Search Fort Wayne Court Records
Fort Wayne court records are filed and stored at the Allen County Courthouse, where the Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Courts manages all case information. As the county seat and the second largest city in Indiana with over 268,000 people, Fort Wayne generates a high volume of court activity. The Allen County Clerk processes more than 60,000 new cases per year and handles over $107 million in financial transactions annually. You can search Fort Wayne court records for free online using MyCase or visit the clerk's office in person to get certified copies.
Fort Wayne Quick Facts
Fort Wayne Court Records Office
The Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Courts is a county elected official who serves as an officer of the court and the manager of court information in Allen County. The clerk administers the official court records for all trial court cases with jurisdiction in Allen County, which includes Fort Wayne. Christopher M. Nancarrow serves as the current clerk. The office prepares the permanent historical records for the courts, processes and issues various documents for court cases.
| Clerk | Christopher M. Nancarrow |
|---|---|
| Location | Allen County Courthouse, Fort Wayne, IN |
| Phone | (260) 449-7245 |
| Website | allencountyclerk.in.gov |
The clerk's office has a staff of over 50 employees. They handle all the paperwork for civil, criminal, family, and probate cases in Fort Wayne. The office also manages financial transactions tied to court cases. If you need to file a new case or get a copy of an existing record, this is where you go.
How to Search Court Records in Fort Wayne
There are two main ways to search Fort Wayne court records online. The first is the statewide MyCase portal. Anyone can search it for free. Just type in a name or case number and the system pulls up matching results from Allen County and every other county in the state. The system runs on the Odyssey Case Management System, which all 92 Indiana counties now use.
You can also visit the Allen County Clerk's office website for local details on court services in Fort Wayne. The Indiana Courts page for Allen County has links to all court divisions, contact info, and filing resources.
When you search on MyCase, keep in mind that there can be a delay. New filings and court actions may not show up for at least 24 hours, and sometimes longer. The info on MyCase is not an official court record. For verified copies, you need to contact the Allen County Clerk directly. Financial balances shown online may also be out of date, so call (260) 449-7245 if you need a current amount owed on a Fort Wayne case.
Note: The Allen County Clerk processes more than 60,000 new cases per year, so search results in Fort Wayne can be extensive.
Fort Wayne Court Records Access
Public access to court records in Fort Wayne follows Indiana state law. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, any person may inspect and copy public records during regular business hours. Court records in Fort Wayne are generally open to the public, but certain types of records are restricted.
The Indiana Supreme Court's Rules on Access to Court Records spell out what is and is not public. Rule 4 sets the general standard that court records are accessible. Rule 5 lists the exceptions. Juvenile records, mental health records, adoption records, and records with sensitive personal information are excluded from public access in Fort Wayne and across the state. Protection order cases hide the name and identifying details of the protected person from online access under federal law.
If you need a record that is not public, Rule 9 explains how to request access. You file a motion with the court. The judge decides if you have a valid reason to see the record. For most common searches in Fort Wayne, like civil and criminal case lookups, the records are freely available through MyCase or at the clerk's office.
Court Filing in Fort Wayne
Attorneys are encouraged to use the Indiana e-filing system for new cases and follow-up filings in Allen County. E-filed documents become part of the court record quickly. You can also file in person at the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne during business hours.
Fees for copies of court records in Fort Wayne are set by the Allen County Clerk. The state allows agencies to charge reasonable fees for copying records under IC 5-14-3-9. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call (260) 449-7245 to ask about current copy fees for Fort Wayne court records. For online court payments, you can use the Indiana Courts payment portal at public.courts.in.gov/pay.
Legal Resources for Fort Wayne
Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org has free forms and guides for people handling court matters on their own. The site covers common case types including family law, small claims, and estates. If you need help understanding a court record or filing a case in Fort Wayne, this is a good starting point.
The Indiana Courts Directory lists all courts and clerks in Allen County. It includes local rules, e-filing info, and court statistics. The Indiana Supreme Court Law Library and local libraries in Fort Wayne can also help with research. The Allen County courts page on the state website has direct links to court services.
Allen County Court Records
Fort Wayne is the county seat of Allen County, and all court records for the city are part of the Allen County system. The clerk's office handles records for every court division in the county, covering civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. For complete details on Allen County courts, filing procedures, and additional resources, see the Allen County court records page.
Nearby Indiana Cities
Other Indiana cities near Fort Wayne also have court records you can search. Each city operates within its respective county court system.