Search Madison County Divorce Decree Records

Madison County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Madison County Courthouse in Anderson, Indiana. Clerk Linda S. Smith's office handles the filing of public records, vital records, and court records, as well as processing child support payments and issuing marriage licenses. If you need to search for or request a certified copy of a Madison County divorce decree, the clerk's office in Anderson is your primary resource. Case information is also available online through Indiana's MyCase system.

Madison County Clerk of Courts Office

The Madison County Clerk's Office is in Room 213 of the Madison County Courthouse at 16 E 9th Street in Anderson. Clerk Linda S. Smith leads the office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. As the county notes, the clerk's office "is responsible for the filing of public records, vital records, and court records, as well as processing child support payments, issuing marriage licenses, and providing copies of documents." That covers a broad range of services that includes divorce decree records.

The Indiana Judicial Branch Madison County page has court contacts and local rules. The county government website is at madisoncounty.in.gov.

Search Madison County Divorce Decrees Online

Indiana's free public case search tool, MyCase, allows you to search Madison County divorce cases by name or case number. Results show filing dates, case types, party names, court assignments, and hearing schedules. This is the fastest and easiest way to confirm whether a divorce was filed in Madison County and to find a case number before making a formal records request.

MyCase shows case information only. You cannot download or view the full divorce decree document through the portal. For the actual decree, contact the Madison County Clerk's Office directly. The clerk's office notes that "case information can be found at mycase.in.gov" as a first step for many record-related questions.

Madison County also offers e-filing registration through efile.incourts.gov for those who want to file court documents electronically. This is relevant for new filings, not for requesting existing records.

How to Request a Certified Madison County Divorce Decree

Certified copies of Madison County divorce decrees are not available online. You must contact the clerk's office directly. The two main options are visiting in person or sending a mail request. In-person visits to Room 213 at the Anderson courthouse are handled Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Bring the names of both parties and the approximate year of the divorce. A case number speeds up the search. Most in-person requests can be fulfilled the same day.

For mail requests, send your written request to the Madison County Clerk at PO Box 1277, Anderson, IN 46015. Include the full names of both parties, the year the divorce was filed or finalized, the case number if available, and your contact information. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment. Allow 7 to 10 business days for mail requests to be processed and returned. Call ahead at (765) 641-9443 to verify current fees and accepted payment methods before mailing.

Madison County Divorce Decree Copy Fees

Indiana's statewide fee schedule applies in Madison County. Since July 1, 2021, the certification fee is $3.00 per certified copy. Copy fees run $1.00 per page. A one-page certified divorce decree costs $4.00 total. A decree that runs longer adds $1.00 for each additional page. The clerk's office accepts standard payment methods; confirm by calling (765) 641-9443 before mailing payment.

Judgment payments for court cases can be made through GovPayNow.com. Child support payments are handled separately through childsupportbillpay.com/Indiana. These payment portals are for case-related financial obligations, not for copy requests.

If a very old divorce decree is not held at the courthouse, it may be at the Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St in Indianapolis, reachable at (317) 591-5220.

Indiana Divorce Laws and Madison County Courts

Indiana Code IC 31-15-2-6 requires that at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Madison County for three months before a divorce can be filed in Madison County's courts. This is the residency rule that controls where the final divorce decree is filed and which county clerk keeps the record.

Indiana's 60-day waiting period under IC 31-15-2-10 applies in Madison County as it does across the state. The court cannot issue a final divorce decree until 60 days have passed since the petition was filed. Both parties may submit a written agreement and waiver, but the court still must observe the full 60-day wait. The divorce decree is issued only after the court enters its final order ending the marriage.

Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, most Madison County divorce decrees are public records. Anyone can request a copy without being a party to the case. Some portions of a divorce case file, such as sealed financial affidavits or records containing Social Security numbers, are restricted and not available to the general public.

Self-Help and Legal Resources in Madison County

Madison County residents handling their own divorce case can use the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center for free court forms and step-by-step filing guides. The center covers dissolution of marriage cases including contested and uncontested procedures. Indiana Legal Help provides free legal aid referrals for Madison County residents who need help understanding Indiana divorce law or the court process.

For general guidance on how to request court records statewide, the Indiana courts public records request page explains what to include in a request, what to expect, and how the process works.

The Madison County Clerk's Office in Anderson handles all divorce decree records for the county and provides in-person and mail request options Monday through Friday.

Cities in Madison County

Anderson is the county seat of Madison County and the location of the courthouse where all divorce decrees are filed. Other communities in the county include Elwood, Alexandria, Pendleton, and Chesterfield. None of these cities meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All Madison County divorce decree records are held at the clerk's office in Anderson regardless of which city or town the parties lived in at the time of the divorce.

Nearby Counties

Neighboring county clerk offices each maintain their own divorce decree records; use the links below to navigate to the right county.