Find Divorce Decree Records in Johnson County

Johnson County divorce decree records go back to 1830 and are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin, Indiana. Clerk Trena McLaughlin's office maintains marriage, divorce, probate, and general court records for the county. If you need to locate or request a certified copy of a Johnson County divorce decree, you can start your search online through Indiana's MyCase portal or visit the clerk's office during business hours. Certified copies require a direct request to the clerk's office either in person or by mail.

Johnson County Clerk of Courts

Clerk Trena McLaughlin leads the Johnson County Clerk's Office at the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin. The office is on the first floor at 5 E. Jefferson Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. As the county records indicate, the clerk has kept marriage, divorce, probate, and court records dating back to 1830. That makes Johnson County one of the longer-running continuous court record systems in Indiana.

Johnson County court services information is also available at johnsoncountycourtservices.com. The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a separate page for Johnson County courts with local rules and contact information.

Search Johnson County Divorce Decree Records Online

Indiana's free public case search system, MyCase, is the best place to start if you want to look up a Johnson County divorce case online. You can search by party name or case number. Results show the filing date, case type, court, and any scheduled hearings. This is useful if you need to confirm that a divorce was filed in Johnson County or if you want to find a case number before going to the clerk's office.

MyCase does not provide the actual decree document. It shows case data only. To get a copy of the decree itself, you must contact the clerk's office. For cases that may be older or where records have been transferred, check with the clerk first to find out if the file is still at the courthouse.

Note: Basic case information is free to access through MyCase, but certified document copies require payment through the clerk's office.

Requesting a Certified Copy of a Johnson County Divorce Decree

Johnson County offers two main ways to get a certified copy of a divorce decree: in person or by mail. In-person requests are usually handled the same day. Walk into the clerk's office at 5 E. Jefferson Street with the names of both parties and the approximate filing year. A case number helps speed things up. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Same-day service is typically available for in-person requests.

For mail requests, write to the Johnson County Clerk at PO Box 368, Franklin, IN 46131. Include the full names of both parties, the year the divorce was filed or finalized, and the case number if you have it. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests may take 5 to 10 business days to process depending on volume. Call ahead at (317) 346-4450 to ask about current fees and accepted payment types before sending your request.

Johnson County Divorce Decree Copy Fees

Indiana's statewide fee schedule applies in Johnson County. Since July 1, 2021, the cost to certify a document is $3.00 per certified copy. Copies cost $1.00 per page. A one-page certified divorce decree totals $4.00. A longer decree runs $1.00 per additional page on top of the $3.00 certification fee. The clerk's office typically accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Call ahead at (317) 346-4450 to confirm payment options, especially for mail requests, since some offices limit payment types for mail orders.

If a decree you need is not at the courthouse because it is from many decades ago, the Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St in Indianapolis holds historic court records. The Archives number is (317) 591-5220. They store records transferred from county offices over the years.

Indiana Divorce Laws and Johnson County Courts

Indiana law under IC 31-15-2-6 requires that at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Johnson County for three months before filing for divorce there. This is the residency rule that determines which county's clerk keeps the final decree. If both spouses lived in Johnson County and met the residency requirements, the decree would be filed with the Johnson County Clerk's Office.

Under IC 31-15-2-10, there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period after a divorce petition is filed before a court can grant the final decree. The court cannot finalize the divorce before those 60 days are up. This waiting period applies in all Indiana counties, including Johnson County.

Most Johnson County divorce decrees are public records under IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act. Anyone can request to view or copy a divorce decree. However, some documents within a case file may be sealed or restricted, particularly financial affidavits or records containing sensitive personal information. If you need access to restricted records, a court order may be required.

Johnson County Courts That Handle Divorce Filings

Johnson County has both a Circuit Court and a Superior Court that handle family law cases including divorce filings. The Circuit Court is located at 5 E. Court Street in Franklin, phone (317) 346-4400. The Superior Court 1 is at 5 E. Jefferson Street, phone (317) 346-4413. Both courts operate within the same courthouse complex in downtown Franklin.

If you are handling a divorce case without an attorney, the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has forms and step-by-step guides for dissolution of marriage cases. This includes uncontested and contested divorce procedures. For legal aid referrals, Indiana Legal Help connects Johnson County residents with free and low-cost legal services across Indiana.

Johnson County Divorce Decree Records Resource

The Johnson County government website provides details about the clerk's office and its services. The Indiana courts public records request guide is also a helpful resource for understanding how to request records, what to include in your request, and what fees to expect.

The Johnson County Clerk's Office in Franklin has maintained court and divorce records since 1830, making it one of the most complete county clerk archives in Indiana.

Cities in Johnson County

Franklin is the county seat of Johnson County and the location of the courthouse where all divorce decrees are filed. The city of Franklin qualifies for a dedicated city page on this site. Other communities in the county include Greenwood, Bargersville, Whiteland, and New Whiteland. Greenwood, which borders Marion County, is a significant city in the county though divorce filings are handled at the Franklin courthouse for most Johnson County residents.

See the city pages for more details: Franklin.

Nearby Counties

Neighboring county clerks each handle divorce decree records for their own county; use the links below to find the right office.