Madison County Court Records Search

Madison County is located in central Indiana, with Anderson serving as the county seat and the hub of judicial activity. The county’s court system processes a substantial volume of cases each year across criminal, civil, family, and probate divisions. Court records generated within Madison County include case filings, docket entries, orders, judgments, arrest records, dissolution decrees, estate inventories, and a wide range of other legal documents maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Whether a resident needs to verify a pending case, obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree, or research a probate filing, several pathways exist for accessing these records both online and in person.

Indiana’s court system provides centralized tools for searching case information across all counties. The statewide judiciary website at IndianaStateCourts.us can help users locate publicly available court case data. In Madison County, records may be accessed through the Clerk’s Office at the courthouse in Anderson, through public-access computer terminals available in 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 involves 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 serves as the custodian for 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 most efficient way to search Madison County court records remotely is through MyCase, Indiana’s statewide public-access case management system. To search:

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 the results, which display docket entries, hearing dates, party names, case status, and in many instances, downloadable documents.

Non-confidential case information on MyCase is available at no charge. The system covers active and disposed cases across all Madison County courts.

In-Person Access

Visitors to the Clerk’s Office can request to view case files during regular business hours. Bring the case number or the full legal name and date of birth of a party involved. Public-access terminals inside the courthouse also allow self-service searches using the MyCase system.

Telephone and Written Requests

For basic case status inquiries, the Clerk’s Office can be reached 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) governs access to government records broadly, while Indiana Rules of Court, Administrative Rule 9 specifically addresses access to court records. Under Rule 9, court records are defined as either case records (documents filed in or generated by a specific case) or 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 of information that are confidential or restricted, including:

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. Individuals who believe that their personal information has been improperly disclosed in a court record may 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 established 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. Madison County’s 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 the various divisions of Superior Court, 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 primary online tool for looking up criminal cases. Select the “Criminal” case type filter after choosing Madison County. 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 within 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 two 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 that includes records 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 encompass 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 case assignments depending on the type and amount in controversy.

Online Civil Case Search

The MyCase system allows users to 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 may 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 does not maintain a separate family court; instead, designated Superior Court divisions handle dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, paternity, adoption, guardianship, and domestic-violence protective-order cases.

Searching Family Case Records

Family case dockets are searchable through MyCase by selecting the appropriate case type (e.g., “Dissolution of Marriage”, “Custody”, “Paternity”, or “Adoption”). 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 inquire 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 marriage license 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 in person with valid government-issued photo identification. The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup tool allows anyone to 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 exercises 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 by selecting “Probate” or “Estates” under the case type filter and choosing 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. Current fee amounts may be confirmed 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 seeking historical estate or will records may 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.