Benton County Divorce Decree Records

Benton County divorce decree records are held by the Benton County Circuit Court Clerk in Fowler, Indiana. If you need to find or obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree from a case filed in Benton County, the clerk's office is the only place that can provide one. You can search for basic case information through Indiana's MyCase system, but you must contact the Benton County Clerk directly for certified copies of any divorce decree document.

Benton County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Jennifer Greenberg serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Benton County. The office is located on the third floor of the Benton County Courthouse at 706 E 5th Street, Suite 37, Fowler, Indiana. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The clerk's duties include "the collection of court payments and record keeping, voter registration, child support payments," as well as maintaining all court case files including divorce decrees. Holly Logsdon serves as Chief Deputy Clerk and can be reached at bcclerkstaff@bentoncounty.in.gov.

You can also find county court information through the Indiana Courts MyCase portal and the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center for forms and guidance on divorce procedures.

Searching for Benton County Divorce Records

The primary online tool for searching Benton County divorce cases is Indiana's MyCase public case search. Type in a party's name or a case number to find divorce case information filed in Benton County. MyCase will show you case status, filing dates, and court orders. It does not provide access to the actual documents, including the final divorce decree. For that, you need to contact the clerk's office.

Benton County is a smaller county in northwest Indiana. The clerk's office staff are typically able to assist with record searches quickly. Call ahead at (765) 884-0930 or email jgreenberg@bentoncounty.in.gov to describe what you are looking for and get guidance on the best way to submit your request.

How to Request a Certified Divorce Decree

To get a certified copy of a Benton County divorce decree, you have two main options: visit the clerk's office in person or mail a written request. In-person requests at the Benton County Courthouse in Fowler are processed the same day in most cases. Bring the full names of both parties and the approximate divorce date. A case number speeds things up. Mail requests should go to Benton County Clerk, 706 E 5th Street, Suite 37, Fowler, IN 47944. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment. Allow 7 to 10 business days for mailed requests.

An important note on payment: Benton County does not accept personal checks. "NO PERSONAL CHECKS ALLOWED. Certified checks, Cashier's checks, Credit Cards, and Cash are accepted." Confirm which payment methods are currently available when you call. Sending a money order is the safest choice for mail requests.

Standard fees are $1.00 per page for copies, plus $3.00 per document for certification. Confirm the current total with the clerk's office before mailing payment.

Divorce Law in Indiana and Benton County Courts

Indiana divorce cases follow state law regardless of county. IC 31-15-2-6 requires at least one spouse to have been an Indiana resident for six months and a Benton County resident for three months before filing there. Once the petition is filed, IC 31-15-2-10 imposes a 60-day waiting period. The court cannot finalize the divorce until those 60 days have passed. The final divorce decree becomes part of the Benton County court record once the judge signs it and the clerk files it.

Under Indiana Code IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, most Benton County divorce case files are public. You can request to inspect or copy a divorce decree even if you are not a party to the case. Financial affidavits, sealed records, and documents containing sensitive personal data like Social Security numbers are exempt from public access.

For help with Indiana divorce forms and procedures, the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center is free and available online. Indiana Legal Help can also connect Benton County residents with legal aid resources in the northwest Indiana region.

Benton County Divorce Records and the Public

Most divorce case records in Benton County are available to the public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. This includes the final divorce decree and basic case documents. You do not have to be one of the parties in a case to request records. However, portions of records that contain private financial data, sealed information, or court-ordered restrictions are not available to the general public. If you are unsure whether a specific record is public, call the clerk's office first.

The Indiana courts public records request guide has helpful information on the statewide process for requesting court records.

Visit the Benton County Clerk's website for more information on services offered by the clerk's office.

The Benton County Clerk's office in Fowler handles all divorce decree requests for the county and can assist you with locating and copying records.

Cities in Benton County

Fowler is the county seat of Benton County and home to the courthouse and clerk's office. Other communities in the county include Oxford, Otterbein, Boswell, and Earl Park. None of these cities meet the 25,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All Benton County divorce decree records, regardless of which town or township the filer lived in, are kept at the courthouse in Fowler.

Nearby Counties

Benton County is located in northwest Indiana and borders the following counties, each maintaining separate divorce decree records.