the e-filing system.
PACER (Federal Cases) Cases filed in federal court are not accessible through MyCase. Members of the public seeking federal court records must use the PACER system at pacer.uscourts.gov, which is administered by the federal judiciary.
How To Search Dearborn County Court Records for Free?
Indiana law currently guarantees the right to inspect public court records at no cost. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, a public agency may not impose a fee for the inspection of a public record. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
The following resources are available at no charge:
- MyCase online portal — Basic case information, docket entries, and some documents are searchable at no cost through the Indiana Courts Case Search system. No account or registration is required for general public searches.
- In-person inspection at the courthouse — Members of the public may review physical case files at the Dearborn County Clerk's office without charge during regular business hours.
- Indiana Judicial Branch guidance — The Indiana Judicial Branch's MyCase help page explains what information is available online and how the Access to Public Records Act governs online access to court documents.
Fees are assessed only when printed or certified copies are requested. The current per-page copy fee and certification fee schedules are available from the Dearborn County Clerk's office.
What's Included in a Dearborn County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type, but generally include the following categories of documents:
Civil Case Records:
- Complaint and summons
- Defendant's answer and counterclaims
- Motions and supporting briefs
- Court orders and rulings
- Final judgment
- Notices of appeal
Criminal Case Records:
- Charging information or indictment
- Arrest and initial hearing records
- Bail and bond orders
- Plea agreements
- Trial transcripts
- Sentencing orders and probation terms
Family Law Records:
- Petitions for dissolution of marriage
- Child custody and support orders
- Adoption decrees (some sealed by statute)
- Protective orders
Probate Records:
- Wills and petitions for probate
- Inventory of estate assets
- Orders of distribution
- Guardianship and conservatorship filings
Traffic and Infraction Records:
- Citation information
- Hearing notices
- Judgments and fine assessments
Small Claims Records:
- Claim forms
- Defendant responses
- Judgment entries
How Long Does Dearborn County Keep Court Records?
Indiana courts are required to retain court records in accordance with retention schedules established by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and the Indiana Supreme Court. Retention periods vary by record type and case classification.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Felony criminal case files — Retained permanently
- Misdemeanor criminal case files — Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Civil case files — Retained for a minimum of 10 years following final judgment
- Probate records — Retained permanently
- Small claims records — Retained for a minimum of 10 years
- Traffic infraction records — Retained for a minimum of 5 years
- Juvenile records — Subject to special retention and confidentiality rules under Indiana Code § 31-39-9
The Indiana Commission on Public Records publishes the official retention schedule applicable to county courts. Records that have exceeded their retention period may be destroyed in accordance with approved disposal procedures. Requests for records approaching or past their retention period should be directed to the Dearborn County Clerk's office to confirm current availability.
Types of Courts In Dearborn County
Dearborn County's court system operates within Indiana's unified trial court structure. The hierarchy of courts from local to appellate level is as follows: Small Claims/Magistrate divisions → Circuit and Superior Courts → Indiana Court of Appeals → Indiana Supreme Court.
Dearborn Circuit Court 165 Mary St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8867 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Dearborn County Indiana Judicial Branch
Dearborn Superior Court 1 165 Mary St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8867 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Dearborn County Indiana Judicial Branch
Dearborn Superior Court 2 165 Mary St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8867 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Dearborn County Indiana Judicial Branch
Dearborn Superior Court 3 165 Mary St, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812) 537-8867 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Dearborn County Indiana Judicial Branch
The Indiana Court of Appeals and Indiana Supreme Court serve as the appellate courts for decisions originating in Dearborn County's trial courts. Both appellate courts are located in Indianapolis and do not maintain physical public counters in Dearborn County.
What Types of Cases Do Dearborn County Courts Hear?
Each court within Dearborn County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as assigned by Indiana statute and local court rules.
Dearborn Circuit Court hears:
- Felony criminal matters (Level 1 through Level 6 felonies)
- Major civil litigation
- Probate and estate proceedings
- Mental health commitment proceedings
Dearborn Superior Court 1 hears:
- Civil cases, including contract disputes and personal injury
- Domestic relations and family law matters
- Juvenile matters
Dearborn Superior Court 2 hears:
- Criminal matters including felonies and misdemeanors
- Civil cases
- Traffic infractions and ordinance violations
Dearborn Superior Court 3 hears:
- Criminal matters
- Civil cases
- Small claims matters involving disputes up to the statutory limit
All Dearborn County courts of general jurisdiction may also hear emergency protective order petitions, name change petitions, and other miscellaneous civil matters as assigned.
How To Find a Court Docket In Dearborn County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and orders in a given case. Members of the public may access Dearborn County court dockets through the following methods:
Online:
- Visit MyCase and search by party name or case number to retrieve the docket for any publicly accessible case in Dearborn County courts
- The Indiana Judicial Branch Dearborn County page provides direct access to the case search tool and current court calendars
In Person:
- Members of the public may request to view a case docket at the Dearborn County Clerk's office during regular business hours
- Clerk staff can retrieve docket sheets for specific cases upon request
By Telephone:
- The Dearborn County Clerk's office may be contacted at (812) 537-8867 to confirm docket availability and schedule an in-person review
Docket entries available through MyCase include filing dates, document titles, hearing dates, and judicial orders. Not all documents attached to docket entries are available for online viewing; some must be obtained directly from the clerk's office.
Which Courts in Dearborn County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and whose judgments carry a presumption of validity. Under Indiana law, courts of record have the authority to fine and imprison for contempt and to issue writs. Courts not of record, by contrast, do not maintain a permanent verbatim transcript of proceedings and generally have limited jurisdiction.
At present, all active trial courts in Dearborn County — the Circuit Court and the three Superior Courts — are courts of record under Indiana law. Indiana Code § 33-29-1-1 establishes superior courts as courts of record, and Indiana Code § 33-28-1-1 similarly designates circuit courts as courts of record.
Small claims divisions operating within the Superior Courts in Indiana function under simplified procedural rules, but they operate as divisions of courts of record rather than as independent courts not of record. Indiana does not currently maintain a separate justice of the peace or magistrate court system that would qualify as a court not of record at the county level. Any small claims judgment entered in Dearborn County is therefore a judgment of a court of record and is enforceable accordingly.