Washington County Court Records

Court records refer to any document, information, data, or other material created, collected, received, or maintained by a court. Washington County court records include both case records and administrative records. These and other Indiana court records are kept and made accessible to the public to ensure accountability within the judiciary. In Washington County, the Clerk of Courts office is the official custodian of court records, which include motions, dockets, calendars, judgments, and exhibits.

Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. Court records are classified as public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC § 5-14-3). However, access is primarily directed by the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records.

Under the above regulations, most court records are open to the public. Still, there are exceptions where records may be entirely restricted or partially released because of privacy, safety, or security concerns. Examples of restricted court records include:

• Mental health records
• Investigative requests not tied to a pending criminal case (e.g., search warrants, subpoenas)
• Paternity records created between July 1, 1941, and July 1, 2014
• Attorney-client privileged records
• Sensitive images in a court record
• Sensitive personal information
• Substance abuse test results

Washington County Court Records Search

Individuals can access court records in Washington County through the following means:

• Contacting the Office of the Clerk of Courts
• Searching the state judiciary's online database
• Searching third-party public records websites

Washington County Courts

The Washington County court system comprises two primary trial courts: the Circuit Court and Superior Court, both situated at the county courthouse. Below is the courthouse address:

Washington County Courthouse
801 Jackson Street
Suite 101
Salem, IN 47167
Phone: (Superior Court): (812) 883-4949
Phone: (Circuit Court): (812) 883-5302

Washington County Criminal and Civil Records

The Clerk of Courts' office maintains the county's criminal and civil court records. Criminal court records detail criminal proceedings filed in a court of law. Nevertheless, some Washington County criminal records are maintained by law enforcement agencies, such as the Washington arrest records. Civil court records, on the other hand, pertain to non-criminal legal matters. Common civil cases in Washington County include family law issues, contract disputes, and probate proceedings.

Individuals can obtain criminal or civil court records at the Clerk of Courts' office within the county courthouse. Standard paper copies cost $1 per page, while certified copies include an additional fee of $3 per document.

Alternatively, court records can be accessed online through the Indiana MyCase portal, where users can search by case number or party name.

Washington County Marriage Records

Washington County marriage records are generally public and maintained by the Clerk of Courts. Anyone may order a copy of a marriage record, regardless of their relationship to the individuals named on the record.

Requests can be made in person at the Clerk of Courts' office. A Washington County marriage certificate costs $4 per copy. Paper copies may follow the same fee schedule as standard court records.

Washington County Divorce Records

Divorce records are filed with the Washington County Clerk of Courts' office. These records include decrees and other related divorce court filings or information. To obtain a divorce record, inquirers may visit the Clerk’s office. Standard copies cost $1 per page, while certification costs $3 per document. Inquirers may also search Washington County divorce records on the Indiana MyCase portal.

Washington County Birth Records

Washington County birth records contain information about the births of individuals in the county. Under IC § 16-37-1-10, these records are not open to the public.

In Washington County, the local Department of Health’s Vital Records Division maintains Washington County vital records, which comprise birth and death records.

To obtain a Washington County birth certificate, a requester must be the person named on the record, an immediate family member, a legal guardian, a legal representative, or someone authorized by a court order. A certificate can be ordered in person during office hours from the Vital Records Division, which is located within the Washington County government building at:

806 Martinsburg Road
Suite 100
Salem, IN 47167

Requesters can also submit a birth record order via mail. A request by mail should include a completed Birth Record Application and a copy of the requester’s Acceptable ID. The fee for a standard-sized birth certificate is $10.

Washington County Death Records

Death records in Washington County are confidential and may only be accessed by eligible individuals. These records are commonly used for genealogical research and legal purposes.

To obtain a death certificate in Washington, the applicant must be an immediate family member, legal guardian, legal representative, or a person with a direct interest as recognized by the Department of Health.

Death records can be ordered in person or via mail from the Washington Department of Health. Mail-in requests must include a completed Death Certificate Application and a copy of the requester’s acceptable ID. Death certificates cost $15 per copy, while genealogy records cost $5 per copy.

Washington County Probate Court Records

The circuit and superior courts handle probate cases in Washington County. Probate cases generally involve the distribution of deceased persons’ estates, but the courts can also hear issues pertaining to guardianships, wills, and trusts.

Probate records can be accessed in person at the Washington Clerk of Courts office or online on the state’s MyCase portal. Either way, researchers will need to provide some information, such as a name or a case number, to access a record. Copies of probate records can be obtained in person for the same fees as other court records.

Washington County Property Records

Washington County property records provide essential information about land ownership, property transfers, and assessments. The Washington County Assessor’s Office and Recorder’s Office maintain the county’s property records. The County Assessor primarily maintains property assessment records, while the Recorder maintains land and property documents.

To obtain a property record, individuals may visit the office of the appropriate custodian. Researchers can also access Property Assessment Cards and land records on the online portals provided by the Recorder’s Office.

Washington County Court Records Online

In addition to the Indiana MyCase portal, Washington County court records can be accessed on third-party websites like Indianacourtrecords.us. These websites typically maintain a wide range of court records in their databases, which are easily accessible to the public. Users can search for case information using a name or a case number. Additional search filters may be provided to aid the user’s search experience.

Third-party searches are generally free; however, users may pay a fee to access the complete records. Researchers should note that court records obtained through third-party websites are not valid documents for formal or legal proceedings.