Scott County Court Records Search
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Scott County, Indiana sits in the southeastern part of the state with its county seat in Scottsburg. The county is served by a Circuit Court and a Superior Court, both of which generate a broad range of public and restricted records covering criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Whether you're researching your own legal history, conducting due diligence on a property transaction, or supporting a legal proceeding, knowing how Scott County's court system organizes and releases records is the essential first step before making any formal request.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Scott County?
Indiana residents and researchers have several ways to locate court case information without traveling to the courthouse. The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a dedicated page for Scott County courts that connects users to contact information and statewide search tools. The main online tool for case lookups is MyCase, the state's official public-access portal, which provides free searchable access to case records filed across all Indiana counties — including Scott County's Circuit and Superior Courts. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney information.
If you prefer a subscription-based service with broader document imaging, Doxpop aggregates Indiana court records and provides access to case details and documents for a fee. Self-service public-access terminals are also available inside the courthouse for in-person research.
Additional resources for Indiana court records are available through IndianaStateCourts.us, which can help you identify publicly available case information and navigate the state's court structure.
Are Court Records Public in Scott County?
Indiana law generally treats court records as open to the public. The state's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) establishes the right of individuals to inspect and copy records held by public agencies, including court offices. Indiana Court Rules reinforce this framework by categorizing documents into public and excluded records.
That said, not every file in a court clerk's office is freely accessible. Under Indiana Court Rule 5, the following categories are excluded from public access:
- Juvenile court records
- Mental health records and medical information
- Records containing images or descriptions of sexual abuse victims
- Special advocate reports filed in custody proceedings
- Records that identify child witnesses in sex offense cases
- Records sealed by court order or excluded by a judge pursuant to Rule 6
One important point under Indiana law: a private agreement between parties to a lawsuit cannot remove an otherwise public record from public access. Only a formal court order or a statutory exemption can restrict access to records that would otherwise be available to the general public.
Scott County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Scott County are heard in the Circuit Court and Superior Court, both located at the county courthouse in Scottsburg. Law enforcement arrest and incident reports, booking records, and warrant information are maintained separately by the Scott County Sheriff's Office.
Scott County Sheriff's Office
Address: 111 S. 1st Street, Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone: (812) 752-8400
Hours: Open 24 hours; records staff available Monday–Friday, business hours
Key criminal record request details:
- Police/incident reports: Available at the Sheriff's Office. The first copy is provided at no charge. Complete a brief form; records are typically ready the next business day after the completed form is returned.
- Accident reports: $10.00 per copy; $20.00 for photos. Payment must be by money order payable to the Scott County Sheriff's Office. Reports are also available online through BuyCrash for approximately $12.00 each and are available immediately upon purchase.
- Criminal background checks: The Sheriff's Office can provide limited criminal history from its own records management system, covering incident/offense reports, jail booking records, and warrant records. There is no fee for processing the request itself; however, picking up the record costs $10.00. Pick up a form at the Sheriff's Office — the record is available the following business day after the completed form is returned. Note that the Sheriff's Office can only provide records maintained within its own system; records from other agencies must be requested directly from those agencies.
- Records excluded from release: Active investigation files, certain personnel records, records sealed or expunged by court order, and records involving juvenile offenders or suspects are not available.
For criminal case proceedings and court docket information, search through MyCase using the defendant's name or case number. Warrant information is also publicly searchable on the Sheriff's Office website.
Arrest and criminal history records involving individuals under age 17 are generally withheld from public disclosure under Indiana Code IC 31-9-2-22.5. Regulations governing the collection and dissemination of criminal history data in Indiana are found under Indiana Administrative Code 240 IAC 6-1.1-3.
Scott County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Scott County — including contract disputes, mortgage foreclosures, collections, small claims, and civil tort matters — are handled in the Circuit and Superior Courts. The Clerk of the Court maintains all civil court filings and case files.
Scott County Clerk's Office
Address: 1 E. McClain Avenue, Suite 120, Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone: (812) 752-8420
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Civil Filing Fees at the Clerk's Office
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Collections (CC) | $157 |
| Mortgage Foreclosure (MF) | $157 |
| Civil Plenary | $157 |
| Civil Tort (CT) | $157 |
| Small Claims (SC) | $125 |
| Miscellaneous (MI) | $157 |
| Sheriff Service | $28 |
Copy and certification costs:
- $1.00 per page for standard copies
- $2.00 per certification
- $1.00 per page for Chronological Case Summary (CCS) copies
- $1.00 per Child Support Payment History page
The Clerk's Office does not accept personal checks. Abstractors who need to review records must appear in person — no requests are processed by phone or email.
Civil case information, including case summaries and docket entries, can be searched at no cost through MyCase. For deeper document access, Doxpop offers indexed court records on a fee or subscription basis.
Small claims cases in Indiana are filed in the circuit or superior court of the county where the defendant resides or where the transaction occurred. The $125 filing fee applies in Scott County, and claims in small claims court are capped at $8,000 under Indiana law.
Scott County Family Court Records
Family law matters — including divorce, child custody, child support, adoptions, domestic violence proceedings, and name or gender changes — are handled by the Scott County Circuit and Superior Courts. The Clerk's Office at Suite 120 is the filing point for all family-related petitions.
Filing Fees for Family Matters
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dissolution of Marriage with Children | $157 |
| Dissolution of Marriage without Children | $157 |
| Adoption | $157 |
| Juvenile Paternity | $176 |
| Name/Gender Change | $157 |
Divorce records and dissolution case files are maintained by the Clerk. Certified copies of divorce decrees and related documents cost $2.00 per certification plus $1.00 per page. Access to divorce records is generally restricted to the parties named in the case, their immediate family members (parents, children, and siblings), and authorized legal representatives.
For domestic violence matters, residents may request a protection order through the Community Corrections office, which is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Protection orders — including Adult Abuse Orders, Child Protection Orders, and Ex Parte Orders — are served by the Scott County Sheriff's Office. For general questions about protection order procedures, the Indiana Judicial Branch provides guidance at in.gov/judiciary.
Marriage records are issued and maintained by the Clerk. Certified copies cost $4.00 per copy. Submit requests in person at the Clerk's office or by mail, and include the full names of both parties and the date of marriage. Marriage records are confidential and available only to the spouses named on the record and their immediate family members.
Vital records for births and deaths are separately maintained by the Scott County Health Department. Scott County's vital records date to February 1882, and statewide registration at the Indiana State Department of Health began in October 1907. Fees are $10.00 per birth certificate copy and $15.00 per death certificate copy. These records are available through the Health Department, which can in most cases issue records for births and deaths occurring anywhere in Indiana — though calling ahead to confirm availability before a walk-in visit is recommended.
Scott County Health Department — Vital Records
Address: 1296 N. Gardner Street, Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone: (812) 752-8455
Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday
Who qualifies to request vital records and what documentation is required is defined under Indiana Code IC 16-37-1-10 and related statutes, which define "direct interest" as documented financial, legal, or immediate family relationships.
Scott County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Scott County are handled within the Circuit Court. The probate division administers estates, validates wills, establishes guardianships, oversees conservatorships, and manages asset distribution for deceased county residents. Governing statutes are found in Title 29 of the Indiana Code, which addresses the full scope of probate procedure in Indiana.
Scott County Circuit Court — Probate Division
Address: 1 E. McClain Avenue, Suite 212, Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone: (812) 752-8430
Fax: (812) 752-8431
Filing Fees for Probate Matters
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estates (ES/EU) | $177 |
| Guardianship (GU) | $177 |
If you need certified copies of probate documents — letters testamentary, will admissions, or guardianship orders — contact the probate clerk directly at (812) 752-8420 to confirm document availability before visiting. Copies are $1.00 per page plus $2.00 per certification.
Probate case records, including estate filings and guardianship proceedings, can also be searched online through MyCase by entering the decedent's or ward's name or the assigned case number. Historical probate records dating to the county's founding are available for genealogical and legal research through the Indiana Memory digital collections.
For property records connected to estate transactions — such as deed transfers following probate — the Scott County Recorder's Office maintains documents from 1982 to present in a searchable online database available through Doxpop and Think GIS. Historical documents prior to 1982 are indexed and available at the Recorder's Office at the courthouse, located at 1 E. McClain Avenue. The Recorder's current point of contact is Sheryl Jent, and the office can be reached at (812) 752-8442. A free property watch service is also available through Doxpop Property Watch, which alerts registered users by email whenever a document referencing their property or name is recorded in Scott County. Abstractors must appear in person at the Recorder's Office, as no record requests are accepted by phone or email.