LaGrange County Court Records

LaGrange County court records are a collection of official documents that portray the events and proceedings of a criminal or civil case adjudicated in LaGrange County. Formally called "case records," these documents, materials, or items are primarily maintained by the clerk of the court's office and can include motions, orders, transcripts, pleadings, summonses, affidavits, exhibits, and judgments. Court records have several uses within the judicial system, including advancing governmental accountability and transparency and protecting individual due process rights and privacy interests.

Are Court Records Public in LaGrange County?

Yes. The general presumption in La Grange County is that all court records can be disclosed to any member of society, except if a record is deemed exempt from public access. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified in Indiana Code (IC) 5-14-3, and Rules on Access to Court Records govern the public dissemination of LaGrange court records.

Nonpublic court records in La Grange County include:

• Records deemed classified by another Indiana statute, court rule, or a federal law
• Records declared confidential by court order
• Records of juvenile proceedings
• Mental health records
• Drug or substance abuse records
• Pre-sentence reports
• Adoption records
• Custody evaluation reports
• Complete Social Security Numbers (SSNs) of living persons

Note: The term court record in Indiana also encompasses "Court Administrative Records," which are documents, data, or other items maintained by a court regarding the judicial branch's administration. Examples include statistical reports, memoranda, jury pool list records, local court rules, budget and expenditure records, timesheets, and the roll of attorneys. These records are not associated with any court case and are publicly accessible under the preceding regulations.

LaGrange County Court Records Search

Any court records search entails querying a particular office or agency via a recommended channel. For LaGrange County court records, the following methods can be utilized:

• Visit or write to the La Grange County Clerk's Office.
• Access online case search databases provided by the court system.
• Search a public records aggregator website.

LaGrange County Courts

LaGrange County's court system, a part of Indiana's Judicial District 6, comprises two trial courts: the Circuit Court and the Superior Court. Both courts hear civil and criminal proceedings at the LaGrange County Courthouse. Below is the County Courthouse address and specific court contact numbers:

LaGrange County Circuit Court

105 North Detroit Street
LaGrange, IN 46761
Phone: (260) 499-6358
Fax: (260) 499-6448

LaGrange County Superior Court

105 North Detroit Street
LaGrange, IN 46761
Phone: (260) 499-6363
Fax: (260) 499-6403

LaGrange County Criminal and Civil Records

Criminal court records refer to the formal accounts of criminal prosecutions held in a court of law. On the other hand, civil court records are documentary materials generated from cases filed or initiated because of a private dispute.

Members of the public can access LaGrange County criminal and civil records created in the local Circuit and Superior Courts as follows:

• Fill out the Requests for Copies of a Court Record Form and submit it to the La Grange County Clerk's Office following the instructions therein. Each copy of a court record costs $1 per page, plus a $3 fee per document for certification (if required).
• Navigate to the Indiana MyCase portal on a browser to find and view case records. Remote access is free to the public under Administrative Rule 9 (E). The system can be searched with a case party's last name or case number.

It is crucial to distinguish the LaGrange County criminal court records from the LaGrange County criminal records. Whereas the former is maintained within the judicial system, the latter is a more extensive document preserved by different public bodies, encapsulating one's criminal history (arrests, charges, court sentences, etc.)

For example, local law enforcement agencies, like the county sheriff's office, maintain the LaGrange County arrest records, which form part of a person's criminal record. Meanwhile, the Indiana State Police provides Indiana's most comprehensive criminal history record check services, including a Limited Criminal History (LCH) Search for the general public.

LaGrange County Marriage Records

LaGrange County marriage records are accessible through the County Clerk's Office for $1 per plain copy and $3 per certified copy. The Clerk's Office offers inquirers the option to print out and fill out the Request for Copies of Marriage License Form and then submit it via mail to the local courthouse. Requesters can also visit the Clerk's Office at the local courthouse to order a LaGrange County marriage certificate.

Payment for copies of LaGrange marriage records can be made by cash (not for mail requests), debit/debit card, or money order. However, a 3% or $1.50 minimum convenience fee applies to all debit/credit card transactions.

Other avenues for finding marriage records generated in LaGrange County include:

• Accessing the Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup site. This is a public website for obtaining marriage records since 1993.
• Accessing the Indiana State Library's Online Marriage Indexes: Through 1850 and From 1958-2022.

LaGrange County Divorce Records

LaGrange County divorce records are created from civil proceedings initiated in a local court to end a marital union. These records can be requested from the LaGrange Clerk's Office by filling out and submitting the Requests for Copies of a Court Record Form. Parties can also search the Indiana MyCase portal by name or case number for dissolution of marriage (divorce) cases.

LaGrange County Birth Records

The LaGrange County Health Department's (LCHD) Vital Records office serves as the local custodian for LaGrange County birth records, which are primary documents for identification purposes. A requester may submit a completed Birth Certificate Application Form by mail to the LCHD, along with a copy of acceptable identification (driver's license, valid passport, paycheck stub, etc.) and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Each certificate costs $15 to order.

The completed form and an original ID can also be hand-delivered to the local health department during business hours at the following address:

LaGrange County Health Department
304 North Townline Road
Suite #1
LaGrange, IN 46761
Phone: (260) 499-4182, ext. 5

Individuals can also order a LaGrange County birth record from the Indiana Department of Health (the State Registrar) for $10 for the first copy and $4 for each extra copy in the same order.

Note: Only those with a "direct interest" in a LaGrange County birth certificate can order a copy. This rule applies whether the request is made to the LaGrange County Vital Records Office or Indiana State Vital Records Office.

LaGrange County Death Records

To order a death record in LaGrange County, one can complete the Death Certificate Application Form and submit it in person or via mail to the LaGrange County Vital Records Office. An acceptable ID and service fee are necessary for such requests. If the application is to be made by mail, the sender should submit a copy of their ID instead. However, whether the request is made in person or via mail, the purchaser is liable for a $12 fee per certified copy (plus $6 for each additional copy in the same order) and a $9 per name searched for genealogy requests (where the registrant is over 75 years old and deceased).

Orders for LaGrange County death records can also be placed at the Indiana Department of Health for $8 for the first copy and $4 for each extra copy in the same order.

Any requester of a LaGrange County death record, which can be used for an estate or inheritance settlement, must satisfy Indiana's relationship requirements under IC 16-37-1-10. In other words, the party must have a "direct interest" in the record, which the law describes as an immediate direct kinship (parent, grandparent, adult sibling/child, etc.) to the individual named on the record or a documented and verifiable legal and financial interest in the record.

LaGrange County Probate Court Records

Probate court records in LaGrange County can be obtained from the LaGrange County Clerk's Office by filling out and submitting the Requests for Copies of a Court Record Form. Interested individuals can also access the Indiana MyCase portal to look up probate cases, which involve the administration of deceased people's estates, mental health hearings, and guardianships.

LaGrange County Property Records

Individuals seeking property (land or real estate) records in LaGrange County can contact or visit the LaGrange County Recorder's Office, the official property records custodian) at the following address:

County Office Building
114 West Michigan Street
LaGrange, IN 46761
Business: (260) 499-6320
Assistant: (260) 499-6394

Providing a grantor/grantee's name, file number, or other criteria that can aid staff in completing a request will be necessary. The relevant copy fees can be viewed on the Recorder's Office website.

One can also access online property search services provided by the Recorder's Office partners.

LaGrange County Court Records Online

In addition to court repositories, LaGrange court records can be obtained from independent, third-party vendors that collate LaGrange County public records from various sources and furnish them to interested members of society. These vendors maintain web-based platforms, like Indianacourtrecords.us, for the public's convenience, allowing visitors to look up a broad range of court records from one location. Admittedly, there may be fee requirements to obtain data from such websites, and care should be taken to verify the accuracy of information through governmental sources.