Wells County Court Records

Rule 3 of the Indiana Rules of Court defines Wells court records as data, information, and other items received, collected, produced, or maintained by the Wells County Clerk, a court agency, or a court. The term "court records" includes case records and administrative documents. Case records (information generated during court case proceedings) are used for various purposes, such as background checks, precedent research, and case tracking. People interested in finding Wells and other Indiana court records can generally utilize access channels provided by a court clerk’s office.

Are Court Records Public in Wells County?

Yes. The Access to Public Records Act (APRA), codified in I.C. § 5-14-3, asserts that people have the right to examine and copy official records of public agencies within Indiana. The judiciary is part of these public agencies. Further, Rules 2 and 4 of the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records also proclaim that the general public can access Wells County court records.

However, these laws and court rules designate records that may not be disclosed to members of the public. These protected files, documents, and data include the following:

• Records generated during mental health proceedings under I.C. § 12- 26
• Wells criminal records tied to active law enforcement investigations
• Certain paternity court records
• Information generated during problem-solving, pretrial release, and supervision proceedings
• Substance abuse or drug records under 42 CFR Part 2
• Records sealed by court order
• Personal information, for instance, social security numbers, bank account details, passwords, and personal ID numbers
• Information classified as confidential by state or federal law

If a court document contains protected information, the record custodian will redact sensitive data before release. Some individuals, like case parties and court staff, may still access restricted information as permitted by law.

Wells County Court Records Search

The Wells County Clerk maintains and distributes court records generated by the local circuit and superior courts. Individuals can prepare a request letter, including details of the court documents they want to order, and then mail the document to:

102 West Market Street
Suite 201
Bluffton, IN 46714

Individuals can also stop by the clerk's office to inspect court records. According to the Wells County Public Records Policy, record inspections are free. However, one must pay the required fees to copy and certify court records. Inquiries about specific court record fees can be directed to the Wells County Clerk's office.

Additionally, individuals can visit the MyCase portal operated by the Indiana Judiciary to view details of court cases online.

Wells County Courts

Below are the addresses of the courts in Wells County:

Wells County Circuit Court
102 West Market Street
Suite 302
Bluffton, IN 46714
Phone: (260) 824-6485
Fax: (260) 824-6488

Wells County Superior Court
102 West Market Street
3rd Floor
Bluffton, IN 46714
Phone: (260) 824-6508
Fax: (260) 824-6511

Bluffton City Court
204 East Market Street
Bluffton, IN 46714
Phone: (260) 824-3392

Wells County Criminal and Civil Records

Civil cases are legal proceedings between two disputing parties, while criminal cases are initiated when individuals are accused of breaking the law. While the Wells County Clerk oversees the collation, maintenance, and dissemination of case records from the circuit and superior courts, knowing the court in charge of a specific case can point record finders in the right direction.

Each court maintains the following exclusive jurisdictions over criminal cases:

Crimes allegedly perpetrated on or before June 30, 2004:

• Circuit Court: Cases where the defendant is charged with a Class C felony or greater
• Superior Court: Crimes less severe than a Class C felony

Crimes allegedly perpetrated on or after July 1, 2004:

• Circuit Court: Cases where the suspect's highest charge is a level 5 felony or greater
• Superior Court: Offenses lesser in severity than Level 5 felonies

Every juvenile case falls under the circuit court’s jurisdiction.

Additionally, attorneys and self-litigants can file civil lawsuits in the Wells County superior or circuit court. However, each court exclusively handles the following:

• Superior Court: Dissolution of marriage proceedings for self-litigants, protective orders, small claims, and eviction cases
• Circuit Court: Probate and mental health cases

Generally, individuals can visit the court clerk's office at the county courthouse to request Wells civil and criminal case records. Other Wells County criminal records, like arrest details and inmate information, are also available through law enforcement departments, such as the county sheriff’s office, police departments, and the Indiana State Police.

Wells County Marriage Records

Wells County marriage records are generated to legalize the union of two individuals. Interested individuals can reach the county clerk’s office to inquire about procedures and requirements for obtaining certified copies. One can use a certified copy of a Wells County marriage certificate for different purposes, such as proof of marriage for insurance and inheritance claims.

Additionally, the Indiana Judiciary's Marriage License Public Lookup portal allows the public to search marriage records dating back to 1993 by providing both applicants' names. Users can narrow their search by indicating the issuing county and marriage year.

Wells County Divorce Records

Wells County divorce records originate from dissolution of marriage proceedings initiated in the county’s circuit or superior courts. According to the county's local court rules, attorneys can file such cases in any court, while self-litigants initiate divorce or annulment proceedings in the superior court. However, since only one custodian maintains these records—the Wells County Clerk's office—interested individuals can approach the clerk to request copies. The Indiana MyCase portal is also useful for finding divorce case information.

Wells County Birth Records

Birth records are part of Wells County vital records and can be used for various purposes, such as school enrollment, sports participation, proof of citizenship and parentage, and passport applications.

The Wells County Health Department issues certified copies of birth certificates to eligible parties, such as the registrant and their parents, grandparents, spouse, siblings, and children. A person can apply by mail, in person, or online. Each Wells County birth certificate costs $15, each certificate resulting in stillbirth costs $12, and each genealogy Request for a birth or death record (uncertified copy) costs $2.

Wells County Death Records

Death records officially document a person's passing and are often needed for investigations, inheritance and probate proceedings, and insurance claims. The Wells County Health Department issues death certificates to eligible parties, including the deceased's parents, spouse, siblings, children, and grandparents. The request process is outlined on the health department's Vital Records page and is the same for ordering Wells County birth records. However, each death certificate costs $20.

Wells County Probate Court Records

Probate records arise from court proceedings initiated to settle a deceased person's estate. In Wells County, probate cases are handled by the circuit court. The county clerk maintains all records produced by the court, so one can contact the office to obtain these records. Also, the Indiana MyCase portal can be accessed with a party name or case number to look up probate case proceedings.

Wells County Property Records

Wells County property records contain details about real estate (land and everything attached to it), including taxes, ownership, transaction histories, and liens.

Offices that maintain property records in Wells include the Assessor (assessment records for tax purposes), Auditor (records of collected and distributed taxes), Recorder (filed real-estate documents in general), and Treasurer (records regarding paid and outstanding taxes). Individuals can contact these offices or use information on their websites to find property records.

Wells County Court Records Online

Members of the public may also use third-party websites like Indianacourtrecords.us to access Wells County public records. These sites are managed by independent entities that compile public information into searchable databases, allowing users to find multiple public records by name.

Third-party sites may offer some records, like Wells County arrest records, for free, but many services require payment to access comprehensive information. Interested parties should note that these websites are not affiliated with government agencies. Thus, if a person wants to use such information for legal purposes, they should always verify with official sources.