Howard County Court Records Search

Howard County is in central Indiana with its county seat in Kokomo. The county’s court system operates out of the Howard County Courthouse at 104 North Buckeye Street and includes a Circuit Court and four Superior Courts, each exercising general jurisdiction over criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Court records generated by these tribunals are maintained primarily by the Howard County Clerk’s Office, which accepts filings, issues marriage licenses, processes child support payments, and serves as the central custodian of case documents. This guide covers the practical steps for locating, searching, and obtaining Howard County court records across all case types.

Searching for court records in Indiana can be done through official clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and several online tools. The Indiana Courts MyCase portal provides free online access to non-confidential case information across Indiana’s trial courts, including Howard County. IndianaStateCourts.us may also help users find publicly available case data. In addition, the Howard County Clerk’s Office accepts record requests in person, by mail, by fax, and by phone during regular business hours.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Howard County?

The most direct way to search Howard County court cases is through the state’s MyCase system, which is free and available around the clock.

Steps to search on MyCase:

Visit the MyCase search page.
Select “Howard” from the All Odyssey Courts dropdown menu.
Under “Limit Search To”, check the appropriate boxes (Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, or all).
Choose a search method — party name, case number, citation number, attorney name, or cross-reference number.
Enter the required details and run the search.
Click on individual results to view docket entries, hearing dates, parties, and filed documents.

Confidential cases — including juvenile, paternity, and other sealed matters — do not appear in MyCase results. Court hearing dates can also be checked through Doxpop, a third-party service that aggregates Indiana court data.

In-person requests:

Visit the Howard County Clerk’s Office with a valid photo ID to inspect or copy records. All pleadings filed by attorneys must be submitted through e-filing, but the public may request existing records in person.

Howard County Clerk’s Office
Address: 104 N. Buckeye Street, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901
Phone: (765) 456-2000
Fax: (765) 456-2267
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

The Clerk’s Office provides several downloadable forms on its website, including a Small Claim Form, Fee Waiver Form, Eviction Form, Certificate of Compliance, and Verification of Ownership.

Court locations:

All Howard County courts are located in the Howard County Courthouse at 104 North Buckeye Street in Kokomo:

Court	Room	Phone	Fax
Circuit Court	310	(765) 456-2202	—
Superior Court No. 1	216	(765) 456-2200	(765) 456-2327
Superior Court No. 2	304	(765) 456-2201	(765) 456-2936
Superior Court No. 3	216	(765) 456-2220	—
Superior Court No. 4	300	(765) 456-2900	(765) 456-2901

All courts observe the same hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The local court rules for Howard County detail specific procedural requirements for each division.

Are Court Records Public in Howard County?

Court records in Howard County are presumed open to the public under Indiana law. Indiana Code 5-14-3 — the Access to Public Records Act — establishes that all persons are entitled to complete information about government affairs and the official acts of public employees. Court-specific access is further governed by Rule 10 of the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records, which sets out what is available for public inspection and what is excluded.

Records generally open to the public include:

Criminal case dockets and dispositions (post-adjudication)
Civil complaints, answers, motions, and orders
Small claims filings
Probate filings, including wills, inventories, and accountings
Marriage license records
Property-related filings (deeds, mortgages, liens)

Records excluded from public access under Rule 10:

Adoption records
Records involving minors, including juvenile delinquency cases, termination of parental rights, and Children in Need of Services (CHINS) proceedings (sealed by default)
Sealed or expunged cases
Grand jury proceedings
Mental health case records
Drug or substance abuse treatment records (protected under federal law)
Information barred by state or federal statutes
Records containing Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other protected personal identifiers

The Clerk’s Office cannot provide legal advice regarding record access. Individuals uncertain about their eligibility to view particular records should consult an attorney or contact the Clerk directly at (765) 456-2000.

Howard County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Howard County are heard across the Circuit Court and all four Superior Courts, which share general jurisdiction over felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. The Clerk’s Office maintains the official record of all criminal proceedings.

Searching criminal case records online:

The MyCase portal displays non-confidential criminal docket information. Select Howard County and check “Criminal” under the search filters. Results include charges, hearing dates, dispositions, and sentencing information for cases that have not been sealed or expunged.

Sheriff’s Office resources:

The Howard County Sheriff’s Office maintains a Current Inmate Search tool on its website, allowing users to view individuals currently held in the Howard County Criminal Justice Center. The Sheriff’s Office also accepts open records requests using a downloadable Public Access Records Request Form. Completed forms should be submitted to:

Howard County Criminal Justice Center
1800 West Markland Avenue
Kokomo, IN 46901
Phone: (765) 457-1105

Statewide criminal history checks:

The Indiana State Police operates a Limited Criminal History (LCH) search that covers felonies and Class A misdemeanors statewide, including those originating in Howard County. The online fee is $15.00 per search plus a credit card processing charge. Completeness of results depends on county participation in the state reporting system. Mail requests must include a money order payable to the Indiana State Police.

Restrictions on criminal records:

Under Indiana law, records of juvenile delinquency and CHINS cases are sealed by default. Cases that have been expunged by court order are removed from public databases. Active law enforcement investigations, sensitive informant information, and victim/witness protection materials are also excluded from public access.

Howard County Civil Court Records

Civil matters in Howard County — including contract disputes, personal injury claims, landlord-tenant actions, property disputes, consumer complaints, and small claims — are filed in the Circuit Court or one of the Superior Courts depending on the nature and dollar value of the case. The Clerk’s Office serves as the custodian of all civil filings.

How to search civil records:

Use the MyCase portal, select Howard County, and check “Civil” under “Limit Search To”. Searches can be conducted by party name, case number, or attorney name.

For in-person requests, visit the Clerk’s Office at 104 N. Buckeye Street, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901, during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and be prepared to pay applicable copy fees. The Clerk can accept requests by phone at (765) 456-2000, by fax at (765) 456-2267, or by mail.

Small claims:

Howard County’s small claims cases are typically handled in Superior Court. The Clerk’s Office provides a downloadable Small Claim Form and an Eviction Form for landlord-tenant matters. Those who cannot afford filing fees may submit a Fee Waiver Form.

Property records:

Real property documents — deeds, mortgages, liens, neighborhood covenants, and business name filings — are maintained by the Howard County Recorder’s Office. With the exception of veterans’ military discharge records (restricted to the veteran or next of kin under Indiana statute), all Recorder’s Office records are public and open to inspection without restriction. Copies cost $1.00 per page. The Recorder Fee Schedule is available online.

Howard County Recorder’s Office
Address: Howard County Administration Center, 220 N. Main Street, Kokomo, IN 46901
Phone: (765) 456-2210
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Property records can be searched online through two portals:

Howard County Property and Tax Information (Beacon) — search by address, owner name, or parcel number for assessment, tax, and ownership details.
Tapestry Land Records — search recorded documents by name, document number, or document type. The service costs $8.75 per search plus $1.00 per page for copies.

Additional property-related offices include the Assessor’s Office at (765) 456-2211, the Auditor’s Office at (765) 456-2215, and the Treasurer’s Office at (765) 456-2213 — all located at the Howard County Administration Center, 220 N. Main Street, Kokomo, IN 46901.

Howard County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Howard County — divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence protective orders, and guardianship — are handled by the Circuit Court and Superior Courts. There is no separate family court; these cases are assigned among the existing divisions based on caseload and case type.

Divorce records:

Divorce cases are filed with the Howard County Clerk and maintained in the court’s docketing system. To search for divorce records, use MyCase and select “Family” under the search filters. Copies of divorce decrees can be requested in person at the Clerk’s Office or by mail. Certain information within divorce cases — such as child custody settlement details, domestic abuse findings, financial account data, and Social Security numbers — is restricted from public access.

Child support:

The Clerk’s Office accepts child support payments and provides child support payment histories. The Howard County Prosecutor’s Office also maintains a child support division that can be reached at (765) 456-2231.

Marriage licenses:

The Clerk’s Office issues marriage licenses in Howard County. Under Indiana law, the marriage license fee is $25.00 for Indiana residents and $65.00 for out-of-state residents. Both applicants must appear in person at the Clerk’s Office to complete the application. The license is valid for 60 days after issuance. Civil ceremonies can be arranged through the following individuals available after hours by appointment:

Name	Phone
Leonard P. Burch	(561) 502-7436
Mandy Lynn Carney	(765) 586-4595
Mary Gibson	(574) 540-7393
Diane Howard	(765) 456-7370
Nicholas LaCaille	(765) 553-0942
Monica Skinner	(765) 860-7722

Birth and death certificates:

The Howard County Health Department’s Vital Records Division issues birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Howard County. Records date back to 1875, though records from 1875 to 1920 are limited.

Birth certificates: $10.00 per copy
Death certificates: $10.00 per copy
Genealogy documents (records 75+ years old): $10.00 each

Requests can be processed online (with a small credit/debit card fee), by mail (cash or money order/cashier’s check only — no personal checks), or in person. Mail requests should be sent to:

Howard County Health Department
Director of Vital Records
120 E. Mulberry Street, Room 209
Kokomo, IN 46901
Phone: (765) 456-2403 (Option 2)

Birth and death certificates can also be obtained from the Indiana State Department of Health by downloading the Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record or the Application for Certified and Non-Certified Death Record and mailing them with payment ($10.00 for the first copy, $4.00 for each additional copy through the state) to Vital Records, Indiana State Department of Health, P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. Under Indiana law, birth and death records are confidential for 75 years and accessible only to the individual named, immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives during that period.

Howard County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Howard County — including will probate, estate administration, trust matters, conservatorships, and guardianships — are heard in both the Circuit Court and the Superior Courts. The Clerk’s Office maintains all probate filings.

Searching probate records:

The MyCase portal covers probate case data. Select Howard County and check “Probate” under “Limit Search To”, then search by the decedent’s name, case number, or attorney name. Results display docket entries, filings, hearing dates, and involved parties.

For in-person access, visit the Clerk’s Office or the specific court that handled the case. The Circuit Court (Room 310), Superior Court No. 1 (Room 216), Superior Court No. 2 (Room 304), Superior Court No. 3 (Room 216), or Superior Court No. 4 (Room 300) may have handled the probate matter depending on case assignment.

Requesting probate records by mail:

Send a written request specifying the decedent’s full legal name, date of death (if known), and case number (if available) to the Howard County Clerk’s Office at 104 N. Buckeye Street, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if requesting copies by return mail.

Historical probate records:

For genealogical and historical probate research, the Kokomo–Howard County Public Library (KHCPL) maintains collections that may include older estate records and related documents. The library also provides access to vital records dating back to 2011.

Library Branch	Address	Phone
KHCPL Main	220 N. Union St., Kokomo, IN 46901	(765) 457-3242
KHCPL South	1755 E. Center Rd., Kokomo, IN 46902	(765) 453-4150
KHCPL Russiaville	315 Mesa Dr., Russiaville, IN 46979	(765) 883-5112

Probate records in Howard County are generally public, but records involving guardianship of minors, mental health proceedings, or cases sealed by court order are excluded from public access under Rule 10 of the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records.