Understanding Civil Court Records in Indiana

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    Civil court records in Indiana contain data and information related to civil suits filed within the state's civil court system. These suits involve disputes or claims between two or more parties. Civil court records in Indiana are maintained by the judiciary and include, but are not limited to, property or money disputes, establishment or termination of parent-child relationships, and other non-criminal matters. Per Indiana's Rules on Access to Court Records, civil court records are accessible to all individuals. However, access may be restricted in some instances.

    Civil Court Record Statistics Reported by Indiana Courts

    According to the Indiana Judicial Branch: Trial Court Statistics by County, civil case filings in 2024 saw a notable increase compared to the previous year. That year, Indiana trial courts recorded 465,913 new civil cases, including 13,086 tort cases (2.8% of the total), 1,787 estate litigation cases (0.4%), 7,859 guardianship cases (1.7%), 68,866 evictions (14.8%), and 77,278 small claims cases (16.6%).

    In 2023, a total of 421,949 civil cases were filed. That year's breakdown shows that 3.2% were tort cases, 0.5% were estate-related, 1.9% were guardianship cases, 16.9% were eviction cases, and 18.8% were small claims.

    At the appellate level, 254 civil appeals (including three petitions for rehearing and one direct appeal) were received by the Indiana Supreme Court in Fiscal Year 2025. That year, the Supreme Court disposed of 251 of those cases. In Fiscal Year 2024, the court received 258 (nine petitions for rehearing and three direct appeals) and closed 254 cases. The caseload handled by the Supreme Court in Fiscal Year 2023, however, was lower, with 244 cases received (no petitions and two direct hearings and 231 cases closed.

    The report indicates that the vast majority of civil cases in Indiana are handled by the trial courts, with the Supreme Court overseeing approximately 1% of the total civil caseload.

    How Civil Records Differ from Criminal Records in Indiana

    Civil and criminal court records in Indiana differ in the information they contain, as well as in the underlying nature of the cases and their outcomes. The following table summarizes some distinctions:

    Category

    Civil Court Record

    Criminal Court Record

    Legal Focus

    Disputes between individuals/entities

    Criminal offenses prosecuted by the state

    Case Title

    Plaintiff (the individual filing the complaint) v. Defendant (the individual or entity alleged to have done wrong)

    The State of Indiana (prosecution) v. Defendant (the accused)

    Potential Outcome

    Financial damages, injunctions, and custody or other court orders

    Fines, incarceration, probation

    Public Access

    Public, with limited restrictions

    Public, but subject to more restrictions

    Structure of the Civil Court System in Indiana

    There are two levels of courts in Indiana: the trial courts (comprising Circuit, Superior, City or Town, and Tax courts) and the appellate courts (the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals).

    Below are the jurisdictions of the trial courts that hear civil matters in Indiana:

    Court

    Type of Civil Case

    Circuit

    Handles family law, general litigation (such as contract, personal injury, civil torts), and other civil matters, including protective orders, injunctions, administrative appeals, and name changes.

    Superior

    Shares jurisdiction with the circuit court and may handle many of the same civil case types, depending on the county.

    Public Access to Civil Court Documents in Indiana

    Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), indexed in Indiana Code (IC) 5-14-3, and the Rules on Access to Court Records make court records, including civil court documents, generally available for public inspection and copying.

    In line with these regulations, certain records may be restricted from public access. These restrictions limit access to specific information within civil court files and prohibit access to documents that are sealed or exempt from disclosure. Examples include

    • Mental health case records
    • Paternity records created after July 1941 and before July 2014
    • Guardians ad litem reports
    • Custody evaluation reports
    • Parenting coordinator reports

    How to Lookup Indiana Civil Court Records

    Civil court records in Indiana can be accessed through several methods, including online searches via the state's Case Search portal. To search, users need basic case details such as

    • The name and date of birth of an individual or business
    • The name of the attorney of record
    • Case information, such as the case, citation, or cross-reference number

    Sealed, confidential, or restricted records are excluded from online access.

    Civil court records may also be accessed in person at the clerk's office of the court where the case was heard. Clerks are responsible for generating and maintaining accurate and up-to-date court records. In-person inspections are free during regular business hours, as provided in Section 8 of the Indiana APRA.

    A written request can also be made to the court clerk's office via mail, following the custodian's access procedures. A fee may apply based on the nature of the search or document required.

    Types of Civil Cases Filed in Indiana Courts

    Civil cases in Indiana cover a wide range of non-criminal legal matters. These include

    • Tort: Includes strict liability, negligence, and intentional torts. The circuit court handles these cases.
    • Family Law: Includes divorce, child support, and child custody. Jurisdiction depends on the county and may fall under the circuit or superior court.
    • Small Claims: Civil disputes involving amounts less than $6,000. These are handled in the small claim courts, which may be a division of a trial court.
    • Business Disputes: Cases involving labor, goods, or services. Depending on the complexity and amount involved, they may be heard by the small claims, circuit, or superior courts.
    • Contract Disputes: Includes breaches of agreement and credit-debtor issues. These fall under the jurisdiction of the superior or circuit court.
    • Real estate or property disputes: Includes title issues, construction disputes, and landlord-tenant conflicts. These may be handled in the circuit or superior court.

    Information Captured in Indiana Civil Court Files

    An Indiana civil court file contains information and documents related to civil cases filed in the state. In accordance with court procedures, these documents are preserved by the clerk of the court where the case was handled. Data typically found in a civil case file includes

    Documents filed

    • Complaints
    • Answers and counterclaims
    • Service documents
    • Affidavits
    • Motions
    • Court orders and judgments
    • Subpoenas

    Case information

    • Case number
    • Case type
    • Filing date
    • Status
    • Parties to the case (plaintiff and defendant)
    • Appearances filed
    • List of documents filed

    Retention and Archiving of Civil Court Records in Indiana

    Indiana's judiciary provides a retention schedule, organized by case type, to guide the management and maintenance of court records.

    Some key timeframes for civil records include

    • Small Claims Case File: Destroyed 5 years after the order releasing judgment, or 10 years where judgment has not been ordered
    • Dismissed Small Claims Case File: Destroyed 2 years after the order to dismiss
    • Family Law Records
      • Adoption: Generally retained permanently
      • Paternity, Guardianship, Probate, and Estates: Permanent
      • Wills: Maintained permanently in original format
    • Plenary Civil Case Files (1790-1799, 1881): Transferred to Indiana Archive and Records Administration
    • Civil Case Files before 1976: Destroyed
    • Record of Designated Judgments and Orders: Each type is maintained permanently

    Anyone seeking a specific civil case file can consult the retention schedule or the clerk's office to verify if the record still exists and whether it has been transferred to the Indiana State Archives.

    References and Official Resources