Madison County Court Records
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Madison County sits in central Indiana, with Anderson as the county seat and the hub of all judicial activity. The county's court system processes a substantial volume of cases every year across criminal, civil, family, and probate divisions. Court records maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court include case filings, docket entries, orders, judgments, arrest records, dissolution decrees, estate inventories, and a wide range of other legal documents. Whether you need to verify a pending case, get a certified copy of a divorce decree, or research a probate filing, there are several ways to access these records both online and in person.
Indiana's court system offers centralized tools for searching case information across all counties. The statewide judiciary website at IndianaStateCourts.us can help you locate publicly available court case data. In Madison County, you can access records through the Clerk's Office at the Anderson courthouse, through public-access computer terminals at the courthouse, through the Indiana Judicial Branch's online case-search portal, and by contacting individual court divisions directly. The county also maintains its own web resources for specific record types, and several state-level databases supplement what is available locally.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Madison County?
Finding a court case in Madison County starts with identifying the correct court division and choosing from several search methods. Madison County operates multiple courts, each with jurisdiction over particular case types.
Madison County Court Directory
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | 16 E. 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016 | (765) 641-9443 |
| Superior Court 1 | 16 E. 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016 | (765) 641-9562 |
| Superior Court 2 | 16 E. 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016 | (765) 641-9537 |
| Superior Court 3 | 16 E. 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016 | (765) 641-9555 |
| Superior Court 4 | 16 E. 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016 | (765) 641-9535 |
| Superior Court 5 | 16 E. 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016 | (765) 641-9670 |
| Superior Court 6 | 16 E. 9th Street, Anderson, IN 46016 | (765) 641-9698 |
All courts operate from the Madison County Government Center at 16 East 9th Street in Anderson. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains records across all divisions.
Madison County Clerk's Office
Address: 16 E. 9th Street, Room 103, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: (765) 641-9443
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Online Case Search
The fastest way to search Madison County court records remotely is through MyCase, Indiana's statewide public-access case management system. Here's how to use it:
- Navigate to the MyCase portal.
- Select Madison from the county or court dropdown menu.
- Choose a search method — by party name, case number, or attorney name.
- Filter by case type (Criminal, Civil, Family, Probate, or other categories).
- Review results, which display docket entries, hearing dates, party names, case status, and in many instances, downloadable documents.
Non-confidential case information on MyCase is free. The system covers active and disposed cases across all Madison County courts.
In-Person Access
During regular business hours, you can visit the Clerk's Office to request case files for review. Bring the case number or the full legal name and date of birth of a party. Public-access terminals inside the courthouse also allow self-service searches through the MyCase system.
Telephone and Written Requests
For basic case status inquiries, call the Clerk's Office at (765) 641-9443. Written requests for copies of specific documents should include the case number, party names, and the type of document needed, along with the applicable fee.
Are Court Records Public in Madison County?
Indiana law establishes a strong presumption that court records are open to public inspection. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) covers government records broadly, while Indiana Rules of Court, Administrative Rule 9 specifically addresses access to court records. Under Rule 9, court records fall into two categories: case records (documents filed in or generated by a specific case) and administrative records (information related to court administration).
Records Open to the Public
Most filings in Madison County courts are available for inspection and copying, including:
- Criminal case dockets, charges, and dispositions
- Civil complaints, motions, and judgments
- Divorce and dissolution filings (subject to certain redactions)
- Probate estate inventories and accountings
- Small claims filings and judgments
- Traffic and infraction records
Records Excluded from Public Access
Administrative Rule 9 identifies several categories that are confidential or restricted:
- Social Security numbers and taxpayer identification numbers
- Financial account numbers
- Medical and mental health records submitted to the court
- Adoption records
- Juvenile delinquency proceedings
- Records sealed or expunged by court order
- Grand jury materials
- Drug and alcohol abuse treatment records protected under federal law (42 C.F.R. Part 2)
- HIV/AIDS test results
- Mediation communications
- Personal information of jurors
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information
When public documents contain confidential identifiers, parties are required to redact those details before filing. If you believe your personal information has been improperly disclosed in a court record, you can file a request with the court to have the information restricted under Administrative Rule 9, Section 6.
Copy Fees
Standard copy fees in Indiana courts are set by statute. Under IC 33-37-5-1, the fee for copies of court records is $1.00 per page. Certification carries an additional charge. The Madison County Clerk's Office processes copy and certification requests during normal business hours, and payment may be made by cash, check, or money order.
Madison County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Madison County are prosecuted in the Circuit Court and various Superior Court divisions, depending on the severity of the charges. Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions all flow through the Anderson courthouse. The Madison County Prosecutor's Office files charges, and the Clerk's Office maintains the official criminal case files.
Searching Criminal Case Records
The MyCase portal is the main online tool for looking up criminal cases. After selecting Madison County, choose the Criminal case type filter. Results include the defendant's name, case number, charges filed, hearing dates, bond information, and disposition. Many criminal cases also have viewable documents attached to the docket.
For in-person searches, visit the Clerk's Office at 16 E. 9th Street, Room 103, Anderson, with the defendant's name, date of birth, or case number.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in Madison County are maintained by the arresting law-enforcement agency rather than the courts. The Madison County Sheriff's Office handles arrests in unincorporated areas and operates the county jail. To request an arrest-record check:
Madison County Sheriff's Office
Address: 723 Meridian Street, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: (765) 646-9280
The Anderson Police Department handles arrests within the city of Anderson. Other municipalities in Madison County — including Elwood, Pendleton, Chesterfield, and Alexandria — maintain their own police departments and arrest records.
Indiana State Police Criminal History
For a comprehensive criminal-history search, the Indiana State Police offers several options:
- Online name-based search: Available through the Limited Criminal History portal. The fee is $15.00 per search, and results are returned electronically. Users must create an account.
- Mail or in-person request: Submit a written request to the ISP Central Records Division, P.O. Box 6188, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188. The fee is $7.00 per search, payable by check or money order.
- Fingerprint-based search: For a more thorough check matched to fingerprints, applicants can schedule an appointment or call (877) 472-6917. This service is commonly used for employment and licensing background checks.
Criminal history information in Indiana is generally considered confidential under IC 10-13-3, and access is regulated. Individuals may obtain their own records, and authorized agencies may request records for specific purposes such as employment screening, licensing, and housing.
Expungement
Indiana's expungement statute (IC 35-38-9) allows eligible individuals to petition for the sealing of certain criminal records. Expunged records are removed from public access in the MyCase system and are not disclosed by the Clerk's Office in standard record searches.
Madison County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Madison County include lawsuits for damages, breach of contract, debt collection, foreclosure, quiet title actions, small claims disputes, and other non-criminal litigation. The Circuit Court and Superior Courts share jurisdiction over civil cases, with assignments depending on case type and the amount in controversy.
Online Civil Case Search
The MyCase system lets you search civil filings by selecting Civil or Small Claims under the case type filter for Madison County. Docket entries, filings, hearing schedules, and judgments are viewable for non-confidential cases.
Requesting Civil Court Documents
To obtain copies of pleadings, orders, or judgments:
- Identify the case number using MyCase or by contacting the Clerk's Office.
- Visit the Clerk's Office at 16 E. 9th Street, Room 103, Anderson, IN 46016, or submit a written request by mail.
- Pay the applicable fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard copy | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy | $1.00 per page + certification fee |
| Closed file retrieval | Additional fee may apply |
Written requests should include the case number, party names, the specific documents needed, and a check or money order payable to the Madison County Clerk.
Small Claims
Small claims cases in Madison County are filed in the Superior Court divisions designated to handle them. Filing fees include several statutory components, such as the automated record-keeping fee ($20.00), court administration fee ($5.00), document storage fee ($5.00), and judicial salaries fee ($20.00), among others. The complete filing fee schedule is published by the Indiana Office of Court Services.
Property Records
Real property records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements — are not maintained by the courts but rather by the Madison County Recorder's Office. Property tax and assessment data is available through the Madison County Auditor and Assessor. The Indiana Gateway portal and county-level GIS mapping tools can also assist with property research. For judgments, foreclosure actions, and tax-sale proceedings that appear in the court record, use MyCase or visit the Clerk's Office.
Madison County Family Court Records
Family-law matters in Madison County are adjudicated primarily through the Superior Court divisions. Indiana doesn't maintain a separate family court — designated Superior Court divisions handle dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, and domestic-violence protective-order cases instead.
Searching Family Case Records
Family case dockets are searchable through MyCase by selecting the appropriate case type — such as Dissolution of Marriage, Custody, Paternity, or Adoption — and choosing Madison County. While basic docket information for most family cases is publicly available, certain case types, particularly adoption and paternity, carry strict confidentiality protections, and access to underlying documents may be limited.
Dissolution of Marriage and Divorce Records
Divorce decrees and dissolution records are filed with the Clerk's Office. To obtain a copy:
- In person: Visit the Clerk's Office with a valid photo ID and the case number or the names and approximate date of filing.
- By mail or email: Contact the Clerk's Office at (765) 641-9443 to ask about the process for obtaining copies by mail. Include all identifying information and the required payment.
Certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of the standard $1.00 per-page copy charge.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage licenses in Indiana are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The Madison County Clerk's Office processes applications in person. Indiana residents pay $18.00, while applicants who do not complete the state's premarital-education course pay $60.00. Both applicants must appear together in person with valid government-issued photo identification. The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup tool lets anyone verify whether a marriage license was issued in any Indiana county.
Birth and Death Records
Vital records are not maintained by the courts. In Madison County, certified copies of birth and death certificates are available through the Madison County Health Department:
Madison County Health Department Vital Records
Address: 1210 Meridian Street, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: (765) 641-9524
The standard fee for a certified birth or death certificate in Indiana is $10.00 per copy. Applicants must provide valid photo identification and demonstrate eligibility, as vital records are restricted to the registrant, immediate family members, and authorized legal representatives under IC 16-37-1-11.
Protective Orders
Petitions for protective orders in domestic-violence, stalking, and harassment cases can be filed at the Clerk's Office or through the Indiana online protection-order filing system. Granted protective orders appear in the MyCase system and are also entered into the Indiana Protective Order Registry maintained by the Indiana State Police.
Madison County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Madison County are handled by the Circuit Court, which has original jurisdiction over the administration of decedent estates, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, conservatorships, trust disputes, and the probate of wills. The Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains all probate case files.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case information is available through the MyCase portal — select Probate or Estates under the case type filter and choose Madison County. Results include the name of the decedent or protected person, the appointed personal representative or guardian, filing dates, and case status.
For in-person research, visit the Clerk's Office at:
Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Address: 16 E. 9th Street, Room 103, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: (765) 641-9443
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Bring the name of the decedent or the case number. Staff can retrieve the file for inspection during business hours.
Probate Filing Fees
Opening a supervised or unsupervised estate in Madison County requires payment of several statutory fee components. Based on the Indiana trial-court fee structure, the total initial probate filing fee is approximately $154.00, which includes:
- Probate costs: $97.00
- Automated record-keeping fee: $20.00
- Judicial salaries fee: $20.00
- Document storage fee: $5.00
- Court administration fee: $5.00
- Judicial insurance adjustment fee: $1.00
- Pro bono legal services fee: $1.00
- Public defense administration fee: $5.00
An additional fee for Sheriff's service of process may apply if personal service is required on interested parties. You can confirm current fee amounts at the Clerk's Office or by reviewing the Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual.
Guardianship Registry
Effective January 1, 2018, Indiana requires that a completed Guardianship Registry Information Sheet be filed with the Clerk before letters of guardianship can be issued. The form is available as a downloadable PDF from the Indiana Judicial Branch website.
Types of Probate Records Available
Probate files in Madison County typically contain:
- Last wills and testaments
- Petitions for appointment of personal representatives
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration
- Estate inventories and appraisals
- Claims filed by creditors
- Accountings and final reports
- Guardianship petitions and annual reports
- Conservatorship filings
Probate records are generally open to public inspection once filed. However, certain sealed matters — such as records involving a protected person's medical evaluations in guardianship proceedings — may require a court order to access. Copies follow the standard $1.00 per-page fee, with an additional charge for certification.
Historical Probate Research
Older probate records that predate electronic filing may be stored in archived format at the Clerk's Office or with the Madison County Recorder. Researchers looking for historical estate or will records can also consult the Indiana State Library and the Indiana State Archives, which hold digitized and microfilmed records from many Indiana counties dating back to the nineteenth century.