Crown Point Court Records
Crown Point court records are managed by the Lake County Clerk of Courts. As the county seat of Lake County, Crown Point is home to the main courthouse where all county-level court filings are processed. You can search for court records online using MyCase or go to the clerk's office in person. Crown Point also has its own City Court that handles local traffic and ordinance cases. Lake County is one of the most populated counties in Indiana, and the court system in Crown Point processes a high volume of cases each year.
Crown Point Quick Facts
Lake County Clerk in Crown Point
Michael A. Brown is the Lake County Clerk. The clerk's office at the Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point manages all court records for the county. This includes civil, criminal, family law, and probate cases. The office is open Monday through Friday. You can visit in person to view case files or request copies of court documents.
| Clerk | Michael A. Brown |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake County Courthouse, Crown Point, IN |
| Website | lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk |
| Hours | Monday through Friday |
The clerk's office now accepts major credit cards as a form of payment at the counter for face-to-face transactions. There is a 3% convenience fee when using a credit card. American Express is not accepted. For court records requests, you can also pay with cash, money orders, or cashier's checks. The Lake County Clerk is the custodian of the court's record and seal, and handles all official filings for court cases in Crown Point.
Crown Point City Court Records
Crown Point has its own City Court (Lake/Crown Point City Court, 45H01) that went live on the Odyssey system on April 22, 2019. The city court deals with traffic tickets, local ordinance violations, and some misdemeanor cases that happen within Crown Point. Cases from the city court show up on MyCase just like county-level cases. If you are looking for a traffic ticket or a minor case from Crown Point, it may be listed under the city court rather than the county courts.
More serious criminal charges, civil lawsuits, divorce cases, and other major matters go through the Lake County Circuit or Superior Courts at the courthouse in Crown Point. The clerk's office handles records for all of these courts. So whether your case went through the city court or a county court, the place to find records is the same.
Search Court Records in Crown Point
The primary tool to search Crown Point court records is MyCase. This is the free statewide court records search run by the Indiana Judicial Branch. It covers all 92 counties and all city and town courts on the Odyssey system. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. Results show case type, filing date, parties, and hearing dates. Many court documents are available to view at no charge.
Lake County has a large court system with multiple divisions. Crown Point court records may appear under different court identifiers depending on which court handled the case. The Lake County court page on the Indiana Courts website lists all court divisions with their contact info. This helps when you need to figure out where a specific case was heard.
There is always a delay between a filing at the courthouse and when it shows up online. The minimum is 24 hours, but it can take longer. For the most current info, visit or call the Lake County Clerk in Crown Point.
Crown Point Court Search Tool
Below is the MyCase search page used to look up court records in Crown Point and all of Lake County.
Enter a name or case number to pull up results. The tool is free and works on any device. Public records show up without needing to create an account.
Court Records Access Rules
Under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (Indiana Code 5-14-3), court records in Crown Point are generally public. Anyone can visit the clerk's office and ask to see case files during business hours. You can also get copies for a small fee. Certified copies run $1 to $3 per page in most cases.
Not all records are open though. The Rules on Access to Court Records list several categories that are kept from public view. Juvenile cases, mental health proceedings, and adoption records are not accessible. Records that contain Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or other sensitive personal data are also restricted. If you need a record that has been excluded, you can file a written request with the court in Crown Point under Rule 9 of the access rules.
The Indiana Judicial Branch public records portal has more details on what is and is not available online. Some documents are only available at the clerk's office, even if the case summary shows up on MyCase. The clerk in Crown Point can tell you exactly what is in the file and how to get copies.
Crown Point Court Fees
Filing fees in Crown Point follow Indiana's statewide schedule. Common costs include:
- Civil case filing: $157
- Divorce filing: $157 to $177
- Small claims: $87 (e-filed) or $97 (counter)
- Estate or guardianship: $177
- Sheriff service: $28
- Certified copy: $1 to $3 per page
E-filing is available at efile.incourts.gov for those who prefer to file court papers from home. Attorneys must e-file in Lake County. Others can choose to e-file or visit the clerk's office in Crown Point. Online payments for fines and court costs can be made through the state payment portal. Remember that credit card payments at the counter carry a 3% fee.
Legal Resources in Crown Point
Free legal forms and self-help tools are available at Indiana Legal Help. The site has forms for divorce, protective orders, name changes, and small claims cases. All forms are free to use. This is a good option for Crown Point residents who need to handle a court matter on their own.
The Indiana Court Directory lists all Lake County courts with phone numbers and details. Legal aid groups in northwest Indiana serve low-income residents with civil cases. The Indiana State Bar Association runs a referral service if you need a private attorney. Court staff in Crown Point can point you to the right forms and resources, though they are not allowed to give legal advice on your case.
Lake County Court Details
This image from the Lake County page shows court information for Crown Point and the rest of the county.
The page lists all court divisions, e-filing info, and local rules for Lake County. Crown Point residents can use this page to identify which court handles their case.
Lake County Court Records
Crown Point is the county seat of Lake County. All court filings go through the Lake County Clerk of Courts. The county court system handles cases for many cities and towns. For full details on the county courts, fees, and other resources, visit the Lake County page.
Nearby Indiana Cities
Search for court records in other Lake County cities and nearby areas.