Vanderburgh County Divorce Decree Records

Vanderburgh County divorce decree records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Evansville, Indiana. If you need to find a divorce decree or get a certified copy, the clerk's office is where you go. Vanderburgh County offers several ways to request records, including online ordering, in-person visits, and mail requests. This page covers each method, the fees involved, and how to search Vanderburgh County divorce cases.

Vanderburgh County Clerk of Courts Office

Carla Hayden serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Vanderburgh County. Her office is located in the Civic Center Administration Building in Evansville. The clerk's office maintains all court records for the county, including dissolution of marriage cases and the divorce decrees that courts issue as final orders. The office also handles marriage records, probate filings, and other civil and criminal case records.

The clerk's office is at Room S240 of the Civic Center at 1 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Evansville. Cashier and library hours close at 4:00 PM, though the office itself stays open until 4:30 PM. An important note for visitors: cell phones and smart watches are NOT permitted inside the Vanderburgh County Courthouse. You will need to leave them at the entrance or in a secure location before going in.

You can also find information about Vanderburgh County court records and the local court structure at vanderburghcountycourt.org and on the Indiana Judicial Branch's Vanderburgh County page.

Search Vanderburgh County Divorce Records

Vanderburgh County offers multiple ways to search divorce records. For online case lookups, use Indiana's MyCase portal. You can search by party name or case number to get basic case details including filing dates, case status, and court hearing information. MyCase does not let you download or view the actual divorce decree, but it helps you confirm a case and find the case number.

In-person searches can be done at the clerk's office in Evansville during regular business hours. Staff can locate cases by name or case number. Bring identifying information for both parties and the approximate date of the divorce. Older records may take extra time to locate.

The Vanderburgh County online document request page also provides information about how to request copies of court records, including divorce decrees.

Requesting a Certified Vanderburgh County Divorce Decree

Vanderburgh County gives you more options than most Indiana counties when it comes to getting certified divorce decree copies. You can request records online, in person, or by mail.

The online option uses the Official Records Online system, which Vanderburgh County has partnered with to provide secure, convenient document ordering. As the county notes: "You can now use our new Official Records Online system to request a marriage license or divorce decree. You may request certified or uncertified copies using the new online system. The forms will be mailed to you directly, additional fees apply for FedEx delivery option. A convenience fee of $10.00 per transaction will be assessed along with the prices of the copies." Visit officialrecordsonline.com and select Indiana and Vanderburgh County to start your request.

For in-person requests, visit Room S240 at the Civic Center. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. Payment by cash, card, or money order is accepted. Mail requests should be sent to 1 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room S240, Evansville, IN 47708, and include a copy of your ID, the case details, your return address, and payment. Online requests are typically processed in 3 to 5 business days; mail requests may take 7 to 14 business days.

Note: The $10.00 convenience fee applies only to online orders through Official Records Online and is separate from copy and certification fees.

Vanderburgh County Divorce Record Fees

Vanderburgh County follows Indiana's standard fee schedule for court record copies. Regular copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $4.00 each, which covers the $3.00 certification fee plus the first page. Additional pages add $1.00 each. Online orders through Official Records Online include an additional $10.00 convenience fee per transaction. In-person payments accept cash, credit cards, and money orders.

Older Vanderburgh County records may require special handling. It is worth noting that gaps exist in some older records. As the research shows, "No marriage records exist in Indiana before 1882, but in 1882 some counties maintained a separate marriage return book." Similar gaps may affect divorce records from the 1800s and early 1900s. For historic records, the Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St, Indianapolis, (317) 591-5220, may be helpful.

Indiana Divorce Laws and Vanderburgh County Courts

Indiana law requires at least one spouse to have lived in Indiana for six months and in Vanderburgh County for three months before filing for divorce there. This residency requirement is set by IC 31-15-2-6 and determines which county court hears the case and maintains the records.

A 60-day waiting period applies to all Indiana divorces under IC 31-15-2-10. A court cannot finalize a dissolution of marriage until 60 days after the petition is filed. The actual divorce decree, which is the final court order ending the marriage, is not issued until the court grants it after this period ends. Marital assets are divided according to equitable distribution principles under IC 31-15-7. Vanderburgh County has Circuit and Superior Courts that handle family law and dissolution of marriage cases.

Free divorce filing help is available through the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center. For legal aid referrals, visit Indiana Legal Help.

Public Access to Vanderburgh County Divorce Decrees

Vanderburgh County divorce decrees are public records under Indiana Code IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act. Any member of the public can request to view or copy a divorce decree without being a party to the case. The county notes that certified copies may be limited to parties involved or their representatives in some cases, but access rules under APRA are broad. Restricted portions, such as financial affidavits and records containing Social Security numbers, are not available to the general public.

The Indiana courts public records request page provides detailed guidance on how to request court records and what restrictions may apply.

Legal Help for Vanderburgh County Divorce Cases

Residents of Vanderburgh County who need help with a divorce case or finding a divorce decree can turn to several free resources. The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center offers forms and plain-language guides for dissolution of marriage filings. Indiana Legal Help connects residents with free and low-cost legal aid organizations throughout Indiana.

The clerk's office staff in Evansville can help you find the right forms and understand the court's procedures, though they cannot give legal advice. The Vanderburgh County Court marriage and divorce records page provides additional information about how records are handled locally.

The Vanderburgh County Clerk's Office in Evansville handles all divorce decree filings and can assist with finding, ordering, and copying records from local court cases.

Cities in Vanderburgh County

Evansville is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and home to the courthouse and clerk's office. Evansville is also Indiana's third-largest city. Other communities in the county include Darmstadt and Melody Hill. All divorce decree records for Vanderburgh County residents are filed at the clerk's office in Evansville, regardless of which city or town the parties lived in at the time of the divorce.

Nearby Counties

Vanderburgh County borders several Indiana and Kentucky counties; each clerk's office handles divorce records for its own jurisdiction.