Search Hendricks County Divorce Decree Records

Hendricks County divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Courts at the Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville, Indiana. If you need to find or get a certified copy of a divorce decree filed in Hendricks County, the clerk's office handles all such requests. Basic case information is searchable online through Indiana's MyCase system, but certified copies must come from the Hendricks County Clerk in person or by mail. This page covers what to know before you visit or send a request.

Hendricks County Clerk of Courts Office

The Hendricks County Clerk is Marjorie Pike. Her office is at One Courthouse Square, 51 W. Main Street, #104, Danville, IN 46122. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office is the official record keeper for all county-level court cases. As the official records state, "The Clerk's Office is the record keeper for all county-level court cases, including: Civil, Criminal, Estate (Probates), Guardianship, Juveniles, Paternities, Traffic Tickets." Divorce cases fall under civil court, and divorce decrees are part of the official record that the clerk keeps.

The Indiana Judicial Branch page for Hendricks County is at in.gov/courts/local/hendricks-county/. Marriage license processing runs from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays, which is slightly shorter than general office hours.

Important: Courthouse Entry and Security Rules

Before you visit the Hendricks County Courthouse, you need to know one key rule: "The Courthouse can only be entered through the West Security Entrance." Do not go to the front door and expect to get in. The West Security Entrance is the only access point for the public.

There is also a cell phone restriction in place for part of the courthouse. "NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED in SUPERIOR COURT 5." If you are visiting the clerk's office at Suite 104 rather than Superior Court 5, you may keep your phone, but leave it secured if you enter that court. Familiarize yourself with what items are prohibited before arriving to avoid delays at security.

Search Hendricks County Divorce Decree Records

Indiana's MyCase public case search portal is the best free tool for looking up Hendricks County divorce case information online. MyCase shows party names, case numbers, filing dates, and docket entries. It does not provide access to the actual divorce decree document. You still need to contact the clerk's office for a certified copy.

Search MyCase by entering party names or the case number. For older cases, the online system may have limited data. In those situations, call the clerk at 317-745-9231. Staff can often search the office's internal system and tell you whether the record is available and what the current process looks like for retrieving it.

How to Get a Certified Hendricks County Divorce Decree

Certified divorce decrees in Hendricks County are not available online. There is no way to download a certified copy from MyCase or any other state system. You must request it directly from the clerk's office, either in person or by mail.

For in-person requests, visit Suite 104 at One Courthouse Square in Danville. Enter through the West Security Entrance only. Bring the full names of both parties as they appeared in the original divorce case, the approximate date the divorce was finalized, the case number if you have it, and a photo ID. For most cases, the clerk can process the request and provide the copy the same day.

For mail requests, write to Hendricks County Clerk, 51 W. Main Street, #104, Danville, IN 46122. Include all the identifying information, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Call 317-745-9231 first to confirm the current fee and payment methods before mailing anything. Mail requests typically take one to two weeks.

Note: The 60-day waiting period under IC 31-15-2-10 applies to new divorce filings. If you are searching for an existing decree, that waiting period is already in the past.

Fees for Hendricks County Divorce Decree Copies

Indiana's statewide fee schedule applies in Hendricks County. Since July 1, 2021, the rate is $1.00 per page for copies and $3.00 per document for certification. A one-page certified decree costs $4.00. Each extra page adds $1.00. For multi-page decrees, call the clerk ahead of time to get the page count so you can calculate the exact amount to pay or send.

Payment methods generally include cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. Confirm with the clerk's office at 317-745-9231 whether credit cards are currently accepted. Personal checks are often rejected, so money orders are the safest option for mail requests.

Hendricks County Divorce Laws and Public Records

Indiana Code IC 31-15-2-6 sets the residency rule for divorce filings. At least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Hendricks County for three months before filing. That rule ties the divorce record to Hendricks County's clerk office. Once the court grants the dissolution under the IC 31-15-2-10 timeline, the final order is filed with the clerk and becomes the official decree.

Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, most divorce decrees are public records. Anyone can request a copy. Some portions of the case file, such as financial affidavits, records with Social Security numbers, or sealed parts, may be off-limits. The Indiana courts public records guidance page explains what is available. For free legal help in the Hendricks County area, Indiana Legal Help connects residents with legal aid services. The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has dissolution of marriage forms for those filing without an attorney.

The Hendricks County Clerk's resource page is the official source for court record information, including current hours and procedures for the Danville courthouse.

Cities in Hendricks County

Hendricks County includes Danville as the county seat, along with Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, Pittsboro, and Lizton. Two cities in Hendricks County have dedicated pages on this site. Brownsburg and Plainfield both meet the 25,000 population threshold. Residents of any Hendricks County city file their divorce cases and request decree copies from the same clerk's office in Danville.

Nearby Counties

The clerk offices in these neighboring counties each handle divorce decree records for their own jurisdictions.