Starke County Court Records Search

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    Starke County, Indiana operates a court system that produces a wide range of public and restricted records covering civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, family proceedings, and probate matters. These records — including case files, audio recordings, visual exhibits, motions, orders, and judgments — originate primarily from the Starke County Circuit Court and the Knox City Court. For most court-related requests in the county, the Starke County Clerk's Office is the official filing point and primary records keeper for Circuit Court documents.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Starke County?

    Start your search online. The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a county-level directory pointing to local court contacts and docketing resources. IndianaStateCourts.us can also help you locate publicly available case information across Indiana's court system. For Starke County specifically, the MyCase portal is the main online search tool, offering free access to non-confidential case information and documents from Indiana's Odyssey Case Management System — searchable by party name or case number.

    If the records you need aren't available online, the Starke County Clerk's Office accepts in-person and mail requests during regular business hours.

    Are Court Records Public in Starke County?

    Indiana law generally presumes that court records are open to the public. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) requires custodian agencies to grant access to government records, including court filings. Indiana Administrative Rule 9 sets the specific procedures for accessing court records and identifies which case types are excluded from public inspection.

    The following categories of records are generally not available to the public in Starke County:

    • Juvenile proceedings — case files involving minors are excluded from public access under state law
    • Adoption records — sealed by statute and unavailable without a court order
    • Mental health commitment cases — protected from routine disclosure
    • Protective orders — certain identifying information and case details are restricted
    • Expunged or sealed records — removed from public access by court order
    • Grand jury proceedings — confidential by law
    • Paternity cases — access is restricted under Indiana court rules

    For all other case types, members of the public may search, inspect, and request copies of records through the Clerk's Office or via the MyCase online portal. Indiana Court Rule 5 provides the full framework governing records excluded from public access.

    Starke County Criminal Court Records

    Felonies, misdemeanors, and certain traffic violations are all heard in the Starke County Circuit Court. The Knox City Court handles ordinance violations, infractions, and some misdemeanor criminal cases within the city of Knox. Each court keeps its own records separately.

    Starke County Circuit Court
    Address: 53 East Washington Street, Knox, IN 46534
    Phone: (574) 772-9146
    Fax: (574) 772-9120

    Knox City Court
    Address: 5435 East State Road 8, Knox, IN 46534
    Phone: (574) 772-3766
    Fax: (574) 772-7224

    How to search criminal case records:

    • Online via MyCase — Search the Indiana Courts MyCase portal by party name or case number to access publicly available criminal dockets and documents at no charge.
    • In person at the Clerk's Office — Visit 53 East Washington Street, Knox, during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CST) to review case files or request certified copies.
    • For arrest records and incident reports — Contact the Starke County Sheriff's Office directly, as law enforcement records are maintained separately from court files.

    Starke County Sheriff's Office — Sheriff Jack Rosa
    Address: 5435 E State Road 8, Knox, IN 46534
    Phone: (574) 772-3771
    Main Fax: (574) 772-7641 | Jail Fax: (574) 772-2443
    Email: sheriff@starke.in.gov
    Hours: 24 hours

    Records sealed by court order, juvenile arrest records, and files related to active investigations are not available through standard public records requests.

    Starke County Civil Court Records

    The Starke County Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over civil matters including personal injury cases, employment disputes, landlord-tenant disagreements, foreclosures, and slander and libel claims. Real estate title disputes fall under the Circuit Court's exclusive authority. The Knox City Court handles civil ordinance matters within its more limited jurisdiction.

    The Starke County Clerk's Office manages all civil filings and case files for the Circuit Court. You can access civil case information online through the MyCase portal or obtain certified copies in person or by mail.

    Starke County Clerk's Office — Clerk Bernadette Manuel

    Address53 East Washington Street, P.O. Box 395, Knox, IN 46534
    Main Phone(574) 772-9128
    Small Claims(574) 772-9122
    Fax(574) 772-9169
    Emailclerk75@starke.in.gov
    HoursMonday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (CST)

    Small claims cases in Indiana are capped at $10,000 under state law. The Clerk's Office provides a Small Claims Manual to help self-represented litigants navigate the filing process. For small claims questions, call the dedicated line at (574) 772-9122.

    Certified copies of civil records can be ordered through the Clerk's Official Records Online Portal, which lets you select specific record types and complete the request electronically. For mail requests, include the case number or party names, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for applicable copy fees.

    Starke County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Starke County — divorce, child custody, child support, adoptions, name changes, and guardianship proceedings — are all handled by the Starke County Circuit Court. The Clerk's Office maintains all related case files and is the right contact for certified copies of family court documents.

    Divorce records are generally public, though certain sensitive information is redacted before disclosure. Items withheld from routine public access include Social Security numbers, financial account details, tax records, medical and mental health records, child custody specifics, and information from protective orders. You can search divorce case information online through MyCase, and certified copies of divorce decrees can be ordered through the Official Records Online Portal or requested in person or by mail at the Clerk's Office.

    Marriage records are issued and maintained by the Starke County Clerk. A certified copy of a marriage record costs $4.00 per copy. Submit requests through the Official Records Online Portal, in person at the Clerk's Office, or by mail to P.O. Box 395, Knox, IN 46534. Mail requests should include the full names of both parties, the date or approximate year of the marriage, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for the applicable fee. For questions about marriage records, call (574) 772-9128.

    Birth records in Indiana are confidential for 99 years from the date of birth. Access is limited to the subject of the record (if 18 or older), their parents or legal guardians, and authorized legal representatives. To request a Starke County birth certificate:

    • Download and complete the Birth Certificate Application Form
    • Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID
    • Include a self-addressed stamped envelope
    • Include a check or money order for $10.00 per copy
    • Mail to: Starke County Health Department, Vital Records Division, 108 N Pearl Street, Knox, IN 46534

    In-person requests are accepted at the Health Department, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CST; the Vital Records direct line is (574) 772-9174. Birth certificates can also be ordered through the Indiana Department of Health website.

    Death records in Indiana are confidential for 75 years from the date of death. Eligible requesters include immediate family members and authorized legal representatives. The process mirrors the birth certificate request: download and complete the Death Records Application Form, attach a valid photo ID copy, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment, then mail everything to the Starke County Health Department, Vital Records Division, 108 N Pearl Street, Knox, IN 46534.

    Starke County Probate Court Records

    Probate proceedings in Starke County fall within the jurisdiction of the Starke County Circuit Court, which handles the full range of probate matters — will contests, intestate succession, trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and estate administration. The Clerk's Office maintains all probate case files and associated records.

    Common probate matters heard in Starke County:

    • Administration of estates (supervised and unsupervised)
    • Admission and contest of wills
    • Intestate succession proceedings
    • Guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults
    • Conservatorships
    • Trust administration disputes
    • Escheats

    How to access probate records:

    • Online — Search probate case dockets and publicly accessible filings through the MyCase portal using the decedent's or ward's name or the case number assigned at filing.
    • In person — Visit the Clerk's Office at 53 East Washington Street, Knox, Indiana, during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CST). Bring a valid photo ID and identifying case details — such as the decedent's name, approximate year of filing, and case number — to speed up the search.
    • By mail — Send a written request to the Starke County Clerk's Office, P.O. Box 395, Knox, IN 46534, including case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment for copy fees.

    For property records tied to estate transactions — such as deeds transferred following probate — the Starke County Recorder's Office maintains documents accessible through the county's Recorder Online Documents portal. Subscription-based land record searches are also available through the Tapestry Land Records portal for occasional users, and through Laredo for those who need a standing subscription account. The Recorder's Office is located at 53 East Mound Street, Knox, IN 46534, and can be reached at (574) 772-9109.