Decatur County Court Records Search

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    Decatur County, Indiana, with its county seat in Greensburg, operates a court system consisting of a Circuit Court, Superior Court, and Magistrate Court. Together, these courts generate a wide range of legal documentation — from criminal case filings and civil judgments to family law orders and probate proceedings. Under Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records Rule 3, a "Court Record" encompasses both Case Records (pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, and judgments in a specific lawsuit) and Court Administrative Records (calendars, statistical reports, and financial ledgers maintained by the Clerk). The elected Clerk of the Circuit Court is the statutory custodian of these records in Decatur County.

    If you're starting a search, Indiana court case information can be located through official court portals, public access terminals at the courthouse, and the Clerk's Office. IndianaStateCourts.us is a resource that may help you identify publicly available court case information across Indiana's county court system, including Decatur County.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Decatur County?

    The most accessible tool for searching Decatur County court records online is MyCase, Indiana's official Odyssey Public Access portal. MyCase provides free public access to non-confidential case information across Indiana circuit, superior, and magistrate courts. You can search by party name, case number, attorney name, or bar number. To focus results on Decatur County, select "Decatur" from the court dropdown menu. For family or probate cases, the "Limit search to" filter narrows results by case category.

    Certified copies and confidential case documents require an in-person or mail request through the Clerk's Office. All courts in Decatur County share the same courthouse:

    Decatur County Courthouse
    Address: 150 Courthouse Square, Greensburg, IN 47240
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    Decatur County Circuit Court
    150 Courthouse Square, Greensburg, IN 47240
    Phone: (812) 663-8455
    Email: circuitcourt@decaturcounty.in.gov
    Judge: Honorable Timothy B. Day

    Decatur County Superior Court
    150 Courthouse Square, Suite 219, Greensburg, IN 47240
    Phone: (812) 663-8523
    Email: superiorcourt@decaturcounty.in.gov
    Judge: Honorable Matthew D. Bailey

    Decatur County Clerk of the Circuit Court
    150 Courthouse Square, Suite 244, Greensburg, IN 47240
    Phone: (812) 663-8223
    Fax: (812) 662-6627
    Clerk: Janet Howell
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    Online court payments — including traffic fines and court costs — can be made through the Indiana Public Courts Portal.

    Are Court Records Public in Decatur County?

    The default rule in Indiana is openness. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (IC § 5-14-3) and Indiana Access to Court Records Rule 4 together establish that members of the public are entitled to inspect and copy court records during courthouse business hours. The Public Access to Court Records Handbook provides detailed guidance on how these rules apply in practice.

    Certain records are excluded from public access under Indiana Access to Court Records Rule 5. These include:

    • Adoption and juvenile records
    • Mental health proceedings
    • Grand jury records
    • Medical and paternity records
    • Drug and substance abuse records
    • Sealed and expunged records
    • Mediation and mini-trial proceedings
    • Pretrial release and problem-solving court supervision records
    • Investigative records not related to a pending criminal proceeding
    • Juror and prospective juror personal information
    • Full Social Security numbers, account numbers, and personal identification numbers of living persons
    • Personal identifying information of witnesses or victims in criminal, domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, juvenile, or civil protection order proceedings
    • Residential addresses of court employees
    • Employment and licensing examination data

    When a requester asks to see a record that falls within an excluded category, the court record remains confidential until the court rules on any access request under Rule 9.

    Decatur County Criminal Court Records

    Both the Decatur County Circuit Court and Superior Court handle criminal matters. The Circuit Court, which has unlimited trial jurisdiction under the Indiana Constitution, processes felony cases and more serious criminal charges. The Superior Court, as a general jurisdiction trial court, also hears criminal matters as part of its shared jurisdiction.

    Criminal court case information is searchable free of charge through MyCase for non-confidential proceedings. Relevant search fields include party name and case number. You can filter by case type to isolate criminal matters within Decatur County.

    Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Reports

    For arrest records, crime reports, and incident documentation, the Decatur County Sheriff's Department maintains a dedicated Records Section. Accident reports can be obtained in person Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or by mail.

    Decatur County Sheriff's Department — Records Section
    Physical Address: 601 South Ireland Street, Greensburg, IN 47240
    Mail Requests Address: 315 South Ireland Street, Greensburg, IN 47240
    Phone: (Dispatch): (812) 222-4911
    Non-Emergency: (812) 663-8125
    Fax: (812) 663-6887
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    Accident report fees:

    • In-person: $3.00 per report
    • By mail: $3.00 (include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check payable to the Decatur County Sheriff's Department)
    • Phone, credit card, and email requests are not accepted for accident reports

    For criminal history background checks beyond what appears in court dockets, the Indiana State Police administers a name-based Limited Criminal History (LCH) search online and by mail. The LCH covers Indiana felony and misdemeanor arrest records only and does not include out-of-state history.

    Decatur County Civil Court Records

    The Decatur County Clerk maintains civil records across a broad range of case types, including civil tort actions, civil plenary cases, small claims, protective orders, reciprocal support cases, and mental health proceedings. These records are accessible through the MyCase portal for non-confidential matters, or in person at the Clerk's Office.

    Small Claims

    Small claims cases in Indiana have a jurisdictional cap based on the amount in controversy. The Decatur County Clerk's Office provides Small Claims Forms directly on the county website, including motions, verified complaints, and proceedings supplemental forms. Indiana Rules of Small Claims Court govern these proceedings statewide. A Motion for Filing Fee Waiver is also available for qualifying litigants who cannot afford the filing fee.

    Standard civil filing fees in Indiana vary by case type. Common fees include approximately $157 for standard civil cases and lower amounts for small claims depending on the amount in controversy. Contact the Clerk at (812) 663-8223 to confirm current fee schedules before filing.

    Requesting Civil Records

    • Online: Search non-confidential cases free of charge via MyCase
    • In person: Visit Suite 244 at the Decatur County Courthouse, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    • Payment: Traffic fines and court costs can be paid online through the Indiana Public Courts Portal

    The Decatur County Circuit Court also maintains Local Rules of Court governing local civil procedure, and both courts link to the Indiana Legal Help resource for self-represented litigants seeking guidance on forms and procedures.

    Decatur County Family Court Records

    Family law cases in Decatur County — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, domestic violence protective orders, paternity, and adoption — are handled by the Circuit and Superior Courts. The Decatur County Clerk's Office maintains all family court filings.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce records are publicly accessible for cases that are not sealed. The MyCase portal supports targeted searches — select "Decatur" from the court dropdown and "Family" from the case type filter to locate dissolution of marriage cases. In-person access is available at the Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Copies of court documents carry per-page fees consistent with the standard clerk fee schedule.

    Marriage Licenses and Records

    Marriage licenses are issued by the Decatur County Clerk's Office. The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup (MLPL) tool allows anyone to search for marriage licenses by applicant name, marriage year, and county — a useful resource when the county of issuance is uncertain. To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate, visit the Clerk's Office and provide the full names of both spouses and the marriage date.

    Birth and Death Records

    Vital records in Decatur County are maintained by the Decatur County Health Department (DCHD) Vital Records Division — not the courts. Submit requests by email at vitalrecords@decaturcounty.in.gov or wherd@decaturcounty.in.gov, or by fax at (812) 663-4174. The Vital Records Division charges the following fees:

    Record TypeFee
    Birth certificate (standard or wallet size)$25.00
    Birth certificate bundle (standard and wallet size)$27.00
    Death certificate (standard size)$25.00
    Each additional birth or death certificate$2.00
    Amendment to birth record$25.00
    Paternity/Paternity upon Marriage$60.00

    Payments are accepted by cash, money order, or credit card (via the AllPaid credit card system, which applies a third-party service fee). Access to birth records is restricted to the subject (must be 18 or older), parents listed on the certificate, grandparents, adult children of the named person, spouses, siblings (with written release), court-appointed legal guardians, and authorized attorneys and caseworkers. Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all requests.

    Decatur County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Decatur County — including supervised and unsupervised estate administrations, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships — fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court and are administered through the Clerk's Office. The Decatur County Clerk is the official custodian of all probate case files.

    Searching Probate Records

    Probate records that are not confidential can be searched online at no cost through MyCase. To narrow results:

    • Navigate to the Name tab and enter the deceased's or ward's name.
    • Alternatively, use the Case tab to search by a known case number.
    • In the case type filter, select Probate to isolate estate and guardianship proceedings.
    • Select Decatur as the court to limit results to local filings.

    In-Person and Mail Requests

    For certified copies of probate documents, or to access records that may be restricted, visit the Clerk's Office in Suite 244 at the Decatur County Courthouse during business hours. Standard copy fees apply. For small estates (those valued at $100,000 or less), a small estate affidavit form is available through the Clerk's website as an alternative to full probate administration.

    Filing Fees

    Indiana's uniform trial court fee schedule sets the probate opening fee at approximately $177.00 for standard estate administration filings. Additional costs may apply depending on whether sheriff service is required for notice purposes. Guardianship petitions follow a similar filing structure. Confirm current fees directly with the Clerk's Office at (812) 663-8223 before filing, as the schedule is updated periodically by the Indiana General Assembly.