Access Jasper County Divorce Decree Records

Jasper County divorce decree records are held by the Clerk of Courts at the Jasper County Courthouse in Rensselaer, Indiana. If you need to find or get a certified copy of a divorce decree filed in Jasper County, the clerk's office handles all such requests. Case information is searchable online through Indiana's MyCase portal, but certified copies of divorce decrees must be obtained directly from the Jasper County Clerk. Note that Jasper County operates on Central Standard Time, so confirm hours before you travel from a neighboring time zone.

Jasper County Clerk of Courts

The Jasper County Clerk is Kara Fishburn. Her office is at Suite 204, 115 W. Washington Street, Rensselaer, IN 47978. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST. The clerk's office handles multiple departments, each with its own phone line. For records and microfilm (which includes older court records), the number is 219-866-5297 or 219-866-4925. The main clerk line at 219-866-4926 handles circuit court records including criminal, civil, and probate cases. Superior Court matters go to 219-866-4912.

The Jasper County Circuit Court page provides court-specific information including the circuit judge and court hours. The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a page for Jasper County at in.gov/courts/local/jasper-county/.

Where Jasper County Microfilm Records Are Located

Older Jasper County court records, including historical divorce records, may be stored on microfilm. The clerk's office notes: "We are located on the 1st floor of the Jasper County Courthouse in the Microfilm Department." If you are searching for an older decree that may predate the electronic court system, contact the Microfilm Department directly at 219-866-5297. Staff there can search older case records and tell you what is available and in what format.

For newer cases that are part of the electronic filing system, use Indiana's MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov/mycase/ to look up the case number and other details before contacting the clerk. This saves time and helps you give the staff the right information when you make your request.

How to Get a Certified Jasper County Divorce Decree

Certified copies of divorce decrees in Jasper County are not available online. Every certified copy request must go through the clerk's office in Rensselaer. You can do it in person or by mail.

In-person requests are the fastest option. Visit Suite 204 at 115 W. Washington Street during office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST. Remember that Jasper County uses Central Standard Time, which differs from most of Indiana. Bring the full 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 helps. Most in-person requests are handled the same day.

For mail requests, send a written letter to Jasper County Clerk, 115 W. Washington Street, Suite 204, Rensselaer, IN 47978. Include the party names, case date, case number if known, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Call 219-866-4926 first to confirm the total fee and accepted payment methods before mailing anything.

Jasper County Divorce Record Fees

Indiana's statewide fee schedule applies in Jasper County. 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 divorce decree costs $4.00. Each additional page adds $1.00. Call the clerk or the microfilm department ahead of time to find out the page count for your specific decree so you send the right amount.

Cash, money orders, and cashier's checks are the most commonly accepted payment methods. Personal checks are often not accepted. For mail requests, a money order is the safest way to send payment. Confirm payment options with the clerk's office before your visit or before mailing.

Indiana Divorce Laws and Jasper County Cases

Under Indiana Code IC 31-15-2-6, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Jasper County for three months before a dissolution petition can be filed there. That residency requirement determines which county clerk holds the record. IC 31-15-2-10 imposes a 60-day waiting period from the filing date before the court can issue a final decree. Once the judge signs and the clerk files the order, it becomes the official divorce decree stored in Jasper County's records.

Indiana Code IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, generally makes divorce decrees open to the public. Anyone can request a copy, not just parties to the case. Some portions of the file, such as financial affidavits, records with Social Security numbers, or court-sealed sections, may not be accessible. For more on what is public and how to request it, the Indiana courts public records guidance is a useful reference.

For free legal help in the Jasper County area, Indiana Legal Help provides guidance and connects residents with legal aid services. The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has dissolution of marriage forms and instructions for those filing without a lawyer.

The Jasper County Clerk's Office website provides current contact information, office hours, and department phone numbers for the courthouse in Rensselaer.

The Jasper County Clerk's Office in Rensselaer is the official source for divorce decree records in the county, with staff available to assist with in-person and mail requests Monday through Friday.

Cities in Jasper County

Rensselaer is the county seat of Jasper County and is home to the courthouse and clerk's office. Other communities in the county include Remington, Wheatfield, and Demotte. None of these communities meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All Jasper County residents file divorce cases and request decree copies through the clerk's office in Rensselaer.

Nearby Counties

Each neighboring county clerk office maintains its own set of divorce decree records for cases filed in that county.