Lawrence County Court Records Search

Lawrence County, Indiana, operates a multi-court judicial system centered in Bedford that handles the full spectrum of legal matters—from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to estate administrations and family proceedings. Court records generated across these courts are official documents that capture case filings, hearing dates, judgments, charges, and orders, and they serve as essential references for legal research, background investigations, and historical inquiry. Responsibility for maintaining these records is shared primarily between the Lawrence County Clerk’s Office and the individual courts, each of which preserves its own division’s docket.

Residents searching for Lawrence County case information can use several approaches. Indiana’s statewide public access portal, IndianaStateCourts.us, is one place to begin orienting a search, and the state’s court case portal at mycase.in.gov provides free online access to case summaries, filings, and hearing dates across participating Indiana counties, including Lawrence. Records can also be located through clerk offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and third-party subscription databases.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Lawrence County?

Lawrence County has three trial courts: the Circuit Court, Superior Court I, and Superior Court II. Knowing which court handled a case is the first step in locating records efficiently. Below are the contact details for each:

Lawrence Circuit Court

Judge: Nathan G. Nikirk
Address: 916 15th Street, Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: (812) 275-2421
Fax: (812) 275-1044
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.)
Jurisdiction: Civil cases, probate (estates, guardianships, adoptions), paternity, CHINS, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, civil protection orders, Title IV-D child support, name/gender changes, and half of all dissolution of marriage cases (cause numbers beginning “47C01”)

Lawrence County Superior Court I

Judge: John M. Plummer III
Address: 918 16th Street, Suite 300, Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: (812) 275-3124
Fax: (812) 277-2034
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Jurisdiction: Civil disputes, dissolution of marriage (cause numbers beginning “47D01”), and related civil matters

Lawrence County Superior Court II

Judge: Bob Cline
Address: 918 16th Street, Number 400, Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: (812) 275-4161
Fax: (812) 277-2018
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

To search for case information, use one or more of the following methods:

Online via MyCase: Visit mycase.in.gov and search by party name, case number, or hearing date. Access is free and available around the clock. Note that confidential cases—including those involving juveniles or sealed records—do not appear.
Online via Doxpop:Doxpop provides access to current and historical Indiana court cases, including Lawrence County, on a subscription or pay-per-search basis.
Court Calendar: The public court calendar lists upcoming hearings, excluding confidential matters.
In Person: Visit the relevant court’s clerk’s office at the courthouse during business hours and provide the party name or case number to request records. The County Clerk is located at 916 15th Street, Room 31, Bedford, IN 47421; Phone: (812) 275-7543
By Mail: Submit a written request to the County Clerk or the specific court, including the case number or party names and payment for any applicable copy fees.

Are Court Records Public in Lawrence County?

Most Lawrence County court records are accessible to the public under Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3. The Act establishes a presumption of openness for government records, including judicial documents, allowing any person—not just Indiana residents—to inspect and copy public records subject to statutory exceptions.

Several categories of records are shielded from public disclosure:

Juvenile records: Protected under Indiana Code § 31-39, which restricts access to youth court proceedings unless specifically authorized by the court.
Expunged and sealed records: Under Indiana Code § 35-38-9, records of arrests, charges, and certain convictions that have been expunged or sealed are removed from public access and cannot be disclosed without a court order.
Medical and mental health records: Protected by state law and federal HIPAA regulations, these records are not subject to public inspection even when submitted as court exhibits.
Certain family court documents: Custody agreements and other materials involving minors may be restricted to protect children’s interests.
Military discharge records: The Lawrence County Recorder does not permit public viewing or copying of military discharge (DD-214) documents, consistent with Indiana law.

Records accessible under APRA may be inspected in person during office hours, and agencies must respond to written requests promptly. When a request is denied, the agency must state the legal basis for the denial.

Lawrence County Criminal Court Records

Criminal matters in Lawrence County move through two stages. Misdemeanor charges and initial hearings for felony cases are handled at the Superior Court level, while felony prosecutions proceed through the Circuit and Superior Courts depending on case assignment. The Lawrence County Circuit Court and both Superior Courts maintain criminal dockets covering charges, hearing dates, plea agreements, verdicts, and sentencing orders.

Criminal dockets are searchable at no charge through the Indiana MyCase portal. The Lawrence County Local Court Rules govern courtroom procedures and filing requirements for criminal matters within the county.

For arrest records and information on individuals in county custody, contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office:

Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office

Address: 916 15th Street, Bedford, IN 47421 (administrative)
Phone: (812) 275-3316
Fax: (812) 277-2007
Jail Division Phone: (812) 277-2014
Emergency: 911
Tip Line: (812) 277-2020

Inmate visitation hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily, with one free visit permitted per day. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the facility is closed on holidays.

For statewide criminal history records, the Indiana State Police (ISP) processes Limited Criminal History (LCH) requests, which include felony and Class A misdemeanor arrests within Indiana. This name- and date-of-birth-based search is available online through the ISP services portal or by mailing the ISP Criminal History Request Form with a money order payable to the State of Indiana to: Indiana State Police, Criminal History Limited Check, P.O. Box 6188, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188. For a nationwide fingerprint-based check, the ISP also offers a National Full Criminal History report.

Lawrence County Civil Court Records

Civil litigation in Lawrence County is divided between the Circuit and Superior Courts depending on the nature of the claim. The Lawrence Circuit Court handles civil cases broadly, including civil collections and civil protection orders. Superior Court I handles larger civil disputes and certain domestic matters. Small claims and minor civil actions are processed through the Superior Courts as well.

To locate civil case records:

Search online at mycase.in.gov using the party’s name or case number.
Use Doxpop for broader historical searches, including cases back to the mid-1990s.
Visit the County Clerk’s Office in person at 916 15th Street, Room 31, Bedford (hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and request records by case number or party name.
Submit a written mail request to the Clerk with the relevant identifying information and payment for copy fees.

Civil case documents such as complaints, motions, judgments, and settlement orders are generally public. Copy fees apply for printed documents; the Recorder’s Office charges $1.00 per page for property-related records, and court copy fees are set by statute.

Free legal forms for many civil proceedings are available through Indiana Legal Help. Self-represented litigants can use the site’s resources to download commonly needed court forms, including a Motion for Continuance and a Change of Address form. For parties who cannot afford the filing fee, an Affidavit of Indigency may be submitted to request a fee waiver.

Property records—including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related documents—are maintained by the Lawrence County Recorder’s Office and are searchable for records from December 1, 1994 onward at Doxpop. The Recorder accepts all forms of payment, charges $1.00 per page for copies, and accepts electronic filings through approved providers including Simplifile ((800) 460-5657) and CSC ((855) 200-1150).

Lawrence County Recorder’s Office

Address: 916 15th Street, Room 21, Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: (812) 275-4139
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (last recording time: 3:30 p.m.)

Lawrence County Family Court Records

Family law proceedings in Lawrence County are distributed across the Circuit and Superior Courts depending on the parties’ circumstances. Dissolution of marriage (divorce) cases with cause numbers beginning “47C01” are filed in the Lawrence Circuit Court; those beginning “47D01” are filed in Superior Court I. Custody and child support matters for unmarried parents fall under the Circuit Court’s jurisdiction, as do paternity cases, termination of parental rights proceedings, and civil protection orders.

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines (2022 Update) govern custody and visitation arrangements in all Indiana courts, including Lawrence County. Parties calculating child support obligations may use the Indiana Child Support Calculator provided by the Indiana Judicial Branch. Protection order e-filing is available through the Indiana courts protection order e-file system, and protection order forms can be downloaded through the Indiana courts self-service page.

For uncontested or straightforward family matters, Indiana Legal Services and the District 10 Pro Bono Project provide free or reduced-cost legal assistance to qualifying Lawrence County residents.

Marriage Records: Marriage licenses are issued by the Lawrence County Clerk’s Office at 916 15th Street, Room 31, Bedford. Both applicants must appear in person. For questions, call (812) 275-7543. The Health Department does not issue marriage licenses and does not hold divorce decrees; those are maintained by the Clerk.

Birth Records: The Lawrence County Health Department issues certified birth certificates for events recorded since 1882. The fee is $10.00 per copy. Requesters must be age 18 or older, provide acceptable government-issued photo ID, and submit a completed Birth Certificate Request Form. Walk-in access requires arrival by 3:15 p.m. The office does not accept personal checks; cash is accepted in-office, and money orders or cashier’s checks are required for mail requests. The Health Department is located at 2419 Mitchell Road, Bedford, IN 47421; Phone: (812) 275-3234

Death Records: Death certificates are issued by the same office at a fee of $15.00 per copy. Complete the Death Certificate Request Form and submit it with valid ID and payment. A list of acceptable forms of identification is available from the Health Department. For records involving events in other Indiana counties, contact the Indiana State Department of Health.

Vital Record Type	Fee	Issuing Office
Birth Certificate	$10.00/copy	Lawrence County Health Dept.
Death Certificate	$15.00/copy	Lawrence County Health Dept.
Genealogy Search (75+ yrs)	$5.00/name	Lawrence County Health Dept.
Genealogy Info Sheet	$5.00 each	Lawrence County Health Dept.
Correction Affidavit	$20.00	Lawrence County Health Dept.
Paternity Affidavit	$25.00	Lawrence County Health Dept.

Lawrence County Probate Court Records

Probate jurisdiction in Lawrence County rests with the Lawrence Circuit Court, which oversees estate administrations, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and related proceedings. Judge Nathan G. Nikirk presides over these matters, and the court maintains all associated filings and orders.

To access probate records, requesters can search online through mycase.in.gov using the decedent’s or ward’s name and case number, or visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in person during business hours. Certified copies of probate documents may be requested by mail or in person; fees apply per document page.

The Circuit Court provides several downloadable forms directly on its website for parties navigating probate proceedings without an attorney:

Court staff at the Circuit Court can assist with general clerical questions about pending matters, but Indiana law prohibits all court employees—including clerk’s office staff—from giving legal advice or assisting with the preparation of legal documents. Parties who need legal guidance on probate matters should contact an attorney or reach out to Indiana Legal Services or the District 10 Pro Bono Project for possible free or reduced-cost assistance. Additional probate forms for general Indiana proceedings are available through Indiana Legal Help.