LaPorte County Court Records

LaPorte County sits in northwestern Indiana and spans the cities of La Porte and Michigan City, both of which host courthouse locations. The county's judicial system is part of Indiana's Judicial District 3 and includes a Circuit Court and four Superior Courts, each covering specific categories of cases across criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate matters. The Clerk of the Circuit Court accepts filings, enters judgments, issues process, and maintains certified copies of all court records across these divisions.

If you're searching for LaPorte County court records, the MyCase search tool, operated by the Indiana Judicial Branch, provides free online access to case docket information from courts statewide — including all LaPorte County courts. Records can also be obtained by visiting clerk offices in person, using public access terminals at the courthouse, or mailing a written request. The IndianaStateCourts.us website can help you identify publicly available case information and connect with relevant judicial resources across the state.

How to Look Up a Court Case in LaPorte County?

Knowing which court handled your case is the first step. LaPorte County's Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, high-value civil disputes, probate, and certain family law matters. Superior Court 1 in Michigan City handles criminal and civil cases. Superior Court 2 focuses on family law matters. Superior Court 3 in La Porte processes small claims, civil plenary cases, and misdemeanor criminal matters. Superior Court 4 in Michigan City handles additional civil and criminal caseloads.

Online Case Search

Start with MyCase, Indiana's statewide case information portal. You can search by:

Party name (plaintiff or defendant)
Case number
Filing date range
Court location
Case status

MyCase displays docket entries, hearing dates, case outcomes, and attorney information at no charge. Some documents may also be viewable through the system, though records classified as confidential under Indiana Administrative Rule 9 will not appear.

Live-Streamed Hearings

LaPorte Superior Court No. 3 live-streams its public hearings, including civil and criminal calls. You can watch these at the Indiana Courts livestream portal by selecting Superior Court 3.

In-Person Searches

A public access computer is available at the Clerk's office in the La Porte courthouse for on-site case lookups. Visitors may also inspect records in person at either courthouse location during office hours.

Court Locations and Contact Information

Court	Address	Phone
Circuit Court	813 Lincolnway, 3rd Floor, La Porte, IN 46350	(219) 326-6808 (La Porte) / (219) 874-5611 ext. 2385 (Michigan City)
Superior Court 1	300 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN 46360	(219) 874-5611
Superior Court 2	809 State Street, Suite 104A, La Porte, IN 46350	(219) 874-5611 ext. 7734
Superior Court 3	813 Lincolnway, Suite 105, La Porte, IN 46350	(219) 326-6808
Superior Court 4	300 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN 46360	(219) 874-5611

Office Hours

The Circuit Court Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Superior Court 3 keeps the same hours but extends to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and closes at 12:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

Copy Fees

When requesting copies from the Clerk's office, the standard charges are:

Plain copies: $1.00 per page
Certified copies: $2.00 per document

Bring valid identification — such as a driver's license or passport — when visiting in person.

Are Court Records Public in LaPorte County?

Indiana law establishes a strong presumption that court records are open to the public. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) broadly requires government agencies to make records available for inspection and copying. Court-specific access rules are set by Indiana Administrative Rule 9, which requires that publicly accessible court records be available during regular business hours at the courthouse.

Under Administrative Rule 9, the following categories of records are excluded from public access:

Juvenile court proceedings and records
Adoption records
Mental health proceedings
Records sealed or expunged by court order
Records pertaining to ongoing investigations
Certain personal identifiers, including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in specific contexts
Grand jury materials
Pre-sentence investigation reports

When restricted information appears in an otherwise public document, the clerk may redact the confidential portions before providing access. If you're seeking records that fall into a restricted category, you'll generally need to show a court order, a subpoena, or proof that you are a party to the case.

Records available through MyCase follow the same access rules — confidential records will not appear in online search results. For public records that aren't available electronically, an in-person visit to the Clerk's office or a written mail request is the way to go.

LaPorte County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in LaPorte County are spread across multiple courts based on offense severity. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over the most serious felony charges, including murder and Level 1 through Level 5 felonies. Level 6 felonies and misdemeanors are handled by Superior Court 3 in La Porte and by the Michigan City-based courts. Superior Court 1 also maintains a criminal division that processes felony and misdemeanor matters prosecuted by the County Prosecutor's Office.

Court Schedules for Criminal Matters

Court/Division	Criminal Hearing Day
Circuit Court — Level 6/D Felonies	Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
Circuit Court — Murder, Level 1–5 Felonies	Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Superior Court 1 — Arraignments	Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
Superior Court 1 — Criminal Court	Thursday at 8:30 a.m. (until 12:00 p.m.)

Searching Criminal Court Records

Criminal case records can be accessed through the following methods:

MyCase — Search the online case portal by defendant name, case number, or other criteria. Docket entries, hearing dates, and disposition information are available for public cases.
In-Person Request — Visit the Clerk's office at 813 Lincolnway, Suite 105, La Porte, IN 46350, or at 300 Washington Street, Michigan City, IN 46360, during regular business hours. Bring case details (names, case numbers, approximate dates) and valid identification.
Mail Request — Send a written request to the Clerk's office with relevant case details and payment for applicable copy fees.

Filing Fees for Criminal Matters (Superior Court 3)

Misdemeanor criminal: $185.00 plus fine
OWI criminal: $385.50 plus fine

Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records

The La Porte County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and related law enforcement documentation. The Sheriff's office has locations at:

La Porte County Sheriff's Office
Address: 809 State Street, Suite 202A, La Porte, IN 46350
Phone: (La Porte): (219) 326-7700
Phone: (Michigan City): (219) 879-3530

The Sheriff's office provides access to inmate information online, including charges, bond amounts, court dates, and release dates. The office also handles criminal history checks and directs users to MyCase for public records inquiries related to court case information.

Specialty courts within the county include a Drug Court and a Veterans Treatment Court, both of which process cases that may also generate criminal court records.

LaPorte County Civil Court Records

Civil disputes in LaPorte County are distributed across the Circuit Court and Superior Courts based on the nature and monetary value of the claim. The Circuit Court handles high-value civil cases, while Superior Court 3 processes small claims and civil plenary matters. Superior Courts 1 and 4 in Michigan City also carry civil case dockets.

Filing Fees for Civil Cases (Superior Court 3)

Case Type	Filing Fee
Small claims (under $10,000)	$97.00 + $10.00 service fee per defendant + $28.00 Sheriff service fee
Civil plenary	$157.00 + $10.00 service fee per additional defendant + $28.00 Sheriff service fee

A Plaintiff's Manual for Small Claims Court is available from the county website and walks you through every step of filing and pursuing a small claims case. Claims may be filed between 8:00 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.

Accessing Civil Court Records

Civil case records are available through MyCase, which displays docket entries, case status, hearing schedules, and sometimes filed documents for publicly accessible cases. In-person requests can be made at the Clerk's office in La Porte or Michigan City. For mail requests, include a detailed case description, the case number if known, party names, and a check or money order for copy fees — $1.00 per plain page or $2.00 per certified copy.

Most civil court records are publicly accessible under Indiana Administrative Rule 9. Exceptions include records involving trade secrets, certain financial information in dissolution proceedings, and matters involving sealed settlements.

The County Recorder's Office maintains recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, and liens that frequently intersect with civil litigation. The Recorder makes all recorded documents a matter of public record and provides access to recorded data that can be searched by name, document number, or document type.

LaPorte County Family Court Records

Family law cases in LaPorte County are primarily handled by Superior Court 2, which covers divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, adoption, domestic violence protection orders, and name changes. The Circuit Court also has jurisdiction over certain family matters. The local family law rules set out specific procedures and requirements for family cases filed in LaPorte County courts.

Types of Family Court Records

Dissolution of marriage (divorce) petitions, decrees, and property settlement agreements
Child custody and parenting time orders
Child support orders and modifications
Paternity determinations
Domestic violence protective orders
Adoption decrees (confidential)
Guardianship petitions and orders
Name change petitions

Obtaining Family Court Records

Family court records classified as public under Indiana Administrative Rule 9 can be searched through MyCase or requested from the Clerk's office. To request copies in person, visit:

Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Address: 813 Lincolnway, Suite 105, La Porte, IN 46350
Phone: (219) 326-6808 ext. 2471
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Have the case number, party names, and a description of the specific document ready when you visit. Copy fees are $1.00 per page (plain) or $2.00 per document (certified). Valid identification is required.

Adoption records and juvenile dependency proceedings (CHINS cases) are confidential and not available to the general public. Accessing those records typically requires a court order or proof of direct legal interest.

Self-Help Resources

The LaPorte County Self Help Center offers court forms and instructions for individuals representing themselves in family law matters. Available form packets include dissolution of marriage, modification of child support, contempt motions related to parenting time, and emancipation petitions. The Indiana Judicial Branch also publishes standardized court forms for family law cases.

Marriage Records

Marriage licenses are issued through the Circuit Clerk's office. The fee for an Indiana resident is $25.00. Out-of-state residents pay $65.00. These fees became effective July 1, 2021.

Vital Records

Birth and death records are managed by the LaPorte County Health Department and the Indiana Department of Health — not the courts. Access to these records is restricted: only the record subject, their immediate family, legal guardians, or authorized legal representatives may obtain certified copies. Anyone without a direct connection to the record subject must obtain a court-issued subpoena.

La Porte Vital Records Office
Address: 809 State Street, Suite 401A, La Porte, IN 46350
Phone: (219) 326-6808 ext. 2200
Fax: (219) 325-8628

LaPorte County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in LaPorte County fall under the Circuit Court, which oversees estate administration, will contests, trust administration, guardianship proceedings, and conservatorships. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all probate case files and processes copy requests.

Types of Probate Records

Last wills and testaments filed with the court
Petitions for estate administration (testate and intestate)
Letters testamentary and letters of administration
Estate inventories and accountings
Guardianship petitions and orders for incapacitated adults
Conservatorship proceedings
Trust-related filings

How to Search Probate Records

Probate case information can be searched on MyCase using the decedent's name or case number. The system shows docket entries and case status for publicly accessible probate matters.

For records that aren't available electronically, or when you need certified copies, follow these steps:

Gather the decedent's full name, approximate date of death, and estate case number if available.
Visit the Clerk's office at 813 Lincolnway, Suite 105, La Porte, IN 46350, or call (219) 326-6808.
Submit a request specifying the documents you need.
Pay the applicable copy fees — $1.00 per plain page or $2.00 for certified copies.

Mail requests should go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the La Porte courthouse address and must include sufficient case details along with a check or money order for the applicable fees.

Probate records are generally public under Indiana law. However, certain filings within guardianship proceedings — particularly those involving medical evaluations or mental health assessments — may be restricted from public access. The court may also seal specific documents in contested estate or trust litigation upon motion of a party.

The County Assessor's Office maintains property assessment records that are often relevant during estate administration for valuation purposes. Property data can be searched by parcel number, owner name, or address through the assessor's online portal.