Lake County Superior Court Case Search

In Lake County, Superior Court records are generated and stored from the pre-trial stage to the sentencing phase. These documents consist of formal charges and pleas, information exchange between parties regarding evidence presentation, witness testimonies, and exhibits documented during court proceedings. Interested persons usually seek Superior Court records when conducting court trial research, monitoring case status, and conducting background checks for employment or tenancy.

What Kinds of Cases Are Heard in the Lake Superior Court?

The Indiana court system has three main trial courts—Circuit Courts, Superior Courts, and City and Town Courts. Two of these courts are available in Lake County: the Superior and Circuit Courts.

The Lake County Superior Court is the central trial court, comprising several divisions (civil, criminal, and county) that enable the court to handle the high volume and diverse nature of cases. In the Superior Court's Divisions, judges hear various cases, including civil, criminal, family, and probate issues. The Superior Court, however, shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over most juvenile, mental health, and probate cases.

Lake County’s Circuit Court (of the 31st in Lake County Judicial Circuit) is a trial court with limited jurisdiction. Although it shares jurisdiction with the Superior Court, the Circuit Court only hears civil matters. These include cases involving breach of contract and commercial disputes, medical and professional malpractice, personal injury, administrative review, divorce, child support, probate, and guardianship. In Lake County, the Circuit Court also manages the Lake County Domestic Relations Counseling Bureau.

Lake County Superior Court

The Superior Court is the principal trial court in Lake County. It has several divisions and judges that allow it to handle various cases. Lake County's Superior Court judges hear cases concerning civil, criminal, family, and probate issues. The court shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over most juvenile, mental health, and probate cases.

Given the high volume and varied nature of the legal affairs undertaken by Lake County's Superior Court, the court is an integral component of the county's justice system. As a lower court where judges initially hear criminal and civil matters, it provides litigants easy access to fair and efficient resolution of legal disputes, thereby upholding justice and the rule of law.

Interested parties may contact the Lake County Superior Court at the following locations:

Lake County Superior Court - Crown Point
Lake County Government Complex
2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 755-3460
Fax: (219) 755-3520

Lake County Superior Court - East Chicago
3711 Main Street, East Chicago, IN 46312
Phone: (219) 398-2442
Fax: (219) 392-2482

Lake County Superior Court - Gary
Justice Robert D. Rucker Superior Courthouse
15 W Fourth Ave, Gary, IN 46402
Phone: (219) 881-6065
Fax: (219) 881-6068

Lake County Superior Court - Hammond
232 Russell St, Hammond, IN 46320
Phone: (219) 933-2857
Fax: (219) 933-2805

Lake County Superior Court Juvenile Division
2293 N Main St, Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 755-3460
Fax: (219) 755-3520

Lake County Case Lookup

Interested parties may access county-wide Lake County court records with the following resources:

Online Searches

Requesters may use the Indiana Judicial Branch's Case Search portal to find information on Lake County court cases (from 2018 to the present). The portal allows users to access court orders in many civil case types, non-confidential records in misdemeanor cases, final orders and judgments in criminal cases, and more. However, the platform restricts public access to sensitive information concerning adoption, child protection, domestic relations, guardianship, and juvenile and mental health cases.

Users may find Lake County case records with the following search criteria:

• Case: They may search using a case number, citation number or cross reference number. Searchers must not include hyphens or leading zeros when entering a case number.
• Party: Users may search using a business name or last name and at least the first, middle, or date of birth. If they are uncertain of a name's spelling, want to find alternate spellings, or are looking for a similar name, they may use the "sounds-like" option under the party or attorney searches.
• Attorney: Users may search using the attorney number, last name, and at least first or middle.

Requesters may filter search results by case type, county, case status (open or closed), and file date range.

Walk-in Requests

Interested parties requesting Lake County court records may visit the Clerk of the Lake Circuit/Superior Court's Office or other courthouse locations of applicable record custodians during working hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., except weekends and holidays). Those possessing a case number and a valid government-issued photo ID may submit a written request for public court records.

Inquirers may contact the Clerk of the Lake Circuit/Superior Court's Office or other applicable custodian of court records for details of copying fees and the availability of self-help public terminals for searching court records.

Lake Superior Court Case Search by Name

In Knox County, information seekers may perform name-based searches of Superior Court records online or in person.

Online: Using the party name criteria on the Indiana Judicial Branch's Case Search portal, users may enter a business name or last name and a minimum first or middle name or birth date. Users who are unsure of a name's spelling, want to find alternate spellings or are looking for a similar name may use the "sounds-like" option under the party or attorney searches.

In-Person Search: Requesters may visit the Clerk of the Circuit/Superior Court's Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to execute an in-person name-based search. They must, however, provide adequate information (case number, party name, etc.) to hasten the name-based court record search.

Lake Superior Court Docket Search

A court docket is a complete calendar of essential events in a legal proceeding. It usually includes the case number and parties involved, hearing dates, rulings, judgments, orders issued by the judge, trial dates, and verdicts.

Court dockets are helpful to stakeholders in a lawsuit (court staff, parties in a legal proceeding, attorneys, and judges) and the general public for the following reasons:

• It helps in tracking deadlines and the status of motions filed.
• It informs them about upcoming trials or hearings.
• They are invaluable in evaluating decisions or precedents in similar cases.
• They assist in monitoring the compliance of parties with court directives.

To search for Lake County court dockets, visit the Trial Court Calendars page of the public.courts.In.gov site. The site allows users to view public trial court schedules for the previous week and the next four weeks. Select a date and county, and click "Find Hearing". Narrow search results by entering a case number or name or selecting a specific court.

Lookup Lake County Superior Court Online

Those looking for Lake County Superior Court information may obtain case information and court filings through the Indiana Judicial Branch's Case Search or by visiting the Clerk of the Circuit/Superior Office for copies of the actual records. Alternatively, third-party sites such as Indianacourtrecords.us offer easy-to-use interfaces for effectively searching the county's Superior Court records. Users may receive specific case details by supplying information like case numbers and party names from remote locations. Using these sites allows requesters to view and download court records easily. Nonetheless, regulatory agencies do not control the activities of these databases. As a result, their records may be incomplete or outdated, meaning accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

Supreme Court vs. Superior Court

In Lake County, the Superior Court is the central court of general jurisdiction, where legal issues are first heard. The court conducts trials, appraises the evidence presented, and delivers verdicts. Superior Courts usually handle criminal, civil, family, probate, and small claims.

In comparison, the Indiana State Supreme Court reviews appeals from lower courts (e.g., superior and circuit courts and the Court of Appeals), interprets state laws and the Constitution, and handles judicial administration and attorney discipline.

While the Indiana Supreme Court's jurisdiction extends statewide, the United States Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the country. It handles federal constitutional matters and disputes between states.