LaPorte County Court Records

LaPorte County Court records are a wide range of official documents providing detailed accounts of legal proceedings in the court. They give a complete account of court activities, serving as a basis for future reference.

Court records incorporate a wide range of materials, documents, visual aids, and digital information, all maintained by the court. They are a collection of legal documentation that covers both civil and criminal cases processed across the different courts within the county’s jurisdiction.

Are Court Records Public in LaPorte County?

LaPorte County court records are public records. They are open to public scrutiny per the Indiana Public Records Act. However, there are exceptions to this broad access. For instance, records of juvenile proceedings are confidential. Also, adoption records, mental health records, sealed and expunged records, and records pertaining to ongoing investigations are not accessible to the public.

LaPorte County Court Records Search

Residents of LaPorte County have various avenues to choose from with regard to accessing court records. They can utilize online resources at the courts to verify basic information such as case events, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Requesters who prefer in-person applications may visit the County Clerk’s office. Such requesters are required to pay a fee and provide valid identification. For this purpose, a valid driver’s license or passport would suffice.

LaPorte County Court Records Search by Name

To search for court records by name in LaPorte County, Indiana, individuals should follow these steps:

• Visit websites with LaPorte County Court Records databases. These include official government databases or third-party websites
• Input the name of any of the plaintiffs or defendants as the search term
• Review the results to filter irrelevant information.

Also, a name-based search is available through the LaPorte County Clerk's Office. To do this, individuals should follow these steps:

• Get information on the records of interest and note the names of the plaintiff and defendant
• Visit the LaPorte County, Indiana Clerk's office
• Request access to the records
• Fill out a request form and submit using name as the search criterion
• Pay the applicable fee. Wait for processing
• Review the records
• Make copies of records (if necessary). Each plain copy costs $1.00 per page, while certified copies cost $2.00 per document.

LaPorte County Courts

LaPorte County's judicial system comprises the Circuit Court and four Superior Courts. The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction. It has comprehensive authority to preside over felony criminal cases, high-value civil matters, probate, and family law. The Superior Courts take charge of a broader range of cases. These include misdemeanors, civil disputes, small claims, traffic infractions, and family law.

Individuals seeking records can visit any of these courts within the county:

LaPorte County Circuit Court
813 Lincolnway
3rd Floor
LaPorte, IN 46350
Phone: (219) 326-6808 (LaPorte)
Phone: (219) 874-5611 ext. 2385 (Michigan City)
Fax: (219) 326-6626 (LaPorte)

LaPorte County Superior Court No. 1
300 Washington Street
Michigan City, IN 46360
Phone: (219) 874-5611
Fax: (219) 326-6626

LaPorte County Superior Court No. 2
County Complex Building
809 State Street
Suite 104A
LaPorte, IN 46350
Phone: (219) 874-5611 ext. 7734
Fax: (219) 326-6626

LaPorte County Superior Court No. 3
813 Lincolnway
Suite 105
LaPorte, IN 46350
Phone: (219) 326-6808
Fax: (219) 326-6626

LaPorte County Superior Court No. 4
300 Washington Street
Michigan City, IN 46360
Phone: (219) 874-5611
Fax: (219) 326-6626

LaPorte County District Court Records

The LaPorte County District Court has broad jurisdiction over major criminal and civil matters. Its areas of responsibility include felony offenses such as murder, assault, burglary, robbery, and drug trafficking. The court also adjudicates complex civil disputes involving real estate, contracts, personal injury, and property damage. In addition, it oversees probate proceedings- wills, estates, and guardianships. Records for the district court are accessible at the district clerk's office.

LaPorte County Criminal Records

Per State law and the Freedom of Information Act, LaPorte County criminal records are available for public scrutiny. Interested individuals can contact the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office. Records available include police reports, Laporte County arrest records, and other related information. To facilitate the record search, requesters should provide as much detailed information as possible about the case. This includes the time, date, and location of the incident and the names of the individuals involved.

LaPorte County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The LaPorte Superior Court's Criminal Division adjudicates all criminal matters prosecuted by the County Prosecutor's Office. Public access to criminal case information is available through the following channels:

• Indiana State Judiciary's Online Case Information platform.
• LaPorte County's online records request portal.
• In-person inquiry at the Criminal Division during regular business hours.
• Utilizing the LaPorte County Trial Court Calendar for scheduling information regarding upcoming hearings.

Get LaPorte County Civil Court Records

The LaPorte County judicial system addresses civil matters through its Superior Court, Circuit Court, and Small Claims Court. These courts adjudicate various civil cases- estate administration, guardianship, adoptions, paternity determinations, and mental health proceedings.

Individuals can get access to civil case records through the following methods:

• Through in-person or mail requests, individuals can directly inquire about the relevant court where the case was filed.
• Through the Indiana State Judiciary's Online Case Information platform and LaPorte County's online records request portal.
• The LaPorte County Trial Court Calendar offers online scheduling information for pending civil cases.

Pursuant to Indiana Administrative Rule 9, members of the public in LaPorte County have the right to access most civil court records. However, certain categories of records are exempt from disclosure to protect confidential information and preserve the integrity of ongoing investigations.

LaPorte County Family Court Records

In LaPorte County, Indiana, the Circuit Courts mediate on family issues, which include divorce and marriage resolution, child custody, paternity, adoption, domestic violence, guardianship, and name change. To obtain LaPorte County family records, individuals can visit the county clerk's office in person or log on to their website. They are required to provide identification and pay the applicable fees. Family records are public but could contain confidential information. As such, there could be conditions for eligibility and restrictions on LaPorte County family records depending on the record type and reason for the request.

LaPorte County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records in LaPorte County, Indiana, are public. They are both part of LaPorte County Vital Records, and the procedures for obtaining them are similar. Individuals who want to get a LaPorte County Marriage Certificate or Divorce Record may contact the Circuit Court that has the records. Having done this, they should contact the court clerk's office and inquire how to obtain Marriage or Divorce Records. They may be required to pay fees to access the records.

LaPorte Birth and Death Records

Birth and Death Records are part of the LaPorte County Vital Records. Birth certificates and death records of LaPorte County are not open to the public. The record custodians only allow access to those with concrete interests, which includes the record holder, their friends and family, and their legal representative. Applicants with no obvious connection to the subject of the record must obtain a subpoena from a relevant court before the record custodians will release the record.

However, Birth and Death Records may be available to the public in some situations, such as:

• When it is required in compliance with court orders or legal requirements
• For historical records
• For genealogical research
• For statistical or research purposes.

For information on Death and Birth certificates, individuals can submit requests for vital records to the Indiana Department of Health. They can also get such records from the court clerk or the LaPorte County Health Department at the following address:

La Porte Vital Records Office
809 State Street
Suite 401A
La Porte, IN 46350
Phone: (219) 326-6808 Ext. 2200
Fax: (219) 325-8628

LaPorte County Probate Court Records

In LaPorte County, Indiana, probate cases are under the authority of the Circuit Courts. LaPorte County Probate Court Records include:

• Estate Administration Records
• Will contests
• Guardianship proceedings
• Trust Administration, and
• Conservatorship proceedings.

Individuals who want to obtain Probate Court Records in LaPorte County should follow these steps:

• Identify the circuit court in possession of the records
• Contact the LaPorte County Circuit Court's Clerk's Office either by phone call, online, or in person (contact information is available through their websites)
• Submit a request for access to Probate Courts Records
• Pay access fees (if it applies)
• Review and obtain the records.

LaPorte County Property Records

Property records are legal documents that provide comprehensive information about a property. They establish the current owner, as indicated by the deed. They also detail important aspects like assessments, liens, mortgages, and tax obligations.

There are several methods through which interested persons may access LaPorte County property records. The County Assessor's Office can help individuals search property records by parcel number, state parcel number, owner name, or address. The LaPorte County Assessor's Office in Indiana is important in terms of property assessment and taxation. They ensure that property assessments are equitable across the county. The office is responsible for maintaining accurate records of property assessments, including real estate and personal property. They also certify gross assessments to the county auditor, which is crucial for the property tax process.

For property record requests, requesters can use the Recorder's Office Real Estate Record Online Search. This provides access to recorded data such as instrument numbers, party names, document types, and recording dates. Searches can be conducted by name, document number, or type.

The public may also request copies of property records in person at the LaPorte County Recorder's Office. Individuals with a document number may order a copy over the phone and have it sent to them. Certified copies are only available in person or by mail.

LaPorte County Court Records Online

In LaPorte County, Indiana, residents can choose from a variety of alternatives to get access to court records online. One of these is through the MyCase tool. Here, they can search for records by name or record number. Advanced filtering options include location, case or judgment search, status, and file date range. However, some court records are confidential- such records will not be available to view online. Another alternative for persons who want online access to court documents is to visit the LaPorte County courthouse. Here, access computers are available for on-site searches.

On the other hand, third-party sites such as indianacourtrecords.us offer an alternative way to obtain court records. These independent aggregate sites are not affiliated with the government. They give access to court records to individuals who may prefer a convenient remote alternative. Searchers may access documents from anywhere from their internet-enabled devices. These sites aggregate and provide extensive public records from different jurisdictions. This makes it easy to conduct a wide range of research by name or case number. However, as they are not linked to the government, the completeness and accuracy of records may vary.