Scott County Court Records

Rule 3 of the Indiana court rules defines Scott County court records as any case or administrative record produced by courts in Scott County, Indiana. These records include any document, information, data, or other thing prepared, collected, received, or stored by a Court, Court agency, or Clerk of Court in connection with a particular case or on the administration of the judicial branch of the Scott County government. Some examples of these records include writs, protection orders, jailer's releases, arrest warrants, commitments, and serving of process.

Are Court Records Public in Scott County?

Yes. Scott County court records are categorized as public records under Indiana Code § 5-14-3(Public Records Act) and Rule 4 of the Indiana Court Rules. These laws allow citizens to request access to any court record created and maintained by any Scott County court. However, specific court records are exempted by sections of Indiana laws or court orders issued in Indiana courts. Some of these exemptions include:

• Medical records
• Mental health records
• Court records that show naked pictures of victims of sexual crimes
• Special advocate reports created by the guardian court.
• Court records that show the names of child witnesses in cases involving sex offenses.
• Juvenile court records.

A court cannot exclude Scott County court Records that would otherwise be available to the public just because the parties have agreed to do so. There are only two ways for a court to keep records that would otherwise be accessible to the public: by sealing the records per the Indiana Access to Public Records Act or by issuing an Order Excluding Court Records from Public Access per Rule 6 of the Indiana court rules.

Scott County Court Records Search

Citizens can use the following channels to perform a Scott County court record search:

• Indiana e-courts portal.
• The county court clerk's office.
• Self-service computers at the Indiana County courthouse

Scott County Courts

Citizens in Scott County are served by a circuit and superior courts. Per the Scott County court's rules, each court has an overlapping function and deals with civil and criminal cases. The location of these courts is as follows:

Circuit Courts in Scott County
Scott County Circuit Court
E McClain Ave, #212,
Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone: (812) 752-8430
Fax: (812) 752-8431

Superior Courts in Scott County
Scott County Superior Court
1 E McClain Ave, #252,
Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone: (812) 752-8424
Fax: (812) 752-8425

Scott County Criminal and Civil Records

Scott County criminal records show an individual's comprehensive criminal history within the jurisdiction of law enforcement. The county has a records division dedicated to providing individuals with the necessary criminal records. Individuals can obtain these records by performing a criminal records check at any law enforcement office in Scott County. It is crucial to note that the findings of this criminal record check are restricted to incidents that have happened in Scott County, Indiana. Regulations about the gathering and disseminating of criminal history data are governed by Indiana Administrative Code 240 IAC 6-1.1-3. Requests from third parties are not accepted; the person making the criminal history check request must be the focus of the records search. Employers may, however, run a criminal background check on potential hires. Additionally, no criminal history research will be undertaken on persons 17 or below, as outlined in IC 31-9-2-22.5.

Requestors can acquire Scott County criminal records by visiting the county sheriff's office in person or sending a request through the mail. When requesting records in person at the sheriff's office, requesters must complete a brief form to help staff locate the required data.

If sending by mail:

• Complete the Scott County Sheriff's Department Limited Adult Criminal History Request Form; the form should be filled out, signed, and notarized.
• Requesters should also include a money order for $5.00 per name, payable to the Scott County Sheriff's Department, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
• Give the processing and return time of 7 to 14 days.

Scott County Civil records can be obtained from the Scott County Clerk's Office. Civil records are documents obtained from the civil process of the courts or law enforcement offices. Individuals can search for civil records using the Scott County e-courts portal using the civil case number or the names of individuals in the civil case.

Scott County Marriage Records

Scott County marriage records, including marriage certificates and licenses, are vital documents that can be requested from the county clerk's office. These records are confidential and can only be requested by the spouses named on the record and their immediate family members ( parents, siblings, and children of the spouses).

Individuals who need to obtain Scott County marriage records can visit the clerk's office or send a request by email or US mail. Requesters can also schedule an appointment to pick up records by calling the office before an in-person visit. The request process requires applicants to provide the married individuals' full names and the date when the marriage occurred. Each certified copy of marriage records costs $4. However, applicants may incur extra costs associated with processing fees.

Scott County Divorce Records

Scott County divorce records show that a couple has had their marriage dissolved per state laws. These records, including divorce decrees and certificates, are held at the clerk's office. Certified copies of Scott County marriage records are not available to just anyone. To obtain these records, individuals must be the subject of the records, grandparents, parents, children, or siblings of the divorced couple.

Individuals can search for divorce courts using the public access terminal at the Scott County courthouse or by completing a records request form at the court clerk's office.

Scott County Birth Records

Scott County Birth records are issued and maintained at the Department of Health Division of Vital Records in Scott County. The department also creates reports that examine the number of live births that took place in Scott County throughout the reporting year in detail. Birth records that can be obtained at the Scott County Department of Health include birth certificates, fetal birth records, and birth indexes.

Persons who are interested in Scott County birth records can visit the Scott County Health Department to request them. Written requests for documents can also be sent through mail. In addition, requestors must pay a non-refundable search charge for one certified copy of the certificate if the record is located:

Scott County Health Department
1296 N. Gardner St.
Scottsburg, IN 47170
Phone: (812) 752-8455
Fax: (812) 752-6023
Email: michelle.matern@scottcounty.in.gov

Scott County Death Records

Individuals can request Scott County death records from the Scott County Health Department. Death records available at the department include Scott County death certificates, Scott County death fact verification documents, and death indexes that show a list of deaths that occurred in the county during a period. Most death records are confidential documents that can only be obtained by individuals closely related to the subject of the record, their legal representative, or a person with a court order with rights to access records.

To request death records, eligible persons can visit the health department office to complete a request form. The form can also be completed and mailed to the health department office. In-person requests are resolved on the same day, while mail requests may take 2-3 weeks for the records to get to the requester.

Scott County Probate Court Records

Scott County probate court records are produced under the unique jurisdiction of the Scott County probate court. The probate court is a division within the county's circuit court that deals with estate administration, wills, guardianship, asset distribution, and other probate matters per Title 29 of the Indiana General Assembly laws.

Individuals interested in obtaining certified copies of probate court records can visit the probate court clerk at the Scott County Circuit Court or call the probate clerk's office at (812) 752-8420 to inquire about probate records availability.

Scott County Property Records

Scott County property records are created, issued, and maintained at the Scott County Assessor's and Scott County Recorder's offices. The county assessor's office handles property records regarding property valuation, estate assessment, tax history/exemptions, property upgrades, and property tax abatements. Individuals looking for these types of records can visit the county assessor's office to request them. Citizens can also contact the property assessor at (812) 752-8436 to make property record inquiries.

Scott County Assessor
1 E McClain Avenue
Suite 150
Scottsburg, IN 47170

Similarly, the recorder's office maintains records relating to property ownership history, property sales history, estate titles, and other historical documents on every property in Scott County dating back to 1982. Citizens can request and view these records in person, online, or through the mail from the recorder's office, which is located at the county courthouse.

Scott County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources like Indianacourtrecords.us are also a handy and convenient way to access public Scott County court records. They provide a searchable database where individuals can find court records by entering relevant details such as case numbers, party names, or dates. These platforms are often used for convenience, allowing people to acquire digital records within a few minutes. However, such platforms operate independently of any government agency and may require users to research adequately before relying on the information obtained from them.