Vigo County, Indiana State Court Records
Per Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records (ACR) Rule 3, Vigo County court records refer to any data, information, or document created, collected, received, or kept by a court or clerk of Court in connection with a particular case or court administration. The Clerk of the Vigo Circuit Court is the keeper of court records and publicly disseminates them under the Indiana Access to Court Records Rule 4. Anyone may seek these records online, by phone, or in person at the clerk's office.
Vigo County court records are sometimes connected to other records, such as arrest records and vital records. For arrest records, an arrest may lead to criminal charges, and court proceedings will document the case outcome. Also, during vital events like marriage, divorce, birth, and death, the court may issue legal orders that affect a person's status or identity.
Are Vigo County Court Records Public?
Yes. TheIndiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) and theIndiana Access to Court Records Rule 4 support the public release of court records. Per IC § 5-14-3-3, anyone may inspect or copy Vigo County court records maintained by the clerk of courts during business hours. The request may be via phone or in person, and the requester must be willing to provide any information that will help locate the desired records. However, some court records may not be available to the public because of their confidential nature. The Indiana Rules of Court Rule 5 and thePublic Access to Court Records Handbook provide examples of such records:
- Adoption and grand jury records
- Juvenile court proceedings
- Attorney's work product
- Mediation and mini-trial records
- Drug or substance abuse records
- Any court record that is sealed or expunged
- Paternity, medical, and mental health records
- Personal identifying information of witnesses or victims
- Information about cases the court opens under the wrong case type
- Drug tests and child abuse records that were not presented during a public court proceeding.
What Information is Available in Vigo County Court Records?
The information below is publicly available in Vigo County court records:
- Case summary (case title, case number, court, case type, filing date, case status, and reference)
- Case parties (name, sex, height, weight, and address) and attorney information (name, bar number, address, and phone number)
- Charges (statute, description, citation number, and degree)
- Documents filed during the proceeding
- Financial information (balance due date, charge amount, credit, payment, and transaction summary)
Vigo County Court Records Search
The Vigo County Court Clerk keeps court records for Circuit, Superior, and Juvenile Courts and issues them via the following methods:
Online Access
The Case Search portal is the platform for accessing court records electronically. The tool only contains information about non-confidential court cases. The search is by case number, attorney, or party name. They may also visit the Court section and select Vigo County to ensure the portal returns only court records from that county.
In-Person Access
Sometimes people may not find a record via the online portal; at that point, they may visit the Vigo County Court Clerk's Office to request copies of court records. The Clerk only processes requests from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and no ID is required. However, the records staff may require requesters to complete a form or provide basic details of the desired record to facilitate the search.
Phone Requests
Record seekers may find court records by phone at (812) 231-4499. All calls should be made from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., and the requester should be willing to provide a name or case number for the search.
Fees for Court Records in Vigo County
No fee is required to use the Case Search portal to find case information. All users need is a name, an attorney, or a case number, and the desired record will be available. Case information may also be obtained for free via the phone. However, anyone seeking copies of court records will have to pay a fee. Plain copies of court records cost $1 per page and an additional $1 to certify the copy.
Vigo County Courthouse Locations
The Vigo County Courthouse is home to the clerk's office, the Superior Courts, the Circuit Court, and the prosecutor's office. The address of the courthouse is below:
33 S 3rd St
Terre Haute, IN 47807
17 Harding Avenue Terre
Room 100
Haute, IN 47807
Phone: (812) 232-0697
Fax: (812) 244-2155
Criminal Records Access in Vigo County
The Indiana State Police (ISP) issues limited criminal records that contain only felonies and misdemeanor arrests. Requests may be submitted online through the Limited Criminal History Search portal or by mail. Online fees cost $15.00 per record for subscribers and $15.70 per record by Credit Card. Mail requesters should complete the Request Form and send it, along with a $7 fee, to the office. Payments may be made by certified check or money order.
The Vigo County Clerk of Courts is the custodian of criminal records at the local level. Customers may find these records online, by phone at (812) 231-4499, or in person at the courthouse. All phone and in-person requests should be made from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Case Search portal is the only official option for finding criminal records electronically. The search parameter includes case number, citation number, party name, attorney name, or attorney number. To narrow the search, users may select "Vigo County" from the Court dropdown and select "Criminal & Citation" from the "Limit search to" section.
Vigo County Probate Records
The Vigo County Courts Probate Division handles probate cases, including wills, guardianships, estates, and trusts. The Division maintains records of these cases through the Vigo County Court Clerk's office. Record seekers may view these records online through the Case Search tool. The search criteria include party name, case number, attorney's name, or attorney's bar number. Users may select "Vigo County" from the Court dropdown and "Probate" from the "Limit search to" area to streamline their searches.
Vigo County Family Court Records
The Vigo County Circuit and Superior Courts handle family law cases, including divorce, child support, emancipation, protection orders, child custody, and the division of property/debt. The Clerk of Court is the keeper of the records of these cases. Some family court records, such as divorce documents, are available to the public, while others, especially those about minors, are confidential.
The Case Search portal is a good place to easily find public family court records. The search parameter includes party name, case number, or attorney. Copies of family court records are available in person at the clerk's office during business hours. While access to court records via the portal is free, copies attract a small fee.
Federal Court Records in Vigo County
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is the court that handles federal cases in Vigo County. Record seekers may view or print current federal civil and criminal case records online through the CM/ECF-PACER system. Users would have to create a PACER account. Documents are in PDF format, and access to case information costs $0.10 per page.
The Clerk's office accepts federal court records requests by mail, email at INSD_Requests@insd.uscourts.gov, and in person. Mail and email requesters must submit a completed Copy Request Form and the appropriate fees to obtain copies of federal court records. The clerk charges $0.50 per page for plain copies and $12.00 per certification for certified copies of these records. Acceptable forms of payment include check, credit card, money order, and exact cash. In-person requesters should visit the Terre Haute courthouse. They can use the public-access computers in the clerk's office to view records or seek assistance from the records staff.
