Ohio County Divorce Decree Records
Ohio County divorce decree records are filed and stored at the Circuit Clerk office in Rising Sun, Indiana. Clerk Kristie Cate manages all court records for Ohio County, which is the smallest county in Indiana by area. The courthouse at 413 Main Street in Rising Sun handles all divorce filings for the county. If you need to find a divorce case or get a certified copy of a decree from Ohio County, this page covers everything you need to know.
Ohio County Quick Facts
Ohio County Clerk of Courts
Clerk Kristie Cate is the official record keeper for Ohio County courts. Her office at 413 Main Street in Rising Sun handles all divorce filings, certified copy requests, and case records for the county. You can reach her by phone at (812) 438-2610, by fax at (812) 438-1215, or by email at kcate@ohiocounty.in.gov. The clerk office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM. Wednesday hours are limited. Call ahead to confirm before visiting on a Wednesday.
The Indiana Judicial Branch page for Ohio County has current details on local courts. Ohio County is a small county on the Ohio River along the Kentucky border. Its Circuit Court handles all civil matters including divorce. Because the county is small, the court system is compact, and staff can usually handle records requests quickly.
| Clerk | Kristie Cate |
|---|---|
| Address | Ohio County Courthouse 413 Main Street Rising Sun, IN 47040 |
| Mailing | PO Box 185, Rising Sun, IN 47040 |
| Phone | (812) 438-2610 |
| Fax | (812) 438-1215 |
| kcate@ohiocounty.in.gov | |
| Hours | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM Wednesday: Limited hours, call to confirm |
Note: The Ohio County Clerk has limited hours on Wednesdays. Always call (812) 438-2610 before visiting on a Wednesday to confirm the office is open.
Search Ohio County Divorce Records Online
Indiana's MyCase Indiana portal covers Ohio County divorce cases. You can search by name or case number for free. Basic case data shows up immediately, including the filing date, case type, and status. This is a good first step when you need to confirm a divorce was filed in Ohio County or to find the case number before contacting the clerk for documents.
The Indiana Courts Public Records Portal is another state-run tool that may show Ohio County case data. Both of these online resources are free and available around the clock. If you cannot find a case online, it may be an older filing that predates the digital systems. Contact Clerk Cate directly to request a manual search of Ohio County court records.
Ohio County is small, and its court records go back many years. Older records are stored at the courthouse in paper form. The Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St in Indianapolis, reachable at (317) 591-5220, may also have historical Ohio County divorce records. Call the archives to ask before making the trip.
Ohio County Divorce Decree Copy Fees
Certified copies of divorce decrees from Ohio County cost $3 per document. Page copies run $1 per page on top of that. A certified one-page decree is $4 total. For longer decrees, the cost goes up with the page count. Ask Clerk Cate for the exact fee before sending payment by mail.
In-person requests at the Rising Sun courthouse are processed during regular hours. Bring a government-issued photo ID. For mail requests, send your written request to PO Box 185, Rising Sun, IN 47040. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, any case number you have, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Ohio County accepts standard payment methods. Call ahead to confirm what forms of payment the clerk currently accepts.
Ohio County divorce decrees are public records under IC 5-14-3. Anyone can request copies. You do not have to prove you were part of the case. The clerk must respond to lawful public records requests within a reasonable timeframe.
Indiana Divorce Law and Ohio County Cases
Every divorce filed in Ohio County follows Indiana state statutes. IC 31-15-2-6 sets the residency requirement: one spouse must live in Indiana for six months and in Ohio County for at least three months before filing. Ohio County is in far southeast Indiana on the Kentucky border. If you recently moved from Kentucky, confirm you have lived in Ohio County for three full months before you file a divorce case here.
The 60-day waiting period under IC 31-15-2-10 applies to all Ohio County divorces. After filing, the court cannot sign the final divorce decree until 60 days have passed. Both parties agreeing on all issues does not waive this wait. After the waiting period, the court schedules a hearing and issues the final decree. The Ohio County Clerk records and stores that decree as the official proof of the dissolved marriage.
IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, makes Ohio County divorce decrees available to the public. Any person can request access. The clerk cannot refuse a lawful request from a member of the public and must provide copies within a reasonable time after payment of the applicable fees.
What Ohio County Divorce Records Include
A final divorce decree from Ohio County is a court order ending a marriage. It names both spouses, gives the date of the divorce, and sets out all the terms ordered by the court. Property division, debt assignment, child custody and visitation, child support, and any spousal maintenance all appear in the decree if the court addressed them. This document is the authoritative record of what was ordered in the Ohio County divorce case.
Beyond the final decree, the Ohio County court file may include the original divorce petition, responses, any motions filed during the case, financial disclosures, and orders issued before the final hearing. Most people only need the final decree for legal and personal purposes, but the full file is available if you need earlier documents. Ask the clerk what is in the file and get a cost estimate before ordering copies of multiple documents.
Many uses require a certified copy of the Ohio County divorce decree. Changing a name on a driver's license, updating a deed, or proving single status for remarriage all call for the certified version with the court seal. Plain copies are cheaper but may not be accepted for official purposes.
Legal Help for Ohio County Residents
The Indiana Judicial Branch page for Ohio County lists current court and clerk information for divorce decree requests in Rising Sun.
Ohio County is Indiana's smallest county by area, and its single Circuit Court handles all divorce cases filed by Rising Sun and surrounding area residents.
Indiana Legal Help provides free online guidance on divorce procedures and forms for all Indiana counties including Ohio County. The site explains the divorce process under Indiana law and has referrals to legal aid groups that serve southeast Indiana. Low-income residents may qualify for free help through these organizations.
The Indiana Self-Service Center has official court forms and step-by-step instructions for filing a divorce case in Ohio County. It is a free state resource maintained by the Indiana courts. If you are handling your own divorce without an attorney, this is a good place to get the forms you need and understand how to fill them out.
For questions about how to request public records from Ohio County, the Indiana courts records request guide explains your rights and the process step by step. It covers all Indiana counties and applies directly to Ohio County.
Cities in Ohio County
Rising Sun is the county seat and only incorporated city in Ohio County. The county is the smallest in Indiana by area and has a small total population. All divorce filings from Ohio County go to the single Circuit Court at the Rising Sun courthouse. Rising Sun does not meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
Nearby Counties
Ohio County borders Switzerland County to the east and Dearborn County to the west. Kentucky lies to the south across the Ohio River. File your divorce case in the county where you or your spouse currently lives under IC 31-15-2-6.