Divorce Decree in Lake County Indiana

Lake County divorce decree records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Court at the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point, Indiana. Clerk Michael A. Brown's office handles civil, criminal, probate, and family court records including all divorce decrees filed in Lake County. If you need to find or get a certified copy of a Lake County divorce decree, you can search basic case information through Indiana's MyCase portal or contact the clerk's office directly. Lake County is one of the largest courts in Indiana, with separate divisions for civil, criminal, probate, and family matters.

Lake County Clerk of Courts Office

The Lake County Clerk's Office is at the Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main Street in Crown Point. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Clerk Michael A. Brown leads the office, with Executive Chief Deputy Shawn Miller supporting operations. Because of the county's large population, the clerk's office has separate divisions to handle different types of cases more efficiently.

For family law and divorce-related records, the Probate and Family Division at (219) 755-3120 is the right starting point. You can also get general information through the main Lake County Clerk page. The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a page for Lake County courts with court contacts and local rules.

Search Lake County Divorce Decrees Online

Indiana's free public case search portal, MyCase, is available for searching Lake County divorce cases by name or case number. You can view party names, filing dates, case types, case numbers, and scheduled hearings. This is the fastest way to confirm that a divorce was filed in Lake County or to find a case number before visiting the clerk's office.

Keep in mind that MyCase provides case-level information only. The actual divorce decree document is not downloadable from MyCase. You need to contact the clerk's office to get a copy of the decree itself. For family court cases, the Probate and Family Division at (219) 755-3120 handles divorce decree requests.

Lake County Divorce Filing Fees

Filing for divorce in Lake County costs $177 for a case without children. A case with children is filed under a different case type. There is also an optional $28 sheriff service fee. These are the court fees to initiate the case. Copy fees and certification fees are separate.

For certified copies of divorce decrees, Indiana's statewide fee applies: $1.00 per page for copies and $3.00 per certified document since July 1, 2021. The Lake County Clerk's Office accepts major credit cards for in-person transactions at the counter. Valid photo ID with a first and last name matching the credit card is required. American Express is not accepted. There is a 3% convenience fee when paying by credit card. For mail requests, check with the clerk at (219) 755-3460 about accepted payment methods before sending your request.

Requesting a Certified Lake County Divorce Decree

In-person requests are handled at the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point during business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. For divorce-related records, go to the Probate and Family Division or check with the main clerk's office for the correct counter. Bring the names of both parties and the case number if you have it. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card (with 3% fee). American Express is not accepted.

For mail requests, send your written request with payment to the Lake County Clerk at 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year the case was filed, and your contact information. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing times for mail requests can vary depending on volume.

Note: Always confirm current fees and payment requirements by calling (219) 755-3460 before mailing any payment, since policies can be updated over time.

Indiana Divorce Laws That Apply in Lake County

Indiana Code IC 31-15-2-6 sets the residency requirements for filing a divorce in Lake County. One spouse must have lived in Indiana for at least six months and in Lake County for at least three months before the case can be filed in Lake County's courts. This determines which county clerk has the divorce decree on file.

Indiana's mandatory 60-day waiting period under IC 31-15-2-10 applies in Lake County as well. The court cannot finalize a divorce before 60 days have passed since the petition was filed. After 60 days, if the parties have reached a full agreement, the court can enter the final decree. If not, a hearing is scheduled. The divorce decree is the court's final order ending the marriage and becomes a public record once issued.

Lake County divorce decrees are public records under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act. Anyone can request a copy without being a party to the case. Sealed portions of case files, including financial affidavits or records with personal identifiers, are not part of the public record and require a court order to access.

Legal Help and Self-Help in Lake County

Lake County has more resources than most Indiana counties for people going through divorce without an attorney. The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center is available online with forms, filing instructions, and step-by-step guides for dissolution of marriage cases. Both contested and uncontested divorce procedures are covered.

Indiana Legal Help connects Lake County residents with free and low-cost legal assistance across northern Indiana. The site has information on qualifying for legal aid and how to find a legal services provider in your area. For general guidance on requesting court records, the Indiana courts public records request page explains the process statewide.

The Lake County Clerk's Office at the Crown Point Government Center is the official source for divorce decree records, with separate divisions for civil, criminal, and family court matters.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County is home to several cities that meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Divorce decrees for all of these communities are filed at the Lake County Clerk's Office in Crown Point regardless of which city the parties lived in.

City pages for Lake County: Crown Point, Merrillville, Schererville, Hobart, East Chicago.

Nearby Counties

Lake County borders Porter County to the east and Newton and Jasper counties to the south, as well as Illinois to the west; click below for neighboring county divorce decree pages.