Porter County Court Records Search

Porter County sits in northwest Indiana with its county seat in Valparaiso. The county’s trial court system consists of a Circuit Court and six Superior Courts that together handle the full range of criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. The Porter County Clerk’s Office serves as the official custodian of all court records, maintaining case files, docket entries, judgments, and financial information for proceedings across every division. Court records in Porter County typically include the case number, filing date, court assignment, case summary and status, party names, and financial details such as balances and transaction histories.

Individuals searching for Porter County court records can do so through multiple channels. The Clerk’s Office provides in-person access at both its Valparaiso and Portage locations during regular business hours. Indiana’s statewide case management system, accessible at MyCase, allows anyone to look up non-confidential case information and documents online at no cost. Additional Indiana court resources and directories are available through IndianaStateCourts.us, which may assist in locating publicly available case data and court contact information across the state.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Porter County?

Porter County’s courts operate from two locations. The Circuit Court and Superior Courts 1, 2, 4, and 5 are housed at the Porter County Courthouse in Valparaiso, while Superior Courts 3 and 6 hold proceedings at the North County Annex in Portage. The Clerk’s Office maintains branches at both sites.

Porter County Clerk’s Office – Valparaiso
Address: 16 Lincolnway, Suite 211, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: (219) 465-3450
Fax: (219) 465-3847
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Porter County Clerk’s Office – Portage
Address: 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 46368
Phone: (219) 759-8212
Fax: (219) 759-6751
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The full court directory is as follows:

Court	Address	Phone
Circuit Court	16 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383	(219) 465-3425
Superior Court 1	16 Lincolnway, Suite 338, Valparaiso, IN 46383	(219) 465-3410
Superior Court 2	16 Lincolnway, 5th Floor, Valparaiso, IN 46383	(219) 465-3411
Superior Court 3	3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 46368	(219) 759-8232
Superior Court 4	16 Lincolnway, Suite 228, Valparaiso, IN 46383	(219) 465-3412
Superior Court 5	16 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383	(219) 510-1160
Superior Court 6	3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage, IN 46368	(219) 759-8202

All courts are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New in-person filings are accepted until 4:15 p.m. due to processing requirements.

To look up a case, follow these steps:

Determine the court. Identify whether the case was criminal, civil, family, or probate, and which specific court handled it. The case number prefix typically indicates the court division.
Search online via MyCase. Go to the MyCase search portal and use the Name, Case, or Attorney tab. Select “Porter” from the Court dropdown to narrow results to Porter County. Non-confidential case information and many documents are available at no charge.
Visit the Clerk’s Office. During business hours, requesters may use self-service terminals at either Clerk location or ask staff to pull paper case files. A valid photo ID may be requested.
Request copies. Under Indiana Code § 33-37-5-1, the Clerk charges $1.00 per page for copies of court records. Certification adds an additional fee. Copies can be requested in person at either office location.
Contact the Clerk by email or phone. For preliminary inquiries about record availability, the Clerk’s office can be reached at (219) 465-3450 (Valparaiso) or (219) 759-8212 (Portage), or by email at records@porterco.org.

All attorney pleadings in Porter County must be e-filed. Self-represented parties may file documents in person at the Clerk’s Office. Information about e-filing providers is available on the Indiana Courts website.

Are Court Records Public in Porter County?

Court records in Porter County are presumptively public under two complementary frameworks: the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified at IC § 5-14-3, and the Indiana Rules of Court’s Rules on Access to Court Records. Under IC § 5-14-3-3, any person has the right to inspect and copy public records of a court during its regular business hours.

The Indiana Rules of Court Rule 5 and the Public Access to Court Records Handbook identify numerous categories of records excluded from public access. In Porter County, the following types of records are confidential or restricted:

Adoption, paternity, and juvenile case records
Grand jury proceedings
Sealed and expunged records
Medical, mental health, and substance abuse records
AIDS-related records
Mediation proceedings, mini-trials, and summary jury trials
Pre-trial release and problem-solving court supervision records
Child abuse records not admitted into evidence in a public proceeding
Drug test records not admitted into evidence
Guardian ad litem reports, custody evaluation reports, and parenting coordinator reports
Complete Social Security numbers, account numbers, PINs, and passwords of living persons
Residential addresses of judicial officers and court employees
Personal identifying information of victims and witnesses in domestic violence, criminal, stalking, juvenile, sexual assault, or civil protection order cases
Arrest warrants, search warrants, and indictments before execution and return

When records are available, the statutory fee for copies is $1.00 per page under IC § 33-37-5-1. Certification fees apply separately. Payments at the Clerk’s office may be made by cash, money order, credit or debit card, or certified check, depending on the service.

Porter County Criminal Court Records

Criminal jurisdiction in Porter County is shared among the Circuit Court and the six Superior Courts, all of which have original and concurrent jurisdiction over criminal matters under IC § 33-29-1-1.5. Felonies and misdemeanors are filed across these courts depending on case assignment.

To search for criminal court case records, individuals can use any of the following methods:

Online through MyCase. The MyCase portal provides free access to non-confidential criminal case information. Search by defendant name, case number, or attorney. On the search page, scroll to the “Limit search to” section and select “Criminal & Citation” to narrow results.

In person at the courthouse. Visit the Clerk’s Office at either the Valparaiso or Portage location during business hours. Staff can retrieve case files, and public-access terminals are available for self-service searches. Copy fees of $1.00 per page apply.

Arrest records from the Sheriff’s Office. The Porter County Sheriff’s Office provides arrest record checks through its Records Division. Key details:

Fee: $10.00 (cash, credit/debit, or money order)
In-person hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Mail requests: Send the subject’s name, date of birth, Social Security number, all alias names, your contact information, and a money order to:

Porter County Sheriff’s Office
2755 State Road 49, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Attention: Records

The Sheriff’s arrest record check only reflects booking information from Porter County and does not include charging decisions, trial outcomes, or dispositions. For final disposition information, contact the Clerk’s Office at (219) 465-3450 or search MyCase.

Case and crime reports from the Sheriff’s Office are available separately for $5.00, in person Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Indiana State Police criminal history searches. The Indiana State Police maintains a centralized criminal records repository with two search options:

Limited Criminal History (name-based search): Returns felony and Class A misdemeanor arrest data statewide. Cost is $15.00 per search online ($15.70 by credit card). Government agencies pay $7.00 per search. Requires account creation.
Fingerprint-based search: Provides comprehensive arrest, charge, and disposition records. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling (877) 472-6917.

The ISP also processes limited criminal history requests by mail for $7.00 per search. Submit a completed Request Form with payment by check or money order (no personal checks) to:

Indiana State Police, Criminal History Limited Check
P.O. Box 6188, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188

Criminal history records are generally confidential under IC 10-13-3. Criminal justice agencies may release records to individuals, non-criminal justice organizations, or other agencies only when a valid reason exists under the statute.

Porter County Civil Court Records

All Porter County courts exercise jurisdiction over civil cases. The Circuit Court and Superior Courts handle a full range of civil litigation, from contract disputes and personal injury claims to mortgage foreclosures and landlord-tenant matters. Small claims cases are filed in designated divisions with lower filing fees.

To obtain civil court records:

Search MyCase online. Access the case search portal, select Porter County in the Court dropdown, and choose the “Civil” button under “Limit search to”. Search by party name, case number, or attorney.
Visit the Clerk’s Office. In-person requests can be made at either the Valparaiso courthouse (16 Lincolnway, Suite 211) or the Portage annex (3560 Willowcreek Road) during business hours. Copies cost $1.00 per page.
Request by mail or email. Contact the Clerk at (219) 465-3450 or records@porterco.org to inquire about specific records and mailing procedures.

Civil case filing fees vary by case type. For small claims cases at Porter County, the fee schedule includes the following statutory components:

Fee Component	Amount
Automated record keeping fee (IC 33-37-5-21)	$20.00
Court administration fee (IC 33-37-5-27)	$5.00
Document storage fee (IC 33-37-5-20)	$5.00
Judicial insurance adjustment fee (IC 33-37-5-25)	$1.00
Judicial salaries fee (IC 33-37-5-26)	$20.00
Pro bono legal services fee (IC 33-37-5-31)	$1.00

Plenary civil filing fees are higher and detailed in the Porter County filing fees page. The complete Indiana Trial Court Fee Manual, maintained by the state judiciary, contains the full statutory breakdown.

Property records—including deeds, mortgages, liens, subordinations, assignments, and plats—are maintained by the Porter County Recorder’s Office and can be accessed online through the Recorder’s record search tools. The Porter County Assessor provides property assessment data searchable by owner name, address, or parcel number.

Porter County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Porter County—including divorce (dissolution of marriage), child custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, adoption, and name changes—are handled within the Superior Court system. The Clerk’s Office maintains all family court files.

Most family court records in Porter County carry confidentiality restrictions. Paternity, adoption, and juvenile records are categorically excluded from public access under Indiana court rules. Guardian ad litem reports, custody evaluations, and parenting coordinator reports are also confidential. Eligible parties (such as litigants in their own cases) may access restricted records by visiting the Clerk’s Office with valid photo identification during business hours.

Non-confidential family case information can be searched on MyCase by selecting Porter County and clicking the “Family” button under the search filter.

Dissolution of marriage (divorce) records. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained by contacting the Clerk’s Office by email at records@porterco.org or by phone at (219) 465-3450. A party name or date of dissolution is needed to process the request. Standard copy and search fees apply.

Marriage records. The Clerk’s Office issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records. The Marriage License Public Lookup tool on the Indiana Courts website allows anyone to search Porter County marriage records by entering at least one applicant’s last name and selecting “Porter” in the County Issued field. The marriage license fee is $25.00 for Indiana residents (one or both parties) and $65.00 for out-of-state residents. Couples must apply in person together at the Valparaiso Clerk’s Office (16 Lincolnway, Suite 211) during business hours, though the application can be started online in advance.

The Indiana State Library also provides access to historical Porter County marriage records through its digital collections portal, which is searchable by event type, county, or surname.

Birth and death records. These are maintained by the Porter County Health Department’s Vital Records Division, not the courts. Birth records are confidential and available only to the subject (age 18+), parents, grandparents, siblings (age 18+), or legal guardians with proof. Requests can be made:

Online: Complete the birth record request or death record request form.
By mail: Submit a birth or death request form with $10.00 per copy by money order or official check to the Vital Records Division.
In person: Visit either office during business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Payment accepted by cash, money order, official check, or credit/debit card.

Vital Records Division – Valparaiso
Address: 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 104, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: (219) 465-3525

Vital Records Division – Portage
Address: 3590 Willowcreek Road, Suite C, Portage, IN 46368
Phone: (219) 759-8239

The Portage office does not process birth and death record requests between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Porter County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Porter County are handled through the Circuit Court and Superior Court system. The Clerk of Courts serves as the custodian of all probate case files, including records related to the administration of decedents’ estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships.

To search for probate records:

Online: Use MyCase, select Porter County, and click the “Probate” filter to view only estate-related case records. Non-confidential probate documents are available at no charge.
In person: Visit the Clerk’s Office at either the Valparaiso or Portage location during business hours. A case party name or case number is required. Photo identification may be requested. Copy fees of $1.00 per page apply.

The filing fee for opening a probate case in Porter County totals $177.00, broken down as follows:

Fee Component	Statute	Amount
Probate costs fee	IC 33-37-4-7	$120.00
Automated record keeping fee	IC 33-37-5-21	$20.00
Judicial salaries fee	IC 33-37-5-26	$20.00
Court administration fee	IC 33-37-5-27	$5.00
Document storage fee	IC 33-37-5-20	$5.00
Public defense administration fee	IC 33-37-5-21.2	$5.00
Judicial insurance adjustment fee	IC 33-37-5-25	$1.00
Pro bono legal services fee	IC 33-37-5-31	$1.00

If Sheriff’s service of process is required, an additional $28.00 fee applies, bringing the total to $205.00.

For guardianship cases, the Clerk cannot issue Letters of Guardianship until a completed Guardianship Registry Information Sheet has been filed. This requirement has been in effect since January 1, 2018.

Historical probate records for Porter County—including will and probate abstracts from 1914 to 1963—are available through genealogical resources maintained by local historical organizations. For current estate proceedings, the Clerk’s office at (219) 465-3450 can confirm what records are on file and provide guidance on the request process.