Hancock County Divorce Decree Records

Hancock County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Hancock County Courthouse in Greenfield, Indiana. If you need to find or obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree filed in Hancock County, the clerk's office is where you go. Case information is available online through Indiana's MyCase portal, but certified copies require direct contact with the Hancock County Clerk. This page explains how the office works and what you need to make a request.

Hancock County Clerk of Courts

The Hancock County Clerk is Lisa M. Lofgreen. Her office is located at Room 213, 9 East Main Street, Greenfield, IN 46140. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. As described in the official records, "The Clerk of the Circuit Court (commonly called the County Clerk) is a constitutional officer elected for a four-year term by the voters of Hancock County." The clerk's office is also described as "the 'clerk' to the Court System and keeper of the records," which means divorce decrees and all other court filings are under the clerk's care.

The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a Hancock County page at in.gov/courts/local/hancock-county/ with court contacts and local rules.

Search Hancock County Divorce Decree Records Online

The main online tool for searching Hancock County divorce records is Indiana's MyCase public case search portal. MyCase displays case details such as party names, filing dates, case numbers, and docket entries for dissolution of marriage cases filed in Hancock County. It does not let you view or download the actual divorce decree document. That part still requires contacting the clerk's office.

Hancock County courts have adopted electronic filing, as noted in the official records: "As ordered by the Indiana Supreme Court, Hancock County Courts have begun electronic filing of new cases and subsequent filings." This makes newer cases well-indexed in MyCase. For older cases, call the clerk at 317-477-1109 to confirm availability and location of the record.

How to Request a Hancock County Divorce Decree

Certified divorce decrees are not available online in Hancock County or anywhere else in Indiana. The clerk's office must process all certified copy requests directly. There are two ways to do it: in person or by mail.

In person, visit Room 213 at 9 East Main Street in Greenfield during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Bring the names of both parties as they appeared in the original case, the approximate date the divorce was finalized, and the case number if you have it. A photo ID is helpful. Staff can usually locate and copy the record the same day for most requests.

For mail, write to Hancock County Clerk, 9 East Main Street, Room 213, Greenfield, IN 46140. Include the party names, approximate case date, case number if known, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Call 317-477-1109 first to confirm the total fee and which payment methods the office accepts. You can also email lisa.lofgreen@hancockin.gov with questions before submitting a request.

Divorce Decree Fees in Hancock County

Indiana sets a statewide standard for court copy fees. Since July 1, 2021, the copy rate is $1.00 per page and the certification fee is $3.00 per document. A one-page certified decree costs $4.00. Each additional page adds $1.00. For longer decrees, the total can be higher, so call ahead to find out the page count before sending payment by mail.

Most Indiana counties, including Hancock, accept cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. Personal checks are frequently not accepted, and credit card availability varies by office. Bring exact change or a money order when visiting in person, and use a money order for mail requests to avoid rejection.

Note: Contact the clerk at 317-477-1109 or lisa.lofgreen@hancockin.gov to verify the current fee and payment policy before submitting any request.

Indiana Laws and Hancock County Divorce Records

Indiana Code IC 31-15-2-6 requires at least one spouse to have lived in Indiana for six months and in Hancock County for three months before filing for divorce there. That residency requirement determines which county holds the record. If a divorce was filed in Hancock County, the Hancock County Clerk is the official custodian of that decree.

Under IC 31-15-2-10, Indiana courts must wait at least 60 days after a case is filed before granting a final decree. The final order is what becomes the divorce decree. That document is stored in the clerk's official case file and is generally a public record under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Most divorce decrees can be requested by anyone. Sealed portions and records with Social Security numbers or financial data may be restricted.

For self-represented individuals, the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has dissolution of marriage forms and guides. For free legal help in the Hancock County area, Indiana Legal Help is a good starting point. The Indiana courts public records how-to page explains what is public and how to request it.

The Hancock County Clerk's resource page in Greenfield provides current office hours, contact details, and guidance for court record requests.

Cities in Hancock County

Greenfield is the county seat of Hancock County and is where the courthouse and clerk's office are located. Other communities in the county include Fortville, McCordsville, New Palestine, and Shirley. None of these cities meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All residents of Hancock County file divorce cases and request decree copies through the clerk's office in Greenfield.

Nearby Counties

Divorce decree records for these neighboring counties are maintained by their own respective clerk offices.