Shelby County Court Records Search
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Shelby County, Indiana, located southeast of Indianapolis in the heart of central Indiana, operates a multi-court system serving the citizens of Shelbyville and the surrounding communities. Court records produced by these courts document the full range of legal proceedings — from felony prosecutions and civil disputes to divorce proceedings, estate matters, and small claims cases. These records serve individuals pursuing legal research, conducting background checks, managing real estate transactions, or tracing family history.
Court records in Indiana can be accessed through multiple channels. Clerk’s offices, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online tools all provide avenues for locating case information. IndianaCourts.us can help users find publicly available case information for courts across the state. The Indiana Judicial Branch also maintains the MyCase online portal, which provides free public access to non-confidential case information and documents from Indiana courts without requiring registration.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Shelby County?
All of Shelby County’s courts are located under one roof at the Shelby County Courthouse, 407 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. The Clerk of Courts office manages records for the Circuit Court, both Superior Courts, and the Magistrate Court, and is the central point of contact for any records request.
Shelby County Clerk of Courts
Address: 407 S. Harrison Street, Room 111, Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6320 | Fax: (317) 392-6339
Email: jtaylor@co.shelby.in.us
Clerk: Jill Lacy
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Note: New court filings and protective order packets are not processed after 3:00 p.m.
To look up a court case in Shelby County, follow these steps:
- Search online first — Visit mycase.in.gov and search by party name, case number, or other identifying information. Many case documents are available free of charge through this portal.
- Check the court calendar — The Indiana Courts online calendar lists upcoming hearings for Shelby County courts.
- Visit or contact the Clerk’s office — For copies of documents, certified records, or records not available on MyCase, contact the Clerk at (317) 392-6320 or visit Room 111 during business hours.
- Identify the correct court division — Knowing whether the case was heard in Circuit Court, Superior Court 1, Superior Court 2, or before the Magistrate will help target the right division.
- Provide identifying details — Party names, case numbers, and approximate filing dates will help the clerk’s staff locate a specific case efficiently.
Are Court Records Public in Shelby County?
Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) establishes a broad right of public access to government records, including court records. Indiana Administrative Rule 9 specifically governs access to court records, confirming that publicly accessible court records are available for inspection at the courthouse during regular business hours and through the MyCase online portal.
However, a significant number of record categories are either fully excluded from public access or have specific portions that must be treated as confidential under Indiana Administrative Rule 9(G). Commonly restricted records in Shelby County include:
- Juvenile cases — Records of proceedings involving minors are sealed and excluded from public access as a matter of statute and court rule.
- Adoption records — Adoption proceedings are confidential under Indiana law.
- Expunged criminal records — Records that have been expunged following a court order are not publicly accessible and cannot be disclosed without a subsequent court order.
- Domestic violence and child abuse records — Certain family law records involving victim safety may be restricted.
- Mental health commitment records — Involuntary commitment proceedings are confidential.
- Specific personally identifiable information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive identifiers must be redacted before filing or are excluded from public-facing documents under Administrative Rule 9.
The Indiana Judicial Branch publishes a Public Access to Court Records Handbook that explains in detail which records are accessible and which are protected. Parties wishing to file documents containing confidential information must follow specific procedures to ensure compliance with Administrative Rule 9.
Shelby County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Shelby County are handled by all three of the county’s primary courts. Felony charges and more serious criminal matters are generally addressed in the Shelby County Circuit Court or Superior Court 1, while Superior Court 2 and the Magistrate Court handle a significant volume of misdemeanor cases, traffic matters, and criminal preliminary proceedings.
Shelby County Circuit Court
Address: 407 S. Harrison Street, Room 206, Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6360 | Fax: (317) 392-6349
Judge: Trent Meltzer
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
Shelby Superior Court 1
Address: 407 S. Harrison Street, Room 209, Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6350 | Fax: (317) 421-2468
Judge: R. Kent Apsley
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
Shelby Superior Court 2
Address: 407 S. Harrison Street, 1st Floor – South End, Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6340
Judge: David N. Riggins
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
Criminal court records include charging documents, arraignment records, motion filings, trial transcripts, verdicts, sentencing orders, and probation-related entries. These records are searchable through mycase.in.gov for cases that are not confidential. Parties in criminal cases must complete and submit a Criminal Defendant Party Information Sheet to the court.
Arrest records and criminal history information are maintained by law enforcement, not the courts. For arrest records or jail roster information in Shelby County, contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department:
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department
Address: 107 W. Taylor Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6345
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
The Shelby County Criminal Justice Center houses the Sheriff’s Department, the Shelbyville Police Department, and the county detention facility. Inmate information for the Shelby County jail can also be accessed online. For statewide criminal history background checks, the Indiana State Police maintains a separate process.
Shelby County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Shelby County is distributed across the Circuit Court, Superior Court 1, and Superior Court 2 based on caseload allocation plans approved by the Indiana Supreme Court. All three courts have original and concurrent jurisdiction over civil matters.
Small Claims are handled specifically through Shelby Superior Court 2, which may award a maximum of $10,000 in a small claims action. Plaintiff filing fees for small claims cases are:
| Service Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Claim (certified mail service) | $97.00 |
| Small Claim (Sheriff service) | $125.00 |
| Sheriff service fee (per defendant) | $28.00 additional |
| Additional defendants | $10.00 each |
Plaintiffs filing small claims must provide all supporting documents, including any affidavit of debt, copy of the contract, or lease agreement. The court will conduct a contested trial on the first trial setting, so all parties should be prepared to proceed at that date. Self-represented litigants can consult the Small Claims Litigant’s Handbook published by the Indiana courts, and a Small Claims Filing Packet is available directly from Shelby Superior Court 2.
Broader civil filing fees established by the Shelby County Clerk’s Filing Fee Schedule include:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil Plenary, Civil Tort, Civil Collection | $157.00 |
| Mortgage Foreclosure | $157.00 |
| Miscellaneous Civil | $157.00 |
| Name Change | $157.00 |
Self-represented parties in dissolution cases filed in Superior Court 1 are directed to the Indiana Courts self-service forms page for sample court forms. Civil case parties must file a Civil Party Information Sheet with the court. Civil records are searchable at no cost through mycase.in.gov.
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, military discharges, plats, and related instruments — are maintained by the Shelby County Recorder’s Office, a separate office from the courts. The Shelby County Recorder provides online access to deed recorder index books from 1822 through June 1998 and recorded documents from May 1998 to the present through Doxpop, which also serves as the county’s property records search platform.
Shelby County Family Court Records
Family law cases in Shelby County are handled by the Circuit Court and Superior Courts, with jurisdiction shared among the divisions. Divorce proceedings, child custody and support determinations, paternity actions, and protective orders all fall within the family law caseload of these courts.
The Indiana courts self-service portal provides forms for self-represented parties in dissolution proceedings. Parties in contested divorce cases must file a Motion for Final Hearing and provide the court with a proposed Order to Appear. Before a final hearing can be scheduled:
- If the parties have children in common, both must complete the Children Cope with Divorce Class and submit proof to the court.
- The parties must attempt mediation of custody and parenting time issues prior to requesting a final hearing, pursuant to local court rule.
- A Child Support Worksheet must be provided to the court at the final hearing.
For agreed dissolutions with no contested issues, the parties may submit a notarized Decree of Dissolution of Marriage and a Verified Waiver of Final Hearing no sooner than 60 days after filing the Petition for Dissolution.
Family case filing fees at the Shelby County Clerk’s office include:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage) | $177.00 |
| Paternity | $196.00 |
| Adoption | $157.00 |
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Courts office at 407 S. Harrison Street, Room 111. The marriage license application process must be started before 3:30 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to begin the online application at the Indiana Judiciary self-service site before visiting the office to reduce processing time. Protective order packets must be returned to the Clerk’s office by 3:00 p.m., and the person filing must appear in person to speak with court staff.
Birth and death certificates for Shelby County residents are maintained by the Shelby County Health Department Vital Records office, which holds records from 1882 to present. The office is located in the Shelby County Courthouse Annex #2:
Shelby County Health Department — Vital Records
Address: 20 W. Polk Street, Suite 202, Shelbyville, IN 46176
Phone: (317) 392-6470
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
Vital record fees are as follows:
| Record | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate (standard size) | $15.00 |
| Birth Certificate (standard/wallet size) | $20.00 |
| Death Certificate | $20.00 |
Mail orders must include the completed application, appropriate payment by money order or cash, a copy of one valid photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The office accepts cash, money orders, and debit/credit cards (with a service charge) for in-person requests. For marriage records, contact the Shelby County Clerk’s Office at (317) 392-6320.
Shelby County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Shelby County — including estate administration, will validation, guardianships, trusts, and mental health proceedings — are handled through the Circuit Court and Superior Courts. The Shelby County Clerk’s Filing Fee Schedule sets the following fees for probate filings:
| Probate Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate – Supervised | $177.00 |
| Estate – Unsupervised | $177.00 |
| Estate – Miscellaneous | $177.00 |
| Estate – Misc. (Inheritance Tax Return/Spread Will/Safety Deposit Box) | $0.00 |
| Guardianship | $177.00 |
| Mental Health | $177.00 |
| Trust | $177.00 |
Probate records typically include the original petition, letters testamentary or of administration, inventories of estate assets, accountings, and final decrees of distribution. Most probate records are publicly accessible through mycase.in.gov or by visiting the Clerk’s office in person. Exceptions apply for records ordered sealed by the court or records containing confidential information protected under Administrative Rule 9, such as financial account details or medical information embedded in mental health proceedings.
To request probate records in person or by mail, contact the Shelby County Clerk’s office at 407 S. Harrison Street, Room 111, Shelbyville, IN 46176, or by phone at (317) 392-6320. For individuals who need legal guidance in navigating probate proceedings without an attorney, Shelby Superior Court 1 directs self-represented parties to contact Legal Aid District Eleven at 1531 13th Street, Suite G330, Columbus, IN 47201, Phone: (877) 378-0358, which may provide volunteer attorney assistance at no cost to qualifying individuals.