Putnam County Court Records Search
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Putnam County, Indiana maintains an active court system centered in Greencastle, the county seat. Two trial courts — the Circuit Court and the Superior Court — share the historic One Courthouse Square courthouse and together handle the full spectrum of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters filed within the county. Whether you need to review an old case file, obtain certified copies of legal documents, or verify someone’s court history, there are several official channels available for doing so, both in person and online.
For residents who want to begin a records search without visiting the courthouse, Indiana’s official court resources are a practical starting point. IndianaStateCourts.us provides access to publicly available case information and links to the state’s primary case search platforms, clerk’s office directories, and e-filing tools. The Indiana Judicial Branch also maintains the MyCase portal, which allows anyone to search non-confidential case records from Putnam County courts at no charge.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Putnam County?
There are four main ways to locate court records in Putnam County, depending on the type of case and how much information you already have:
- MyCase Online Portal — The Indiana MyCase case search system is the most accessible starting point for searching public court records statewide, including Putnam County. Enter the party’s name, case number, or attorney name to retrieve publicly available filings and case status information. Many documents are available for download at no cost.
- In-Person at the Clerk’s Office — Visit the Putnam County Circuit Court Clerk’s office at One Courthouse Square, Greencastle, IN 46135. The clerk’s office manages official records for both the Circuit and Superior courts. Staff can assist with locating case files, confirming case status, and issuing certified copies. The office is open Monday through Friday during standard courthouse hours.
- Self-Service Kiosks — Public access terminals at the Putnam County Circuit Court allow in-person visitors to search case records without requesting clerk assistance.
- Mail Requests — Written requests for copies of court documents can be submitted by mail to the Clerk’s office. Include the case number, names of the parties, the type of document needed, and payment for applicable fees.
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | One Courthouse Square, Greencastle, IN 46135 | (765) 653-5315 | (765) 653-4870 |
| Superior Court | One Courthouse Square, #33, Greencastle, IN 46135 | (765) 653-2658 | (765) 653-0222 |
| Clerk’s Office | One Courthouse Square, Greencastle, IN 46135 | (765) 653-2648 | (765) 653-8405 |
The Putnam County Clerk’s Office, currently led by Clerk Tracy L. Bridges, serves as the official custodian of all legal documents filed in both the Circuit and Superior courts. The clerk accepts record requests in person, by mail, and in some instances by fax. Researchers who need older records not yet digitized must visit the courthouse in person, as those files are only available through the clerk’s physical records room.
For self-represented litigants needing guidance, Putnam County hosts a free legal help clinic called Counsel in the Court on the second Tuesday of every month, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on the first floor of the courthouse in the Commissioner’s Room. Inquiries can be directed to tigerledlegalaid@gmail.com. Free legal forms are also available through Indiana Legal Help.
Are Court Records Public in Putnam County?
Under Indiana’s Access to Court Records (ACR) rules, most court records in Putnam County are available to the public upon request. The ACR framework, adopted by the Indiana Supreme Court, establishes the procedures for accessing, copying, and using court records, and sets out specific categories of records that must be withheld from public disclosure.
The following categories of court records are excluded from public access in Indiana:
- Juvenile case records (delinquency and child in need of services cases)
- Mental health court records
- Adoption records
- Records identifying victims of sexual offenses
- Pre-trial release and supervision records
- Records revealing personal identifying information of litigants, witnesses, and minors
- Records related to an ongoing criminal investigation or pending criminal proceeding where disclosure could jeopardize the investigation
Courts also retain discretionary authority to restrict access when there is a demonstrated risk of serious harm or a compelling public interest in non-disclosure. When a court restricts access to an otherwise public record, that determination must follow the procedures set out in the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records.
The Indiana Public Records Act, which covers executive branch agencies, applies separately from the ACR rules but reinforces the general principle that government-held information is presumptively open to the public. Court records, however, are specifically governed by the ACR and the Indiana Supreme Court’s administrative rules, not the Public Records Act.
Putnam County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Putnam County are handled across both trial courts. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over major felony cases, while the Superior Court handles a broad range of criminal matters including significant felonies and some misdemeanor proceedings. Both courts share jurisdiction over certain criminal case categories under local caseload allocation plans approved by the Indiana Supreme Court.
To search for criminal case information:
- Use the MyCase portal to look up charges, hearing dates, and case dispositions. Non-confidential criminal records are searchable by name or case number.
- Visit or contact the Clerk’s office at One Courthouse Square for certified copies of criminal case documents. The standard fee is $1.00 per page for copies and $3.00 for certified copies.
- Contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for matters related to arrests, active warrants, or current inmate status. The Sheriff’s Office operates the county jail and maintains booking records.
For current inmate information, the Indiana County Jail Public Portal allows searches across participating Indiana counties, including Putnam County, by name and date of birth.
Criminal history background checks that go beyond individual case lookups — such as a statewide criminal record review — are typically handled by the Indiana State Police or authorized third-party vendors rather than through the Clerk’s office directly.
Criminal records that involve juvenile offenders are sealed under Indiana law and are not publicly accessible through any of the above channels.
Putnam County Civil Court Records
The division of civil jurisdiction between Putnam County’s two trial courts follows a monetary threshold:
| Court | Civil Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Superior Court | Civil complaints under $10,000; small claims; traffic infractions; mortgage foreclosures |
| Circuit Court | Civil complaints over $10,000; mortgage foreclosures; civil tort and collection matters |
Small claims cases — typically disputes involving amounts up to $6,000 — are handled in the Superior Court and offer a streamlined process for landlord-tenant disputes, unpaid debts, and similar matters. Civil filings for larger disputes go to the Circuit Court.
The Circuit Court filing fee schedule lists fees effective as of July 1, 2017, and includes the following civil filing fees:
- Civil Collection (CC): $157.00
- Civil Plenary (PL): $157.00
- Civil Tort (CT): $157.00
- Miscellaneous Civil (MI): $157.00
- Mortgage Foreclosure (MF): $157.00 plus $28.00 for sheriff service and $10.00 for each defendant after the first
To search for civil case records online, the MyCase portal indexes civil filings from both the Superior and Circuit courts. Alternatively, Doxpop provides access to a broad archive of Indiana civil court records, including Putnam County cases, through a subscription-based service useful for attorneys, researchers, and businesses.
In-person civil record requests are handled at the Clerk’s office front desk. Requestors should bring the case number if available, or the full names of the parties and the approximate filing year, to assist staff in locating the relevant file.
Putnam County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Putnam County are divided between the Circuit and Superior courts, with divorces split roughly equally between them under a local case allocation arrangement.
- Divorces — Filed in both the Circuit and Superior courts. The Circuit Court and Superior Court each handle a share of divorce cases under the county’s allocation plan. The filing fee for a divorce is $177.00 (which includes facilitation fees), plus $28.00 for sheriff service of process.
- Child Custody and Support — Custody and support matters are heard within divorce and paternity proceedings. Paternity cases carry a filing fee of $196.00.
- Adoptions — Filed exclusively in the Circuit Court, with a filing fee of $157.00. Adoption records are confidential and restricted from public access under Indiana law.
- Guardianships — Handled by the Circuit Court; filing fee is $177.00.
- Domestic Violence — Protective order proceedings are handled within the county court system. Contact the Clerk’s office for current procedures and applicable forms.
Self-represented litigants pursuing family law matters can access free legal forms through Indiana Legal Help, which provides plain-language guides and downloadable forms for divorce, custody, and support proceedings. The county’s Counsel in the Court clinic also offers free consultations for pro se filers on the second Tuesday of each month.
Marriage records in Putnam County date back to 1913 and are maintained by the Clerk’s office. Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk and currently cost $25.00. Anyone may request access to marriage records; these are public records. To request a copy, visit the Clerk’s office in person with a valid government-issued photo ID, or submit a written request by mail. The standard copy fee applies: $1.00 per page and $3.00 for certified copies.
Birth and death records are not maintained by the court system. Certified copies of birth certificates ($15.00 per copy) and death certificates ($20.00 per copy) are issued by the Putnam County Health Department’s Vital Records division. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch). Requests can also be submitted by mail using the Birth Certificate Application (Mail-In) or the Death Certificate Application (Mail-In) forms available on the Putnam County Health Department Vital Records page. Online requests may also be submitted directly to the health department at no additional cost, or through VitalChek with additional service fees.
Putnam County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Putnam County fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. The probate division handles all matters related to the administration of deceased persons’ estates, including will contests and supervised and unsupervised estate administrations, as well as guardianships, conservatorships, and trust administration.
Probate filing fees at the Putnam County Circuit Court are as follows:
| Proceeding Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate Supervised (ES) | $177.00 |
| Estate Unsupervised (EU) | $177.00 |
| Guardianship (GU) | $177.00 |
| Trust (TR) | $177.00 |
| Spread Will of Record Only | No Fee |
| Surrender of Will | $25.00 |
To open a probate case or request records from an existing one, contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s office directly at (765) 653-5315 or visit One Courthouse Square, Greencastle, IN 46135. Requestors should provide the decedent’s name, the approximate date of death, and a valid government-issued photo ID. If available, a case number significantly speeds up the search process.
Probate records are not uniformly confidential in Indiana — most filed documents in estate cases are public records — but guardianship records involving minors and certain mental health proceedings may be restricted. The Clerk can advise on which documents within a particular probate file are accessible to the general public.
For those researching ancestral estate records or historical probate filings, older case files may be available only in paper form and must be reviewed in person at the courthouse records room.
The Indiana Judicial Branch’s public records overview page at in.gov/courts/public-records provides additional guidance on the types of documents available through the court system and the process for requesting them, including information on obtaining records that may have transitioned to electronic formats through the Odyssey case management system.