Crawford County Divorce Decree Records

Crawford County divorce decree records are maintained by the Crawford County Clerk's Office at the courthouse in English, Indiana. If you need to find a divorce decree filed in Crawford County or obtain a certified copy, the clerk's office is the right place to start. Basic case data can be searched online through Indiana's MyCase system, but certified copies of Crawford County divorce decrees require contacting the clerk's office directly, either by visiting in person or submitting a written request by mail.

Crawford County Clerk of Courts Office

The Crawford County Clerk's Office is located at 715 Judicial Plaza Drive, English, Indiana 47118. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can reach the clerk by phone at (812) 338-2565. As research sources confirm, "The Crawford County Clerk's Office, located at 715 Judicial Plaza Drive in English, Indiana, maintains records for the county's circuit court." The clerk is the official custodian of all court case files in Crawford County, including divorce proceedings, and is responsible for issuing certified copies of court documents on request.

Crawford County also maintains a court archives office at 777 Indiana 64, English, IN. The archives is open Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For archive inquiries, contact Roberta Toby at (812) 365-9067. Older divorce records may be held at the archives rather than the main clerk's office. For online case information, use Indiana's MyCase portal.

Search Crawford County Divorce Records

Indiana's MyCase public case search is the main online tool for locating Crawford County divorce cases. You can search by the names of either party or by case number. MyCase returns filing dates, hearing history, and case status. The actual decree document is not viewable through MyCase. Use it to find the case number and confirm the filing year, then contact the clerk's office or archives to request the actual record.

Crawford County divorce records go back to 1860 according to available genealogical sources. Marriage records and other court records in the county date to 1818. For older Crawford County divorce records, the Crawford County Court Archives at 777 Indiana 64 in English holds historical files. The archives operates on limited hours, Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call Roberta Toby at (812) 365-9067 to confirm availability before visiting.

Genealogical researchers may find useful information through the Crawford County Public Library Genealogy resources or through the Indiana Genealogical Society's Crawford County page at indgensoc.org/county/crawford/. Both offer access to historical records not yet digitized online.

Requesting a Certified Crawford County Divorce Decree

Certified copies of Crawford County divorce decrees are not available online. You must contact the clerk's office in English directly. For in-person requests, visit the Crawford County Clerk at 715 Judicial Plaza Drive during business hours. Bring valid photo ID, the full names of both parties, and the approximate date of the divorce. A case number speeds up the process. Walk-in requests are typically processed the same day.

To make a mail request, write to Crawford County Clerk, 715 Judicial Plaza Drive, English, IN 47118. Include the full legal names of both parties, the approximate divorce date or year, a case number if you have one, and your return address. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment. Mail requests typically take 7 to 10 business days. Standard Indiana fees apply: $1.00 per page for copies plus $3.00 per document for certification.

Note: Call the clerk at (812) 338-2565 before mailing to confirm current payment methods and total fees, as decree length varies and personal checks may not be accepted.

Crawford County Divorce Record Fees

Indiana sets statewide copy fees for court records. Since July 1, 2021, copies cost $1.00 per page and the certification fee is $3.00 per document. A one-page certified Crawford County divorce decree totals $4.00. Each additional page adds $1.00. Most Indiana clerks accept cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. Credit or debit cards may be accepted depending on the office's setup. Personal checks are generally not accepted, so call ahead to confirm before visiting or mailing a request.

For very old Crawford County records, the Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St, Indianapolis, (317) 591-5220, holds historical Indiana court records transferred from county offices over the years. Check with the Crawford County Clerk first to find out whether the record you need is still in the main office, at the county archives on Indiana 64, or has been transferred to Indianapolis.

Indiana Divorce Laws and Crawford County Courts

Indiana divorce statutes apply uniformly across all 92 counties, including Crawford. Under IC 31-15-2-6, one spouse must have lived in Indiana for at least six months and in Crawford County for at least three months before filing a divorce petition there. After the petition is filed, IC 31-15-2-10 sets a mandatory 60-day waiting period before the court can issue the final decree. The signed final order becomes the permanent court record that the Crawford County Clerk maintains.

Indiana is an equitable distribution state under IC 31-15-7. The court divides marital property in a fair way, not necessarily an equal split. Crawford County is in Judicial District 24 along with Harrison, Orange, and Washington counties. The Crawford County Circuit Court handles all dissolution of marriage cases in the county.

Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, most Crawford County divorce records are public. Anyone can ask to inspect or copy a divorce decree. Sealed records, financial affidavits, and documents with Social Security numbers are not publicly available. The Indiana courts public records page outlines the process for accessing court records statewide.

Public Access to Crawford County Divorce Decrees

Crawford County divorce decrees are public records under Indiana Code IC 5-14-3. You do not need to be a party to the case to request a copy. The clerk's office can provide certified copies to anyone who asks and pays the applicable fees. What is not publicly available: sealed case portions, financial affidavits, records containing Social Security numbers, and restricted materials related to minors. If a record is restricted, a court order may be required. The clerk's staff can tell you whether a specific record is open or restricted before you drive to English.

Legal Help for Crawford County Divorce Cases

If you need to file for divorce in Crawford County without an attorney, the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center provides free dissolution of marriage forms and step-by-step filing instructions that apply to all Indiana counties including Crawford. For direct legal help, Indiana Legal Help connects Crawford County residents with free and low-cost legal aid organizations serving southern Indiana. Some programs offer phone consultations or in-person appointments at reduced cost for qualifying individuals.

Crawford County Clerk staff can answer questions about filing requirements and what forms to use, but cannot give legal advice. For complex divorce matters, speaking with a family law attorney before filing is the better course. Genealogical researchers looking for historical Crawford County divorce records can consult the Crawford County Public Library's genealogy collection for additional historical research support.

Crawford County divorce decree records are maintained at the courthouse in English, with older historical records held at the county court archives on Indiana Route 64.

Cities in Crawford County

English is the county seat of Crawford County and the location of the courthouse and clerk's office. Other communities in Crawford County include Marengo, Leavenworth, Milltown, and Alton. None of these communities meets the 25,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All Crawford County divorce decrees, regardless of which town or township the parties lived in, are filed with and maintained by the Crawford County Clerk in English.

Nearby Counties

Crawford County is in southern Indiana and borders the following counties, each of which maintains its own divorce decree records at the county level.