Divorce records in Dearborn County, Indiana, can be accessed through several channels. DearbornCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for Dearborn County. You can also obtain records directly from the court that issued the decree, the Dearborn County Clerk's office, or the Indiana State Department of Health's Vital Records office. The approach you take depends on whether you need a court file, a certified copy of a decree, or a divorce certificate.
Dearborn Divorce Records Search
Dearborn County maintains divorce records through its Clerk of the Circuit Court, which serves as the custodian of all civil case files, including dissolutions of marriage. The county seat is Lawrenceburg, and all divorce filings for cases heard in Dearborn County courts are stored at the courthouse. Note that a courthouse fire in 1826 destroyed most early records, so historical research may have gaps.
The divorce records collection typically includes:
- Petitions for dissolution of marriage
- Final divorce decrees
- Settlement and property division agreements
- Child custody and support orders
- Related motions and court orders
For an online search, Indiana's MyCase portal allows you to look up case information and some documents from Dearborn County courts. The Indiana State Department of Health also maintains divorce certificates for statistical and vital records purposes.
Dearborn County Clerk's Office
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Dearborn
In Indiana, divorce cases — formally called dissolutions of marriage — are filed in the circuit or superior court of the county where either spouse resides. Dearborn County has both a Circuit Court and a Superior Court that handle civil matters, including divorce. The Dearborn County courts are part of Judicial District 22, which also covers Ohio County.
Here is how the filing structure works and which office to contact based on your needs:
- Court case files (petitions, decrees, custody orders, settlement agreements): Contact the Dearborn County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk maintains the official case record for every divorce filed in the county.
- Online case search: Use MyCase to search for divorce case information. Keep in mind that not all records or documents are available online, and access is subject to Indiana's public records rules under Indiana Code 5-14-3.
- Divorce certificates (vital record): The Indiana State Department of Health, Vital Records Division, issues divorce certificates. These are summary documents — not the full decree — and are used for proof of divorce status.
- Historical or genealogical records: The Indiana State Archives holds older court and vital records that may include historical divorce filings from Dearborn County.
Dearborn County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Indiana State Department of Health – Vital Records
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Dearborn
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Court record copies (per page, uncertified) | $1.00 | Same day to several business days |
| Certified copy of court record (per document) | $5.00 certification fee plus per-page copy costs | Several business days |
| Divorce certificate (Indiana Vital Records) | $10.00 | 2–4 weeks by mail |
| Expedited divorce certificate (Indiana Vital Records) | $10.00 plus expedite and shipping fees | 5–7 business days |