Clark County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Clark County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Clark County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. ClarkCountyRecords.org provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by county and state judicial offices. The records accessible through official sources may include case filings, docket entries, hearing schedules, judgments, and related court documents, subject to applicable access rules and confidentiality restrictions under Indiana law.
Court records that members of the public may encounter through official channels include:
- Criminal case filings and dispositions
- Civil complaints, answers, and judgments
- Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage and custody orders
- Probate filings and estate proceedings
- Small claims case records
- Traffic and infraction case records
- Juvenile court records (subject to significant access restrictions)
Court records in Clark County may be searched through the following five methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Clark County Clerk of Courts maintains official records for all trial court cases with jurisdiction in Clark County. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person during business hours to request access to case files. Providing a case number, party name, or approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Clark County Judicial Center. These terminals allow members of the public to search case information without charge during regular courthouse hours. Terminal access may be limited to index-level data and docket entries rather than full document images.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Judicial Branch operates MyCase, a statewide online case search system that provides public access to case information for courts across Indiana, including Clark County. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. The system reflects information as entered by the clerk's office and may not include all document images.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch public records portal provides guidance on accessing court records statewide. This resource directs users to the appropriate clerk's office when records are not available online and explains the scope of public access under current Indiana court rules.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Clark County Clerk's Office. Requests should identify the case by party name, case number, or filing date. Fees for copies apply, and processing times vary based on the volume of requests received.
Are Court Records Public In Clark County
Court records in Clark County are subject to the public access provisions of Indiana law and the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records. Under Indiana Administrative Rule 9, court records are presumptively open to public inspection unless a specific exception applies. The Indiana Supreme Court has stated that "the public has a right to know about the workings of the judicial system," and this principle underlies the state's framework for court record access.
Records that are generally public include:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names and attorney information
- Filed complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probate decrees
- Civil judgment amounts and case dispositions
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) records
- Adoption records and related proceedings
- Mental health commitment records
- Records sealed by court order
- Expunged criminal records under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth as specified under Indiana Administrative Rule 9(G)
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While the presumption of public access applies to both, certain records available for in-person inspection at the clerk's office may not be reproduced in the online case search system due to technical limitations or administrative rule restrictions.
What Are Court Records in Clark County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court or its clerk in connection with judicial proceedings. In Clark County, the Clark County Clerk's Office serves as the official custodian of trial court records, administering case files for all courts with jurisdiction in the county.
A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file includes all documents filed with the court, such as pleadings, motions, exhibits, and orders. Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of law. Filed pleadings represent the initial and responsive documents submitted by parties, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
Public filings are those submitted without restriction and accessible under the presumption of openness established by Indiana Administrative Rule 9. Sealed or restricted filings are those placed under a court order limiting access, or those categorized as confidential by statute or rule. Trial court records originate at the circuit or superior court level and are maintained by the clerk of that court. Appellate records, by contrast, are maintained by the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court and reflect proceedings on appeal from trial court decisions.
Court records are created at the moment of initial filing and are updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition. Upon conclusion of a case, the record is closed and retained according to the applicable judicial records retention schedule.
What's Included in a Clark County Court Record?
A court record in Clark County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public access rules. The following categories of information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and their attorneys of record
- Case classification: Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, small claims) and current case status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all actions taken in the case, including filings received, hearings held, and orders issued
- Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and trial settings
- Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, briefs, notices, stipulations, and similar pleadings
- Court orders and judgments: Interlocutory orders, final judgments, sentencing entries, custody decrees, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and case dispositions
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly reflected in the record
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters under Indiana Code § 35-38-9, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The presence or absence of specific documents within a record depends on the nature of the case and any applicable court orders restricting access.
Types of Courts in Clark County
Clark County is served by a trial court system operating under the Indiana unified court structure. The Indiana Judicial Branch directory for Clark County identifies the courts currently serving the county and provides contact information for each.
The primary trial courts in Clark County include:
- Clark Circuit Court: A court of general jurisdiction hearing felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law proceedings, and probate matters.
- Clark Superior Courts: Multiple superior court divisions handle civil litigation, criminal cases, family law, juvenile matters, and small claims proceedings. Individual divisions may be assigned specific case types by local court rule.
The Clark County Clerk of Courts maintains the official record for all trial court cases filed in these courts. Appellate matters arising from Clark County trial courts are heard by the Indiana Court of Appeals and, where applicable, the Indiana Supreme Court, which maintain their own separate records.
What Types of Cases Do Clark County Courts Hear
Clark County courts exercise jurisdiction over a broad range of case types:
- Criminal: Felony and misdemeanor prosecutions initiated by the State of Indiana
- Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury claims, property matters, and other civil litigation
- Family law: Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, custody, and support proceedings
- Probate: Estate administration, guardianship, and trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of services (CHINS) cases (subject to restricted access)
- Traffic and infractions: Moving violations and civil infractions
- Small claims: Monetary disputes within the jurisdictional limit established by Indiana law
- Appeals: Review of administrative agency decisions and lower court rulings within the court's appellate jurisdiction
How to Search Clark County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may access Clark County court records at no charge through several methods. In-person inspection of court records at the Clark County Clerk's Office is available without a fee during regular business hours. The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search system provides free online access to case index information and available docket entries for cases filed in Clark County courts.
Public access terminals located at the Clark County Judicial Center allow members of the public to search case information on-site without charge. These terminals provide access to the same statewide case search system available online.
Fees apply when copies of records are requested. Under Indiana court fee schedules, standard paper copies are assessed a per-page fee, and certified copies carry an additional certification charge. The current fee schedule is maintained by the Clark County Clerk's Office and reflects amounts authorized under Indiana Code § 33-37-5, which governs court fees and costs.
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person inspection | No charge |
| Online case search (MyCase) | No charge |
| Courthouse public terminal | No charge |
| Standard paper copies | Per-page fee (set by clerk) |
| Certified copies | Per-page fee plus certification fee |
| Research by clerk staff | May incur additional fees |
Clark County Clerk of Courts
501 E Court Avenue, #137
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Phone: (812) 285-6244
Clark County Clerk of Courts
How Long Does Clark County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Clark County is governed by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and the judicial records retention schedules adopted under Indiana law. Retention periods vary by case type and record category, and the clerk of courts is responsible for maintaining records in accordance with the applicable schedule.
Criminal case records, including felony matters, are retained for extended periods, with many categories subject to permanent retention. Civil judgment records are retained for a period sufficient to reflect the enforceability of the judgment under Indiana law. Probate records, which document the administration of estates and guardianships, are retained for lengthy periods given their significance to property and family history. Traffic and infraction records are subject to shorter retention schedules than felony criminal matters.
Docket books and minute records that constitute the permanent historical record of the court's proceedings are retained indefinitely. Paper case files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the destruction is authorized under the applicable retention schedule and the record has been preserved in an approved alternative format.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives rather than in electronic systems. Members of the public seeking records predating electronic filing systems may need to contact the clerk's office directly to determine the format and location of archived materials.
A distinction exists among destruction, archival retention, sealing, redaction, and expungement. Destruction refers to the permanent elimination of a record at the end of its retention period. Archival retention refers to the transfer of records to a repository for long-term preservation. Sealing restricts access to a record without eliminating it. Redaction removes specific information from a document while preserving the remainder. Expungement, available under Indiana Code § 35-38-9, results in the restriction of criminal history records from public access upon court order.
How To Find a Court Docket in Clark County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all actions taken in a specific case, distinct from the full case file, which includes the actual documents filed. The docket reflects the procedural history of a case — including filings received, hearings scheduled and held, orders entered, and continuances granted — but does not itself constitute the underlying documents.
Members of the public may access Clark County court dockets through the following channels:
The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search system is the primary online tool for locating docket information. Users may search by party name or case number to retrieve the docket for a specific case. The system displays docket entries as recorded by the clerk's office and reflects the current status of the case. As the Indiana Supreme Court has noted, "official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record," and MyCase serves as the official public-facing access point for this information.
To locate a docket through MyCase, a user may enter the party's last name, first name, or case number in the search fields provided. The system returns a list of matching cases, from which the user may select the relevant matter to view the docket entries. Each entry reflects the date of the action, a description of the filing or event, and, where available, a link to the associated document image.
Public access terminals at the Clark County Judicial Center provide the same docket search functionality for members of the public who prefer in-person access or who lack internet access. Clerk staff at the Clark County Clerk's Office may also assist members of the public in locating docket information upon request.
A court docket may contain hearing dates and times, continuances, motion filings, minute entries, order entries, and status updates. A docket does not include full document images for all filings, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that are not part of the public record. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available separately through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse.