Jennings County Court Records

Jennings County court records encompass all documentary materials or recorded information that a local court clerk preserves regarding a legal matter or proceeding. Examples include motions, petitions, transcripts, summonses, subpoenas, orders, and judgments.

Court records are vital for maintaining judicial transparency, thereby promoting public oversight and trust in the justice system. They are also useful for appealing lower court decisions, setting precedents for future cases, assessing a person's background (including financial issues), and lending context to legal trends or developments.

Are Court Records Public in Jennings County?

Yes, court records are open to the general public in Jennings County. Following Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA) and Rules on Access to Court Records, anyone can inspect or copy Jennings court records, except where a record is exempt by statute, court rule, or court order.

Court records excluded from public access in Jennings include:

• Mental health information
• Medical records
• Drug or substance abuse records
• Records declared confidential by statute, court rule, or court order
• Unexecuted search warrants
• Paternity records created after July 1, 1941, and before July 1, 2014
• Custody evaluation reports
• Complete Social Security Numbers of living persons
• Adoption records

Jennings County Court Records Search

Looking up Jennings County court records often involves one of two approaches:

• Making a direct query to a records custodian, or
• Accessing an online database

Usually, the specific entity to query for a court record depends on the information one seeks. However, individuals typically have access to government and third-party resources for finding court records, with the courts being the primary sources of such information.

Jennings County Courts

Jennings County has one superior court and a circuit court adjudicating all civil and criminal cases brought to the county's court system. Both courts are situated at the Jennings County Courthouse on the first and second floors, respectively. Below are their specific contact details:

Jennings County Circuit Court
24 North Pike Street
P.O. Box 386
Vernon, IN 47282
Phone: (812) 352-3082

Jennings County Superior Court
24 North Pike Street
P.O. Box 490
Vernon, IN 47282
Phone: (812) 352-3087

Jennings County Criminal and Civil Records

Members of the public can access records of civil (non-criminal) and criminal cases heard by the Jennings County courts through the Indiana MyCase portal. This portal is accessible at no cost to the public and can be searched by case number, party name, or attorney name/bar number. In addition to case summaries and events, users can download non-confidential documents and filings from the portal.

Alternatively, individuals can visit the Jennings County Courthouse during regular business hours to request document inspection or copying at the clerk's office. On-site access may be preferable for those seeking access to a confidential case or wanting to obtain certified copies of documents. Like online court record searches, an inquirer will need to provide specific information (party name, case number, etc.) to court staff to facilitate a search. However, the person will be liable for any fees associated with their request.

Note: Besides Jennings County criminal court records, individuals may wish to obtain other documents produced within the criminal justice system if looking into a person's complete criminal history. An example is the Jennings arrest records, which provide critical information about someone's arrest.

To find Jennings County arrest records, a party can query local law enforcement departments under the APRA. They can also access statewide criminal history files through the Indiana State Police (ISP). The ISP offers a Limited Criminal History Search to paying subscribers. The system disseminates Jennings County criminal records, including felonies and class A misdemeanor arrests reported to the ISP by local authorities.

Jennings County Marriage Records

Marriage records prove that two people got married in a particular state, county, city, or town. In Jennings County, these records are accessible through the Clerk of the Court's office. However, the office charges a fee to produce a copy of a Jennings County marriage certificate.

Interested individuals can also have the following options for looking up Jennings County marriage records for free:

• Access the Indiana judiciary's Marriage Licenses Public Lookup website. A search can be conducted with a spouse's name, the marriage year, or the issuing county.
• Access the Indiana State Library's Legacy website to search for marriage licenses issued before 1850 and from 1958 forward.

Jennings County Divorce Records

Members of the public can look up Jennings County divorce cases through the Indiana MyCase portal. Alternatively, they can visit the Jennings County Courthouse to request copies of these records from the Clerk's office:

Jennings County Clerk’s Office
24 North Pike Street
P.O. Box 385
Vernon, Indiana 47282
Phone: (812) 352-3070
Fax: (812) 352-3076

Regardless of the search method used, the requester will need to provide a person's name or case number to allow for record retrieval. They will also need to pay any copy fees associated with their request.

Jennings County Birth Records

Jennings County birth records are identification documents, useful for verifying a person's nationality, age, and parentage, among other purposes. Along with death records, birth records make up the Jennings County vital records and can be requested from the local health department in person or by mail. Requests can also be made to the department's approved vendor online.

The Jennings County Health Department issues copies of birth certificates for $10 each, payable by cash, check, or money order. An additional fee applies when requesting records through the private vendor. In-person and mail requesters are expected to complete the health department's Birth Application Form (notarization is required for mail applications) and submit it with a valid form of identification. However, only specific parties are eligible to obtain a certified copy of a Jennings County birth certificate.

Jennings County Death Records

Death records are vital documents, important for settling estates, researching family histories, understanding mortality trends, and claiming pension benefits. In Jennings County, the health department disseminates death records for $15 each to in-person or mail requesters. Applicants are required to complete and submit a Death Record Request Form. Online orders are also available through the department's private vendor. However, certified copies are only available to persons who show proof of relationship to the deceased.

Jennings County Probate Court Records

The Jennings Circuit Court serves as the county's probate court. This court has exclusive jurisdiction over the administration of estates of deceased persons, guardianships, trusts, and mental health hearings. To obtain probate court records from the court, a person can access the Indiana MyCase portal with a party name or case number, or they can visit the Clerk of the Court's office at the local courthouse.

Jennings County Property Records

Property records are legal documents that contain important information about real estate (buildings or land) situated within a particular jurisdiction. These records note a property's sales transactions, chains of title, characteristics/features, assessments, and taxation, among other information.

The Recorder's office files property documents/information into the Jennings County public records. As a result, deeds, mortgages, surveys, assignments, liens, easements, notices, and other documents can be obtained from the office at the address below:

Jennings County Recorder's Office
24 North Pike Street
P.O. Box 397
Vernon, IN 47282
Phone: (812) 352-3053

Copies cost $1 per page for 11" x 17" or smaller documents, $5 per page for documents larger than 11" x 17", and $5 per document for certification.

Property information may also be requested from the local Assessor's office at the address below:

Jennings County Assessor's Office
200 East Brown Street
P.O. Box 384
Vernon, IN 47282
Phone: (812) 352-3011
Fax: (812) 352-3014

When requesting a property search from the Assessor's office, inquirers are generally required to provide a parcel number, owner name, or property address.

Jennings County Court Records Online

Jennings County court records can be accessed not only through judicial offices but also via different private online vendors, such as Indianacourtrecords.us. These vendors offer searchable public records databases, allowing interested persons to find Jennings criminal records, court case details, property information, and more. Third-party databases are typically accessible with a person's first and last name, and users may find records from other U.S. regions. However, inquirers are typically charged for access to extensive information, and the accuracy or completeness of records cannot be guaranteed.