Brownsburg Divorce Decree Records

Divorce decree records for Brownsburg residents are held by the Hendricks County Clerk of Courts in Danville, Indiana, not by the town of Brownsburg itself. If you need to find or request a certified copy of a divorce decree, you will need to contact the Hendricks County Clerk's office. You can search basic case data online through Indiana's MyCase portal, but getting a certified copy requires going through the county clerk directly, either in person or by mail.

Hendricks County Clerk of Courts

Brownsburg is located in Hendricks County, and all divorce cases filed by Brownsburg residents go through the Hendricks County Circuit Court system. The county clerk's office in Danville maintains these records. Marjorie Pike serves as the Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Courts for Hendricks County. Her office is the place to go for any certified divorce decree from a Brownsburg-area case.

The Hendricks County Courthouse is accessible through the West Security Entrance. Visitors should expect a security screening before entering. The clerk's office handles civil, criminal, estate, guardianship, and family law records, including all divorce filings from Brownsburg and the rest of Hendricks County. Check the prohibited items list before you visit to avoid delays at the screening checkpoint.

Note: Marriage license processing hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, which are shorter than general office hours.

Search Brownsburg Divorce Decree Records

The best free way to search for a Brownsburg divorce decree online is Indiana's MyCase public case search portal. MyCase lets you look up divorce cases filed in Hendricks County by name, case number, or other identifiers. You can see filing dates, party names, case status, and scheduled hearings. What you cannot do through MyCase is download or print the actual divorce decree document. That requires a request to the clerk's office.

For broader searches, Doxpop also provides access to Indiana court records. Both tools are useful for finding a case number before you contact the clerk, which speeds up the record request process. Once you have the case number, requests go much faster whether you are going in person or sending a mail request.

Visit the Hendricks County divorce records page for more detail on the county-level process, search options, and clerk office information. The county page covers all towns and cities in Hendricks County, including Brownsburg and Plainfield.

How to Request a Certified Divorce Decree from Brownsburg

There is no online option to get a certified copy of a divorce decree. All certified copies must come from the Hendricks County Clerk's office in Danville. The most common options are in-person and by mail. In-person requests are processed the same day in most cases. Walk in with your case information, pay the fee, and you typically have your copy before you leave.

To request by mail, send a written letter to the Hendricks County Clerk at 355 S Washington Street, Danville, IN 46122. Your letter should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was filed, the case number if you have it, your contact information, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include payment by check or money order made payable to the Hendricks County Clerk. Personal checks may be accepted; confirm this when you call ahead.

Note: Call (317) 745-9231 before mailing to confirm current fees and accepted payment methods, as these can change.

Divorce Record Fees for Brownsburg Residents

Indiana sets statewide copy fees for court records. The standard rate is $1.00 per page for photocopies. Certification adds $3.00 per document regardless of page count, effective as of July 1, 2021. So a one-page certified divorce decree costs $4.00 total. A five-page decree would cost $8.00 total. Most counties accept cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. Personal checks and credit cards may be accepted depending on the office, so ask when you call.

For older Hendricks County records that have been archived, check with the clerk's office about where those records are stored. Very old records may have been transferred to county archives or the Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St in Indianapolis, (317) 591-5220.

Indiana Divorce Laws Affecting Brownsburg

Indiana law controls where a divorce can be filed and how long the process takes. Under IC 31-15-2-6, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Hendricks County for at least three months before a divorce petition can be filed there. This means the divorce decree ends up in Hendricks County records. If a spouse moves to Brownsburg after the divorce is filed elsewhere, the records stay with the original filing county.

Indiana also requires a 60-day waiting period. Under IC 31-15-2-10, no court can enter a final dissolution order less than 60 days after the petition is filed. The divorce decree is not issued until the judge grants the final order. That can happen any time after those 60 days pass. Both the Circuit Court and Superior Courts in Hendricks County handle dissolution of marriage cases.

For those who need to file without an attorney, the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center provides free forms and guides for divorce proceedings. The site walks you through the process step by step.

Who Can Access Brownsburg Divorce Decree Records

Under Indiana Code IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, most court records in Hendricks County are open to the public. Divorce decrees are public records. You do not need to be a party to the case to request a copy. Anyone can walk into the Hendricks County Clerk's office and ask to see a divorce decree on file there.

Some portions of divorce case files are not public. Financial affidavits, records with Social Security numbers, sealed exhibits, and portions involving minor children may be restricted. If part of a record you need is sealed, you may need a court order to access it. The Indiana courts public records request page explains what is and is not available to the public.

Legal Help and Resources for Brownsburg

If you are going through a divorce in Brownsburg or need help finding an old divorce decree, several free resources can help. The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has forms for dissolution of marriage cases, instructions for filing, and plain-language guides on court procedures. It is a good first stop if you do not have a lawyer.

Indiana Legal Help connects Brownsburg residents with free and low-cost legal aid services across the state. They can help you understand your rights, find local attorneys, and get guidance on the divorce process. The site also has tools for self-represented parties going through family law matters.

The Hendricks County Clerk's Office website provides information about court services available to the public in Hendricks County.

The Hendricks County Clerk's office in Danville handles all divorce decree records for Brownsburg residents and can assist with finding or copying records from Hendricks County cases.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Brownsburg in central Indiana also use county clerks for divorce records. See nearby city pages for more information.