DeKalb County, Indiana Court Records

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    DeKalb County sits in the northeastern corner of Indiana, with Auburn as its county seat. The county's courts produce records covering a wide range of legal matters — from felony prosecutions and civil contract disputes to probate estates and family law cases. All of these records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts, Dana Hedrick, who is responsible for recording, preserving, and making case filings publicly accessible for the Circuit Court and both Superior Courts. Knowing which court handles which type of case, and how to reach it, is the best place to start any records search in DeKalb County.

    You can search court records through the Clerk's Office in person, by mail, at public-access terminals at the courthouse, or through Indiana's online case tools. IndianaStateCourts.us can help you get oriented to Indiana's court structure and find publicly available case information. Indiana's Judiciary also runs a free statewide case search database that covers DeKalb County courts — more on that below.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in DeKalb County?

    All three of DeKalb County's primary courts share the same courthouse campus in Auburn. The Clerk's Office coordinates record requests for all three.

    CourtAddressPhoneJudge
    Circuit Court100 S. Main Street, Auburn, IN 46706(260) 925-2764Hon. Kurt Grimm
    Superior Court No. 1100 S. Main Street, Auburn, IN 46706(260) 925-4723 / Fax: (260) 927-4798Hon. Adam C. Squiller
    Superior Court No. 2100 S. Main Street, Auburn, IN 46706(260) 925-5277 / Fax: (260) 927-8540Hon. Patrick Jessup
    Butler City Court120 West Main Street (P.O. Box 13), Butler, IN 46721(260) 868-2441 / Fax: (260) 868-5524Hon. Richard L. Obendorf

    DeKalb County Clerk of Courts
    Address: 100 S. Main Street, P.O. Box 230, Auburn, IN 46706
    Phone: (260) 925-0912 | Fax: (260) 925-5126
    Clerk: Dana Hedrick
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Note: The Clerk's Office closes for lunch daily from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

    There are three main ways to search for a court case in DeKalb County:

    1. Online via MyCase: The Indiana Judiciary's MyCase portal gives free public access to case records from DeKalb County's courts. Search by case number, party name, or attorney name. Some document types are available to view and download at no cost directly through the portal.
    2. In Person: Visit the Clerk's Office at 100 S. Main Street during business hours. Bring as much identifying information as you can — party names, approximate filing dates, and case numbers if you have them. Ask for the Request for Copies of Court Records form from the clerk.
    3. By Mail: Complete the records request form and send it with a check or money order payable to DeKalb County Clerk to P.O. Box 230, Auburn, IN 46706. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return correspondence.

    The Clerk's Office maintains separate direct lines by division: Civil Division (260) 925-0912, Criminal Division (260) 925-4575, Small Claims Division (260) 925-1315, Traffic Division (260) 925-4576, and Child Support (260) 925-6595.

    Are Court Records Public in DeKalb County?

    Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at IC 5-14-3, establishes that the public has the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by government agencies, including courts. That presumption of openness means most civil, criminal, and family court case records in DeKalb County are accessible to anyone who submits a proper request with enough identifying information.

    That said, Indiana Administrative Rule 9 governs public access to court records specifically and carves out categories that are either fully excluded from public access or must have certain information redacted:

    • Records declared confidential by the Indiana Supreme Court
    • Certain records involving minors, including juvenile delinquency proceedings
    • Documents that are part of a debtor's mitigation package
    • Records exempt under applicable state or federal statutes
    • Personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and medical information — these are redacted even in otherwise public filings

    When a court file contains a mix of public and confidential material, clerks provide access to the publicly accessible portions while withholding restricted documents. The Indiana Judicial Branch's public records page explains how to request access to records excluded from standard public access, including the process for seeking court approval to review restricted materials.

    DeKalb County Criminal Court Records

    The Circuit Court and both Superior Courts share criminal jurisdiction in DeKalb County, with case assignments determined by the local caseload allocation plan. The Circuit Court handles certain criminal case categories under local court rules, while the Superior Courts share felony and misdemeanor jurisdiction. The DeKalb County local court rules, available through the Indiana Judicial Branch local rules page, set out procedures for criminal filings, bail, and case management across all county courts.

    To search criminal case records online, use the MyCase portal and enter the defendant's name or case number. For publicly accessible cases, the portal displays criminal case dockets, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions.

    For arrest records and law enforcement reports, contact the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office:

    DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Records Division
    Address: 215 E. 8th Street, Auburn, IN 46706
    Phone: (260) 925-3365, ext. 4410
    Email: sheriff@co.dekalb.in.us
    Website: dekalbsheriff.in.gov

    Sheriff's Office records fees are as follows:

    Record TypeFee
    Police Reports$2.00
    State Crash Reports$5.00
    Limited Criminal Background Check$2.00
    Fingerprints$10.00 per card

    Payment is accepted in cash, money order, or cashier's check payable to DeKalb County Sheriff. In-person requests receive a response within 24 hours; mail requests are processed within seven days. For mail requests, download the Request for Public Records Form from the Sheriff's website and include a self-addressed stamped envelope with payment.

    Limited criminal history checks — which produce results from DeKalb County convictions only — must be requested in person at the Sheriff's Office with state-approved identification. State crash reports can also be purchased online at buycrash.com. The Sheriff's website also hosts an inmate search tool and a warrant search for current warrants.

    For court-filed criminal records, submit a completed Request for Copies of Court Records to the Clerk's Criminal Division at (260) 925-4575. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page; certified copies cost $3.00 per document plus the per-page fee.

    DeKalb County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in DeKalb County are distributed among the Circuit Court and Superior Courts according to the local caseload allocation plan. The Circuit Court retains sole jurisdiction over civil equity matters, general civil cases with unlimited damages, and complex commercial litigation. Superior Courts share civil jurisdiction for many standard civil claims. Small claims cases — those involving amounts within the statutory small claims threshold — go through the Small Claims Division of the Clerk's Office.

    Small claims filing and case information:

    Small Claims Division – DeKalb County Clerk
    Phone: (260) 925-1315 | Fax: (260) 927-1331
    Address: 100 S. Main Street, Auburn, IN 46706

    Small claims forms are available directly from the Clerk's Office small claims page. The Indiana Judiciary also publishes a Small Claims Manual that walks self-represented parties through the process of filing and pursuing a claim. Filing fees for small claims cases in Indiana generally range from $35 to $85, depending on the court and the amount of the claim.

    To request civil case records from the Clerk:

    1. Complete the Request for Copies of Court Records form.
    2. Specify the case number, party names, and the specific documents you need.
    3. Include payment: $1.00 per page for plain copies, $3.00 per document for certified copies, by check or money order payable to DeKalb County Clerk.
    4. Submit in person at 100 S. Main Street, or by mail to P.O. Box 230, Auburn, IN 46706.

    Civil case dockets are also searchable through MyCase for cases filed in the county's courts.

    DeKalb County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in DeKalb County — including dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, paternity, protective orders, and adoptions — are handled by the Circuit and Superior Courts. The Clerk of Courts maintains the complete case file for each family law proceeding and provides copies upon request through the standard records request process.

    Dissolution of marriage (divorce): Forms for initiating and responding to divorce cases in DeKalb County are available from the Clerk's Office dissolution of marriage forms page. To request copies of an existing divorce case file, submit a Request for Copies of Court Records to the Clerk's Civil Division at (260) 925-0912. Copy fees apply: $1.00 per page for plain copies, $3.00 per document for certified copies.

    Protective orders: Forms for requesting civil protective orders are available from the Clerk's protection order forms page.

    Marriage licenses: The DeKalb County Clerk's Office issues all marriage licenses. Both applicants must appear in person — an appointment is recommended at (260) 925-0912. Starting the process online at the Indiana marriage license application portal can reduce time spent at the office. Key requirements and fees:

    • Both parties must appear in person with valid photo identification showing a DeKalb County address (for Indiana residents)
    • Age: Both applicants must be 18 or older (see clerk for under-18 requirements)
    • Residency: At least one Indiana resident applicant must reside in DeKalb County; out-of-state residents may apply only if the ceremony is performed in DeKalb County
    • Fee: $25.00 for Indiana residents; $65.00 for out-of-state residents
    • Validity: 60 days from date of issue; valid only for ceremonies performed in Indiana
    • Certified copy fee: $4.00 per certified copy (required for name changes at the BMV and Social Security Administration)

    Birth and death records needed for family law or estate purposes are maintained by the DeKalb County Health Department. As of January 1, 2026, the fee for both birth and death certificates is $15.00 per certificate. Records are available from 1882 to present. You can order certificates through the DeKalb County Vital Records online application system or in person:

    DeKalb County Health Department Vital Records
    Address: 220 E. 7th Street, Suite 110, Auburn, IN 46706
    Phone: (260) 925-2220
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (last issuance at 4:15 p.m.)

    DeKalb County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in DeKalb County — including administration of decedents' estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and related proceedings — are heard by the DeKalb County Superior Court. The court's address for probate matters is:

    DeKalb County Superior Court (Probate)
    Address: 100 South Main Street, Auburn, IN 46706
    Phone: (260) 925-4723 | Fax: (260) 927-4798

    The Clerk of Courts maintains all probate case files. To access probate records, submit a completed Request for Copies of Court Records form to the Clerk's Office with the decedent's name, the approximate year of filing, and any known case number. Plain copies are $1.00 per page; certified copies are $3.00 per document plus the per-page fee. Payment must be by check or money order payable to DeKalb County Clerk.

    Non-confidential probate records are also searchable through the Indiana MyCase portal. Enter the decedent's name or assigned case number to locate the case and view publicly accessible docket entries and documents. Indiana also maintains a Guardianship Registry through the state courts portal, which you can use to search for active guardianships statewide.

    Death certificates — required to open most estate proceedings — can be obtained from the DeKalb County Health Department for $15.00 per certified copy, or ordered through the Indiana Department of Health Vital Records for $8.00 for the first certificate and $4.00 for each additional copy. Having the correct certified death certificate in hand before initiating a probate petition at the Superior Court will help keep the filing process on track.