Wells County Court Records Search
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Wells County, Indiana, anchored by the city of Bluffton as its county seat, operates a court system consisting of a Circuit Court, a Superior Court, and a Bluffton City Court, each with defined jurisdictional roles. Case filings, judgments, dockets, and exhibits generated by these courts are officially maintained by the Wells County Clerk of Courts and are generally a matter of public record. The county's records stretch back to 1837, giving researchers access to a remarkably long historical archive.
If you're looking to locate publicly available case information in Wells County, IndianaStateCourts.us can direct you toward online tools, official clerk offices, and public access terminals across the state's court system. Depending on the nature of the records you need, you can search through state-maintained databases or visit the courthouse in person.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Wells County?
Wells County offers several practical ways to locate court records, from free online searches to in-person assistance at the clerk's office.
Indiana MyCase — Free Online Case Search
The Indiana MyCase portal, operated by the Indiana Office of Judicial Administration, lets the public search case information and view some court documents at no cost. You can search by party name or case number, and MyCase covers both the Circuit Court and Superior Court in Wells County. Keep in mind that MyCase displays only publicly accessible case information — records excluded from public access under Indiana court rules will not appear.
Marriage License Public Lookup
For marriage-related records specifically, the Indiana Judiciary maintains a separate Marriage License Public Lookup portal that allows searches by applicant names dating back to 1993. You can filter results by issuing county and year of marriage.
Doxpop — Subscription-Based Search
Doxpop provides access to current and historical Indiana court cases and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It offers case party, case number, and attorney-based search options. A low-volume search plan is available for free; higher-volume subscriptions are available for commercial users.
In-Person Access at the Clerk's Office
For document-level access, certified copies, or records predating online systems, the Wells County Clerk of Courts is your best in-person resource. The Clerk's office is also the submission point for written mail requests.
Wells County Clerk of Courts:
| Address | 102 West Market Street, Suite 201, Bluffton, IN 46714 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (Contact through the county website) |
| Copy Fees | $1.00 per page; add $3.00 per document for certification |
Are Court Records Public in Wells County?
Public access to Wells County court records rests on two overlapping frameworks. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (I.C. § 5-14-3) establishes a general right for any person to inspect and copy records held by public agencies, including courts. Complementing this, the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records — specifically Rules 2 and 4 — affirm that the general public may access court records while defining specific exclusions.
The following categories of records are shielded from public disclosure under Indiana law and court rules:
- Mental health proceeding records governed by I.C. § 12-26
- Active law enforcement investigation records tied to pending criminal cases
- Certain paternity records
- Substance abuse and drug treatment records protected under 42 CFR Part 2
- Problem-solving court, pretrial release, and supervision proceeding records
- Records sealed by specific court order
- Personal identifiers, including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, and personal identification numbers
- Information otherwise designated as confidential by state or federal statute
When a court document contains restricted data alongside public information, the record custodian is required to redact the sensitive portions before releasing the document. Certain individuals — such as case parties, their legal representatives, and court staff — may be permitted to access restricted information to the extent allowed by law. Requests for access to records excluded from public disclosure are governed by Rule 9 of the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records, which holds those records confidential until the court acts on the petition.
Wells County Criminal Court Records
Criminal jurisdiction in Wells County is divided between the Circuit and Superior Courts according to offense severity and the date the alleged offense occurred. Understanding this division helps you identify which court maintains the records for a specific case.
Jurisdiction by Offense Date:
For offenses allegedly committed on or before June 30, 2004:
- Circuit Court — handles cases where the defendant's highest charge is a Class C felony or greater
- Superior Court — handles offenses less severe than a Class C felony
For offenses allegedly committed on or after July 1, 2004:
- Circuit Court — handles cases where the highest charge is a Level 5 felony or greater
- Superior Court — handles offenses below a Level 5 felony classification
All juvenile cases, regardless of charge level, are heard exclusively in the Circuit Court.
Wells County Circuit Court:
| Address | 102 West Market Street, Suite 302, Bluffton, IN 46714 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (260) 824-6485 |
| Fax | (260) 824-6488 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Judge | Hon. Kenton Kiracofe |
Wells County Superior Court:
| Address | 102 West Market Street, 3rd Floor, Bluffton, IN 46714 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (260) 824-6508 |
| Fax | (260) 824-6511 |
| 90D01b@wellscounty.org | |
| Judge | Hon. Andrew Antrim |
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Information
Arrest records and inmate information in Wells County are maintained by the Wells County Sheriff's Office rather than the court clerk. The Sheriff's Office is located at 1615 Western Avenue, Bluffton, IN 46714, and can be reached by phone at (260) 824-3426 or by email at admin@wellscountysheriff.com. Administration office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Sheriff's Office also maintains a public listing of outstanding warrants and information on registered sex offenders in the county. Active warrant information is searchable through the Sheriff's linked resources on the county website, and sex offender registry searches are available through the sheriff's alerts portal.
Criminal case records from the courts themselves — including dockets, charge filings, plea agreements, and sentencing orders — are accessible through the MyCase portal for public cases, or by submitting a records request to the Clerk of Courts office.
Wells County Civil Court Records
Both the Circuit Court and Superior Court handle civil cases in Wells County, though certain civil matters are assigned exclusively to one court. Attorneys may file civil lawsuits in either court per the applicable local rules, while self-represented litigants follow more specific assignment requirements. The Wells County Local Court Rules govern case assignment procedures.
Exclusive Civil Jurisdictions:
- Superior Court — dissolution of marriage proceedings for self-represented litigants; protective orders; small claims; eviction (dispossessory) cases
- Circuit Court — probate matters; mental health cases
The Wells County Clerk of Courts maintains all civil case records and is the correct office for requesting copies of civil filings. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page, with an additional $3.00 per document for certification.
Small Claims
Small claims matters in Wells County are handled by the Superior Court and offer an accessible venue for resolving lower-value disputes without extensive procedural formalities. The court has published a Small Claims Manual to assist self-represented litigants through the process.
Property Records
Real estate and property-related records in Wells County are spread across four offices:
- Recorder's Office — maintains recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, mechanic's liens, plats, and easements; photographic copies cost $1.00 per page; certified copies cost $5.00 plus $1.00 per page; recording fees include $25.00 for deeds and $55.00 for mortgages
- Assessor's Office — maintains property assessment and valuation records for tax purposes
- Auditor's Office — maintains records of tax collection and distribution; transfer fees apply per county ordinance
- Treasurer's Office — maintains records of paid and outstanding property taxes
Recorded documents can also be searched online through Doxpop, which provides a free low-volume plan and paid subscriptions for higher-volume commercial users.
Wells County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Wells County fall under the jurisdiction of both courts, though the Superior Court handles most dissolution of marriage and protective order proceedings. Records from family court proceedings are maintained by the Wells County Clerk and are generally accessible to the public, subject to standard confidentiality protections for sensitive personal information.
Divorce Records
Dissolution of marriage cases are filed through the Clerk's office. Self-represented litigants must initiate divorce and annulment proceedings in the Superior Court, while attorneys may file in either court. All resulting records — including decrees, asset division orders, and custody determinations — are held by the Clerk. You can locate divorce case information through the MyCase portal using a party name or case number, and document copies can be requested in person or by mail at the standard rates of $1.00 per page and $3.00 per document for certification.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Wells County Clerk of Courts. The applicable fees are:
- Indiana Resident License: $25.00, plus $4.00 for the first certified copy (total $29.00)
- Out-of-State License: $65.00, plus $4.00 for the first certified copy
Marriage records in Wells County are generally public. The Indiana Judiciary's Marriage License Public Lookup portal allows free searches of marriage records dating to 1993. For older records, contact the Clerk's office directly — the county's records date back to 1837.
Child Support
Child support payments ordered through either Wells County court are collected through the Clerk's office. You can verify payment status by calling the Help Kids toll-free line at (800) 840-8757. Payment history printouts can be picked up at the Clerk's office by the custodial or non-custodial parent only, at a cost of $1.00 per page (add $3.00 for certification). Online child support payments can be made through childsupportbillpay.com.
Protective Orders
Protective orders in Wells County are processed through the Superior Court. Forms for filing a protective order are available directly from the Superior Court's website, which links to the relevant protective order forms for download and completion.
Birth and Death Records
Vital records — including birth and death certificates — are maintained by the Wells County Health Department, not the court clerk. These records cover events occurring in Wells County from 1883 to the present.
Wells County Health Department — Vital Records Division:
| Address | 223 W Washington Street, Suite 202, Bluffton, IN 46714 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (260) 824-6489 |
| Walk-In Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. |
| Vital Records Contact | Sahara Wall (sahara.wall@wellscounty.org) |
Vital Records Fee Schedule (effective April 3, 2023):
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate (full & wallet size) | $15.00 |
| Birth Certificate (stillbirth) | $15.00 |
| Death Certificate | $20.00 |
| Genealogy Request (uncertified copy of birth or death record) | $2.00 |
Eligible requesters include immediate family members — parents, siblings, grandparents, spouse, children, and grandchildren — who are at least 18 years of age and can present acceptable identification. Requests may be submitted by walk-in, U.S. mail, or online through VitalChek, which charges an additional convenience fee for online processing. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money orders, and credit cards (with a 3% convenience fee for card payments).
Wells County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Wells County — including the administration of decedents' estates, will filings, guardianship appointments, and conservatorships — are handled exclusively by the Circuit Court. This is one of the Circuit Court's exclusive civil jurisdictions, which means anyone seeking probate case records should direct their inquiry specifically to the Circuit Court or the Clerk of Courts.
What Probate Records Typically Contain:
- Petitions for appointment of a personal representative or administrator
- Filed wills and codicils
- Inventories of estate assets
- Accountings and final distribution orders
- Guardianship and conservatorship petitions and court orders
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration
Probate case information can be searched by party name or case number through the Indiana MyCase portal. For document-level access, contact the Clerk of Courts in person or submit a written request. The Clerk's office holds records for both the Circuit Court and Superior Court and can help locate specific probate filings. Copies are available at $1.00 per page, with certification at $3.00 per document.
Wells County is also a mandatory e-filing county for attorneys; before filing electronically, practitioners should review Trial Rule 86 and the statewide e-filing requirements outlined on the Clerk's page. The Indiana General Assembly's estate laws under Title 29 govern the substantive procedures for probate administration statewide.