Franklin Divorce Decree Records

Franklin is the county seat of Johnson County, and all divorce decree records for Franklin residents are held by the Johnson County Clerk of Courts at the Johnson County Courthouse on E Jefferson Street. If you need to search for or request a certified copy of a divorce decree, the county clerk's office is the right place to go. Indiana's MyCase portal allows free online searches for basic case data, while certified copies require contacting the clerk directly in person or by mail.

Johnson County Clerk of Courts

The Johnson County Clerk's office sits at the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin, which is the county seat. The clerk is the official record keeper for all civil and family court cases in Johnson County, including all divorce decrees filed there. As a county seat city, Franklin has direct on-site access to court records, which makes in-person requests especially convenient compared to cities that must travel to a different town.

The Johnson County Circuit Court, presided over by the Honorable Andrew Roesener, handles divorce cases filed in Johnson County. The Circuit Court is at 5 E. Court Street, Franklin, IN 46131, with a main line at (317) 346-4400. The Franklin City Court at 1 Caisson Drive handles local municipal matters but does not maintain divorce decrees. All dissolution of marriage records go through the county-level court and the county clerk.

Note: Franklin also has a City Clerk-Treasurer at Franklin City Hall. That office handles city finances and municipal records, not divorce decree filings.

Search Divorce Decree Records in Franklin

Use Indiana's MyCase public case search portal to search for Franklin divorce cases online at no cost. MyCase lets you search Johnson County records by party name or case number. You can view filing dates, case type, docket entries, and scheduled hearings. The system does not provide the actual divorce decree document. That still requires a direct request to the Johnson County Clerk.

Since Franklin is the county seat, walking in to the courthouse on E Jefferson Street is a convenient option. Bring the names of both parties and the year the divorce was filed or finalized. Staff can run a search and identify the case for you. See the Johnson County divorce records page for more detail about county-level procedures and additional resources. The Johnson County Court Services site also has court-specific contact information.

How to Request a Certified Divorce Decree from Franklin

In-person requests at the Johnson County Clerk's office are the fastest way to get a certified divorce decree. Bring the case information, pay the fee, and you typically receive your copy the same day. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Arriving early in the day gives you more time to address any issues that might come up, like needing to locate an older or archived record.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the Johnson County Clerk at 5 E Jefferson Street, Franklin, IN 46131. Your letter should include the full names of both parties, the case number if available, the approximate year of the divorce, your mailing address, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include payment by money order or cashier's check. Contact the office first to confirm current fees and payment methods before sending your request.

Note: Call (317) 346-4450 ahead of time to ask about processing times for mail requests and confirm accepted payment forms.

Divorce Record Fees for Franklin Residents

Indiana's standard fee for court record copies is $1.00 per page. The certification fee is $3.00 per document, effective since July 1, 2021. A single-page certified divorce decree costs $4.00 total. Multi-page decrees cost $3.00 plus $1.00 for each page. Confirm current fees with Johnson County before submitting a request since offices sometimes adjust their schedules. Payment by cash, check, or money order is standard. Call ahead to verify whether credit cards are accepted.

Old Johnson County divorce records that predate modern filing systems may require extra time to locate. Very old records might be held at the Indiana State Archives in Indianapolis at 6440 E. 30th St, (317) 591-5220. The clerk's office can tell you if a specific record has been archived and where to find it.

Indiana Divorce Laws and Franklin Cases

Indiana law sets the rules for who can file a divorce in Johnson County. Under IC 31-15-2-6, one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Johnson County for at least three months before a petition can be filed. Divorces filed in Johnson County are recorded there by the clerk, which is why Franklin holds records for all of the county. If you moved to Franklin after a divorce was finalized elsewhere, those records stay with the original filing county.

Indiana requires a 60-day waiting period before any divorce can be finalized. Under IC 31-15-2-10, a judge cannot issue the final dissolution order until at least 60 days after the petition is filed. Property division in Indiana divorces is governed by IC 31-15-7, which sets out how marital assets are treated. These statutes apply to all Johnson County divorce cases.

The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has forms and guides for people handling divorce without a lawyer, including all the forms used in Johnson County courts.

Who Can Access Franklin Divorce Decree Records

Divorce decrees filed in Johnson County are public records under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Any person can request to inspect or copy a divorce decree from the Johnson County Clerk. You do not have to be a party to the case. There is no residency requirement to make a records request.

Certain portions of divorce files are not available to the general public. Financial affidavits, records containing Social Security numbers, sealed exhibits, and materials related to minor children may be restricted. If you need access to a sealed document, a court order is required. The Indiana courts public records request page explains the process for making formal records requests.

Legal Help and Resources for Franklin

Franklin residents who need help with divorce records or family law questions have several free options. The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center offers step-by-step guides and court forms for dissolution of marriage cases. It is the best starting point for anyone who wants to handle their own divorce case or locate an old record.

Indiana Legal Help connects Franklin residents with legal aid and free legal information. They can help with understanding your rights in a divorce, finding local legal resources, and navigating the court system without an attorney. The Johnson County Clerk website also provides information about the clerk's services and contact details.

The Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin is the central location for divorce decree records serving Franklin residents and all of Johnson County.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying Indiana cities near Franklin are listed below with links to their divorce records pages.