Find Divorce Decrees in Crown Point
Crown Point is the county seat of Lake County, Indiana, which means the Lake County Clerk of Courts is located right in Crown Point. Divorce decree records for Crown Point residents and all of Lake County are maintained at the clerk's office on N. Main Street. You can search case information through Indiana's MyCase system for free, and certified copies of divorce decrees can be requested directly from the Lake County Clerk's office in person or by mail.
Crown Point Quick Facts
Lake County Clerk of Courts
Michael A. Brown serves as the Clerk of the Lake Circuit and Superior Court. As the county seat, Crown Point is where the Lake County Courts Building is located. This is the primary location for all divorce decree records filed in Lake County, which covers Crown Point and dozens of surrounding cities and towns. The clerk acts as custodian of the court record and seal, accepts filings, issues process, and makes certified copies of records.
| Office | Lake County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Michael A. Brown |
| Address | 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building, 1st Floor, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
| Phone | (219) 755-3533 |
| Fax | (219) 755-3337 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk |
The Lake County Clerk's office now accepts major credit cards at the counter for face-to-face transactions. A valid ID matching your credit card is required. American Express is not accepted. There is a 3% convenience fee when using a credit card as the form of payment. Cash, money orders, and cashier's checks are also accepted. Visit the court costs and filing fees page on the Lake County website for the most current fee schedule.
Search Crown Point Divorce Records Online
Indiana's MyCase public case search portal is the best free tool for searching Lake County divorce case information online. Enter the names of either party or a case number to find basic details like filing dates, case status, and hearing schedules. MyCase does not give you the divorce decree document itself, but it lets you confirm a case exists and find the case number before you contact the clerk.
Since Crown Point is the county seat, the Lake County courthouse is here. You can walk into the clerk's office and request an in-person search if you prefer. Staff can help you locate records using names or approximate dates. Having the year of the divorce narrows things down quickly. See the Lake County divorce records page for full county-level information and additional search resources.
For older Lake County divorce records, the Lake County Courts website may have additional information about archived cases and historical records.
How to Request a Certified Divorce Decree
Crown Point residents can request certified divorce decrees in person at the Lake County Courts Building on N. Main Street. In-person visits are the fastest option. Bring the names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and payment. The clerk's office processes most in-person requests the same day.
Mail requests are also an option. Send a written letter to the Lake County Clerk at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307. Include full names of both parties, the case number if known, the year the divorce was finalized, your mailing address, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include payment by money order or cashier's check made payable to the Lake County Clerk. Allow additional time for mail requests to be processed and returned.
Note: Call (219) 755-3533 to confirm payment methods and current processing times before sending a mail request.
Divorce Record Fees for Crown Point Residents
Lake County charges $4.00 per page for certified copies of divorce decrees. Genealogy copies cost $1.00 per page for non-certified historical records. These rates may differ slightly from state minimums, so always confirm with the clerk's office before you request records. Credit cards are accepted with a 3% convenience fee at the counter. American Express is not accepted. Cash and money orders are the safest payment options if you want to avoid any card fees.
For routine individual searches, the fees are modest. A one-page certified decree costs $4.00. Longer documents add $4.00 for each additional page at Lake County's rate. If you need several pages of a divorce decree, calculate accordingly and bring enough to cover the full amount. The clerk's office does not invoice for fees after the fact.
Indiana Divorce Laws and Crown Point Cases
Indiana sets residency requirements for divorce filings. Under IC 31-15-2-6, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Lake County for at least three months before filing. Cases that meet this requirement get filed in Lake County, which is why Crown Point holds records for all of Lake County's divorce decrees. Meeting the residency threshold determines which county's court handles the case and which clerk keeps the record.
A 60-day waiting period applies to all Indiana divorces. Under IC 31-15-2-10, no judge can finalize a divorce less than 60 days after the petition is filed. The decree is only issued after the court grants the final dissolution order. The Lake County courts include the Circuit Court and multiple Superior Courts. Any of them may handle dissolution cases depending on assignment and docket.
Free help is available through the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center and Indiana Legal Help for people who need guidance without an attorney.
Who Can Access Crown Point Divorce Decrees
Under IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, divorce decrees filed in Lake County are public records. Any person can request to inspect or copy a divorce decree. You do not need to have been a party to the case. This applies to all Lake County divorce cases, including those filed by Crown Point residents.
Some parts of divorce files are restricted. Financial affidavits, documents with Social Security numbers, and sealed portions are not available to the public without a court order. If the specific record you need is sealed, contact the clerk's office for information about how to request access. The Indiana courts public records page outlines the request process and what to expect.
Legal Help and Resources for Crown Point
Several resources are available to Crown Point residents dealing with divorce record requests or family law questions. The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has forms and step-by-step guides for filing for divorce without an attorney. All the forms used in Lake County are available through this portal.
Indiana Legal Help provides free legal information and connects residents with legal aid organizations serving the Crown Point and Lake County area. They can help with understanding divorce proceedings and accessing records. The Lake County Courts website is also a useful resource for finding court contact information and procedures specific to Lake County.
The Lake County Clerk's Courts Building in Crown Point is the central location for all Lake County divorce decree records and serves residents from Crown Point and across the county.
Nearby Cities
Several other Lake County cities and nearby qualifying cities use the same Lake County Clerk for divorce records. Links below go to pages for other qualifying Indiana cities.