Indianapolis Court Records
Indianapolis court records are managed by the Marion County Clerk's Office, which serves as the official record keeper for all trial courts in the county. With close to 900,000 residents, Indianapolis runs one of the largest court systems in Indiana. The city and county share a merged government known as Unigov, so all case filings go through the Marion County courts. You can search court records for Indianapolis online at no cost through the state's MyCase portal, or you can visit the Records Facility in person to get copies of case files and court documents.
Indianapolis Quick Facts
Where to Find Indianapolis Court Records
The Marion County Clerk's Office is the main place to get court records in Indianapolis. The office is set up by the Indiana Constitution to serve as the record keeper for the Circuit Court. It handles all filings for civil, criminal, family, and probate cases across the entire county. Since Indianapolis and Marion County share a combined government, all court records for the city are kept at the county level.
The Records Facility is at 1330 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. If you need same-day help, call the urgent line at 317-327-4715. The Marion County Clerk's Office website has full details on all services. Many court records can be found online on mycase.in.gov, but for official certified copies you still need to go through the clerk.
| Court | Marion Circuit Court and Superior Courts |
|---|---|
| Records Facility | 1330 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225 |
| Phone | 317-327-4715 (Urgent/Same Day) |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | indy.gov - Marion County Clerk |
Marion County has a big court system. It includes the Marion Circuit Court and 36 Superior Court divisions. Small Claims Courts also handle low-value disputes. All of these courts create records that are kept by the clerk. You can search for any type of case filed in Indianapolis through the same portals.
Note: Court records can be requested from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday at the Records Facility on Madison Avenue.
Searching Indianapolis Court Records Online
The state of Indiana runs a free case search tool called MyCase. You can look up Indianapolis court records at public.courts.in.gov/mycase. The system uses the Odyssey Case Management System, which covers all 92 Indiana counties. As of December 2021, every county in the state is on this system. For Indianapolis, case data goes back several years, though the exact range depends on the type of case.
The Indianapolis records request page shows a step-by-step guide for getting copies of court records in Indianapolis. You can submit a request online for many record types.
Anyone can search MyCase for public case info and documents. Many documents are free to view online. However, some records are excluded from public access. Under Indiana's Rules on Access to Court Records, juvenile records, mental health cases, and adoption files are not available to the public. Some sealed or expunged cases will also not show up. If a document you need is not online, contact the clerk's office in Marion County directly.
You can also search through the Marion County Clerk search records page for more options. This site lets you look up specific record types that may not be on the statewide portal.
Note: Information on MyCase is not to be used as an official court record and may contain errors or delays of at least 24 hours.
Indianapolis Court Records Access Rules
Indiana law gives the public broad access to court records. The Access to Public Records Act, found at Indiana Code 5-14-3, says that any person may inspect and copy public records of any public agency during regular business hours. This applies to court records in Indianapolis as well. There are some limits, though.
IC 5-14-3-4 lists records that are not open to the public. These include records made confidential by state or federal law, law enforcement investigatory records, and certain personal information. Medical records and attorney-client privileged files are also excluded. For court-specific rules, the Indiana Supreme Court adopted the Rules on Access to Court Records, which took effect on January 1, 2020 and were updated in 2024. Rule 4 says court records are accessible to the public except as provided in the rules. Rule 5 lists what is excluded, such as juvenile records and mental health records.
Indianapolis cases follow these same rules. If you want a record that is excluded from public access, Rule 9 lays out a process for requesting access. You would need to file a motion with the court. Agencies must respond to records requests within a reasonable time, typically seven business days under IC 5-14-3-8. Fees for copying records are allowed under IC 5-14-3-9, though the amounts must be reasonable.
Court Records in Indianapolis by Case Type
Indianapolis courts handle many types of cases. Each type creates its own set of records. Civil cases include lawsuits, contract disputes, and property matters. Criminal cases cover felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Family law cases deal with divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders. Probate cases handle estates, guardianships, and adoptions. Traffic cases and small claims round out the major categories.
On MyCase, you can find orders in many civil case types, final orders and judgments in criminal cases, and documents in appellate cases. Some documents are available as links in the case summary for the public without signing in. Protection order cases have limits, though. The name and certain identifying information of anyone protected by a protection order is excluded from online public access by federal law. If you need details from a protection order case in Indianapolis, you may need to contact the clerk's office in person.
E-filing is available for attorneys and encouraged for all filers in Marion County. The Indiana e-filing portal at efile.incourts.gov handles new filings and follow-up documents. Once filed, these documents become part of the court record in Indianapolis and show up on MyCase after a processing delay.
Note: Financial information shown on MyCase may not reflect the most recent payments; contact the clerk's office for an official balance.
Legal Help in Indianapolis
If you need help with court records or a legal matter in Indianapolis, several resources are available. Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org provides free legal forms and step-by-step guides for common court matters. The site covers family law, housing, estates, and more. You can find and fill out forms for many types of cases.
The Indiana Supreme Court Law Library is another resource. It can help you find records and understand court procedures. Local libraries in Indianapolis may also help with basic research. The Indiana Courts Directory lists all trial courts and clerks in the state, along with local rules and contact info. For Indianapolis, the directory includes details on all Marion County court divisions.
The Indiana State Bar Association can connect you with a lawyer in Indianapolis who handles court record matters. If you cannot afford a lawyer, Indiana Legal Services may be able to help at no cost based on your income level. For questions about paying court fines or fees, the online payment portal lets you make payments for traffic tickets and criminal cases in Marion County.
Marion County Court Records
Indianapolis is the county seat of Marion County. All court filings for Indianapolis go through the Marion County court system. The county court handles tens of thousands of new cases every year across its many divisions. For full details on the Marion County court system, clerk contact information, filing procedures, and record access options, visit the Marion County court records page.
Nearby Indiana Cities
Several other Indiana cities with their own court records are close to Indianapolis. You can search court records for these nearby locations through their respective county clerk offices or through MyCase.