Posey County Court Records Search
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Posey County sits in the far southwestern corner of Indiana, where the Wabash and Ohio rivers form borders with Illinois and Kentucky. Mount Vernon is the county seat, and all trial-level court activity flows through two courts operating at separate locations in the city. Court records from those proceedings — orders, motions, petitions, summons, docket entries, judgments, and more — make up the official documentary record of civil and criminal litigation in the county. Those materials serve public accountability, support legal research, and help parties manage their own cases through the local system.
If you're searching for case information, you have a few entry points: the clerk's offices, courthouse public-access terminals, and the statewide IndianaStateCourts.us website. For most online searches, the free MyCase portal maintained by the Indiana judicial branch is the most practical place to start — no registration or fee required.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Posey County?
Posey County's court records are split between two courts, each with a distinct caseload. The Clerk of Court maintains records for both. Knowing which court handled the case — and when it was filed — will point you to the right search path.
Step 1 — Identify the Correct Court
| Court | Location | Handles |
|---|---|---|
| Posey County Circuit Court | 300 Main Street, Mt. Vernon | Felonies, civil plenary/tort, mortgage foreclosures, estates, guardianships, adoptions, CHINS, juvenile delinquency, divorce, mental health |
| Posey County Superior Court | 126 E. Third Street, Mt. Vernon | Small claims, civil plenary/collection/tort, domestic relations, guardianship, adoption, protective orders, CHINS, parental rights termination |
Step 2 — Search Online
The MyCase case search portal is the official free platform for searching Indiana court records, including those from Posey County. You can search by case number, party name, or attorney name. When searching a common name, adding a date of birth and specifying the county will narrow results considerably.
Step 3 — Contact or Visit the Clerk's Office
If you need copies of specific documents or can't resolve your search through MyCase, contact the Posey County Clerk of Court directly. The clerk's office manages records for both courts from two physical locations.
Posey County Clerk of Court — Kay Kilgore
Circuit Court (Courthouse)
Address: 300 Main Street, Room 115, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620
Superior Court (Coliseum)
Address: 126 E. Third Street, Room 133, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620
Phone: (812) 838-1306
Email: kay.kilgore@poseycountyin.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CST
Document Copy Fees
| Document Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy | $3.00 per certification |
| Credit card payments | 2.6% fee ($1.00 minimum) |
The clerk accepts cash, personal (local) checks, money orders, and major credit cards.
Are Court Records Public in Posey County?
Indiana's Rules on Access to Court Records start from the premise that court records — both case records and administrative records — are open to the public unless a specific rule, statute, or court order says otherwise. Along with Indiana Administrative Rule 9, this framework determines when and how people can inspect, copy, or receive court documents in Posey County.
Records Excluded from Public Access
Rule 5 of the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records identifies categories of records that are either fully confidential or contain information that must be kept out of public access:
- Records sealed under the Access to Public Records Act
- Mental health records and proceedings
- Records related to ongoing criminal investigations
- Paternity records
- Drug and substance abuse treatment records
- Complete Social Security numbers, account numbers, personal identification numbers, and passwords of living persons
- Medical records compiled by an examiner or medical service provider under Trial Rule 35
When a document mixes public and confidential information, the confidential portions must be redacted before the rest is released. Confidential records can only be accessed by the case parties themselves, their attorneys, entities involved in court services, or public agencies specifically authorized by statute, rule, or court order.
Posey County Criminal Court Records
All felony prosecutions in Posey County are handled exclusively by the Posey County Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Craig Goedde. The Circuit Court's criminal docket covers felony charges, criminal miscellaneous matters, and serious traffic offenses. The Superior Court does not handle felony cases, though it does manage protective order petitions and certain ordinance violation matters.
Searching Criminal Records Online
The MyCase portal gives the public free access to criminal case docket information — charges filed, hearing dates, and case dispositions. All you need is a party name or case number. Keep in mind that MyCase shows docket-level information rather than the full text of documents; if you need the actual pleadings or orders, you'll have to submit a separate records request to the clerk.
Arrest Records
Arrest records are maintained by the Posey County Sheriff's Office, which is the county's primary law enforcement agency. The Sheriff's Office is located at 1201 O'Donnell Road, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620, and can be reached at (812) 838-1321. Because arrest records are generated by the Sheriff's Office rather than the courts, you'll need to request them directly from that agency — they won't appear in the court clerk's records.
Statewide Criminal History Records
For a background check that spans all of Indiana, use the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History service, which is the official statewide repository. Online searches run $15.00 per record for subscribers, with a slightly higher fee for non-subscriber credit card transactions. Mail requests must include a money order. The database covers felony convictions and Class A misdemeanor records from participating agencies across the state.
Traffic Cases
Traffic matters are processed through the Circuit Court Clerk's traffic department. Fines and fees can be paid by cash, money order, cashier's check, or credit card (subject to the same 2.6% processing fee). For case-specific fee amounts, contact the clerk's office with your case or ticket number at (812) 838-1306. An Infraction Deferral Program is also available through the Posey County Prosecutor's Office at (812) 838-1337.
Posey County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Posey County is shared between the Circuit and Superior Courts depending on the nature and complexity of the claim. Both courts handle civil plenary, civil tort, and mortgage foreclosure cases. Small claims, however, are filed exclusively in the Superior Court.
Small Claims
Small claims cases in Posey County are filed with the Posey County Superior Court. The monetary limit for small claims is $8,000, effective July 1, 2020. If one party is an LLC or corporation and the claim exceeds $1,500, that party must be represented by an attorney. The filing fee for a small claims case is $97.00, plus an additional $28.00 if you request service through the Sheriff.
Civil Case Filing Fees — Superior Court
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil (plenary, tort, collection, foreclosure) | $157.00 (plus $28.00 if service by Sheriff) |
| Small Claims | $97.00 (plus $28.00 if service by Sheriff) |
| Adoption | $157.00 |
| Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage) | $157.00 |
| Guardianship | $177.00 |
| Estate and Trust | $177.00 |
| Paternity | $176.00 (Circuit Court) |
| Protective Orders | No filing fee |
| Ordinance Violation | $10.00 fine + $135.00 court costs |
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records from both courts can be searched through MyCase at no charge. If you need document-level access — filed complaints, motions, or judgments — contact the clerk's office in writing or in person. Copy fees apply as noted above ($1.00 per page; $3.00 to certify).
Property Records
Deeds, mortgages, liens, subdivision plats, personal bonds, and other property transaction records are held by the Posey County Recorder's Office at 126 East Third Street, Room 215, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620. Phone: (812) 838-1314 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The recorder's office makes indexed and imaged documents available online through two subscription platforms: Tapestry and Laredo, both operated by Fidlar Technologies. Each platform has different fee structures and payment plans; contact the services directly for details. You can get a list of currently indexed and imaged documents through the recorder's office.
Legal Aid
If you can't afford legal representation, Indiana Legal Aid can be reached at (812) 426-1295, and IndianaLegalHelp.org offers self-help forms and guidance. A free Talk to a Lawyer Hotline is available at (888) 594-3449 or (812) 618-4845, running on the 1st Thursday of the month from 4:30–7:00 p.m. CST and the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. CST.
Posey County Family Court Records
Family law proceedings in Posey County — divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, domestic violence protective orders, and juvenile matters — are divided between the two courts based on case type.
Divorce Proceedings
Dissolutions of marriage involving children are assigned to the Posey County Superior Court under its domestic relations with children (DC) docket. Cases without children fall under the domestic relations with no children (DN) docket, also in the Superior Court. The filing fee is $157.00. At least one party must have lived continuously in Indiana for six months and in Posey County for three months immediately before filing. Final hearings cannot be scheduled until at least 60 days after filing. If the parties can't reach a full agreement, the court will order mediation before scheduling a contested hearing. Divorce records are searchable through MyCase, and copies can be requested from the clerk's office.
Child Support
Child support payments can be made by phone at (855) 972-9427 or online at childsupportbillpay.com/Indiana. If you need to make a cash payment in person, go to the Circuit Court Clerk's location at 300 Main Street, Room 115, Mt. Vernon, IN 47620. For questions about child support enforcement, call the Custodian Parent Child Support Helpline at (800) 840-8757.
Protective Orders
Petitions for protective orders covering domestic violence, stalking, and harassment are filed exclusively in the Posey County Superior Court and carry no filing fee. If you need to dismiss a petition, you must appear in person at the court office with a valid photo ID to sign the paperwork. Self-help forms for protective orders are available through Indiana Courts Self Service.
Guardianship and Adoption
Both guardianship and adoption cases can be filed in either the Circuit or Superior Court. The filing fee is $177.00 for guardianship and $157.00 for adoption. Self-help forms for guardianship are available at Indiana Legal Help — Guardianship Forms. CHINS (Child in Need of Services) hearings are closed to the public; only the parties and their attorneys may be present in the courtroom.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Posey County Clerk's Office. Certified copies cost $3.00; plain copies are $1.00. You can request copies by phone or email through the clerk's office. Marriage license records are also searchable online through the Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup tool, which lets you search by applicant names and year range.
Birth and Death Certificates
Vital records for Posey County are issued by the Vital Records Registrar at the Posey County Health Department. Contact Cheryl Reich at (812) 838-1328 or cheryl.reich@poseycountyin.gov. Fees are as follows:
- Birth certificate: $15.00 per copy (reprints also $15.00)
- Amendment Affidavit (includes one birth certificate): $20.00
- Death certificate (includes Coroner's Education Fund): $18.00 per copy
- Payment accepted: cash, local check, money order/cashier's check for out-of-county residents, and debit/credit cards (3% convenience fee, $1.00 minimum)
Death certificates are not public records. Certified copies are restricted to direct relatives, legal representatives, authorized individuals, and qualifying government entities.
Posey County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Posey County — estate administration, will probations, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust proceedings — are filed in the Posey County Circuit Court under its estate and guardianship docket. The filing fee for estate and trust matters is $177.00.
Types of Probate Proceedings
- Testate estate administration (decedent left a valid will)
- Intestate administration (no will; court appoints an administrator)
- Guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults
- Conservatorships for adults who cannot manage their own affairs
- Trust proceedings before the court
- Will contests and disputes over estate distributions
Accessing Probate Records
Probate records filed with the Circuit Court are generally public and can be accessed through the MyCase portal for basic case and docket information. For full document copies — filed wills, letters testamentary, inventories, and distribution orders — submit a written or in-person request to the clerk's office at the Circuit Court location (300 Main Street, Room 115, Mt. Vernon). Copy fees are $1.00 per page and $3.00 to certify. Keep in mind that death certificates included in probate filings may be partially restricted due to their confidential status as vital records.
Self-help forms for small estate matters are available through Indiana Legal Help — Small Estate Forms, which can help you navigate simplified estate procedures when a full probate proceeding may not be necessary.