Adams County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Adams County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Adams County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. AdamsINRecords.us provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by Adams County courts and the Indiana judicial system. Records that may be located through official sources include:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal case dockets and dispositions
- Family law matters, including divorce and custody proceedings
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and infraction case records
- Small claims court filings
Court records in Adams County may be searched through five primary methods, each with distinct access conditions and practical requirements.
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Adams County Clerk's Office serves as the official custodian of court records for cases filed in the Adams County Circuit Court and Superior Court. Members of the public may submit requests in person during regular business hours. Providing the full name of a party, a case number, or the approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.
Adams County Clerk's Office
112 S. 2nd Street, Room A
Decatur, IN 46733
Phone: (260) 724-5309
Adams County Courts – Indiana Judicial Branch
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Adams County courthouse for on-site case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search docket information and case status without charge during courthouse business hours.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Judiciary operates MyCase: Indiana Courts Case Search, a statewide online portal that provides public access to case information for courts participating in the system. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. Not all case types or older records are available through this portal.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains guidance on searching MyCase and other statewide tools. These resources explain search parameters, available case types, and limitations on online access under current court rules.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Adams County Clerk's Office. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return mailing address. Fees for copies apply to written requests.
Are Court Records Public In Adams County
Court records in Adams County are subject to public access under Indiana law. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act establishes the right of the public to inspect and copy public records maintained by government agencies, including court-related offices. The Indiana Judicial Branch further governs access to court records through Indiana Administrative Rule 9, which defines what court records are open to public inspection and what categories are excluded or restricted.
Records that are public under current law include:
- Case dockets and docket entries
- Party names and case numbers
- Hearing dates and court calendars
- Filed pleadings, motions, and orders
- Final judgments and sentencing entries
- Probate inventories and estate orders
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) records
- Adoption proceedings
- Mental health commitment records
- Expunged criminal records under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
- Records sealed by court order
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect a broader range of records in person at the clerk's office, online access through the Indiana Judicial Branch public records portal reflects additional restrictions applied to electronic dissemination under Indiana Administrative Rule 9.
What Are Court Records in Adams County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court or its clerk in connection with judicial proceedings. In Adams County, court records are maintained by the Adams County Clerk's Office for trial-level matters and by the Indiana Court of Appeals or Indiana Supreme Court for appellate proceedings.
The distinction between a docket entry and a full case file is significant. A docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a case, including filings, hearings, and orders. A full case file contains the actual documents associated with those entries, such as complaints, motions, exhibits, and judgments. Not all documents in a case file are necessarily available online, even when the docket is accessible.
Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, covering matters such as contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property actions. Criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with violations of state law, from initial charging documents through sentencing or acquittal.
Filed pleadings represent documents submitted by parties to initiate or respond to litigation. Final judgments are the court's official resolution of a matter. Public filings are accessible to any member of the public, while sealed or restricted filings require a court order or statutory authority to access.
Court records are created at the moment of filing and updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, and rulings. Upon final disposition, the record is closed but retained according to applicable retention schedules. Appellate records are maintained separately by the Indiana appellate courts and are distinct from the trial court record.
What's Included in an Adams County Court Record?
A court record in Adams County may contain a range of documents and data depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following information may appear within a publicly accessible court record:
- Case number assigned at filing
- Court name and division, such as Circuit Court or Superior Court
- Filing date and case initiation information
- Party names, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, and respondents
- Case type and current status, such as pending, disposed, or appealed
- Docket entries listing each action taken in the case
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduled proceedings
- Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, and responses
- Court orders, judgments, decrees, and minute entries
- Outcome information, including dismissals, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, and probate orders
- Financial information such as filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Certain information is excluded or restricted from public court records. Sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, and protected personal identifiers are not available for public inspection. Exhibits admitted at trial may be retained separately and are not always accessible through standard record requests. Records subject to a protective order or confidentiality agreement are similarly restricted.
Types of Courts in Adams County
Adams County is served by two trial courts operating under the Indiana unified court system: the Adams County Circuit Court and the Adams County Superior Court. Both courts are courts of general jurisdiction, meaning they hear a broad range of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Adams County Clerk's Office maintains the official records for both courts.
The Directory of Courts and Clerks in Indiana published by the Indiana Judicial Branch identifies the presiding judges and clerk contact information for Adams County courts. The Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Supreme Court serve as the appellate courts for cases originating in Adams County.
What Types of Cases Do Adams County Courts Hear
The Adams County Circuit Court and Superior Court collectively handle the following case categories:
- Criminal matters: felony and misdemeanor prosecutions under Indiana law
- Civil matters: contract disputes, tort claims, and property actions
- Family law: dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, and custody proceedings
- Probate: estate administration, guardianship, and trust matters
- Juvenile: delinquency proceedings and child in need of services cases
- Traffic and infractions: moving violations and related matters
- Small claims: civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts
- Appeals: post-conviction relief and other matters reviewed at the trial court level
Juvenile and adoption matters are subject to confidentiality restrictions and are not accessible to the general public under Indiana Administrative Rule 9.
How to Search Adams County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Adams County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection at the Adams County Clerk's Office is free of charge. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow on-site case searches without a fee. The statewide MyCase court search portal provides free online access to participating court case information.
The following table summarizes access methods and associated costs:
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person inspection at clerk's office | Free |
| Courthouse public access terminal | Free |
| MyCase online search | Free |
| Standard paper copies | Per-page fee (set by clerk) |
| Certified copies | Fee per document |
| Research by clerk staff | May incur fee for extensive requests |
Under Indiana law, the clerk of court is authorized to charge fees for copies of court records. Standard copy fees are set pursuant to Indiana Code § 33-37-5-1, which governs court costs and fees in Indiana. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Members of the public who wish to inspect records without obtaining copies are not charged for inspection alone.
How Long Does Adams County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Adams County is governed by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and applicable judicial retention schedules established by the Indiana Judicial Branch. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Criminal felony case records are retained for extended periods, with certain records kept permanently. Civil judgment records are retained for a minimum period sufficient to satisfy the enforceability of the judgment under Indiana law. Probate records, including wills and estate inventories, are retained permanently in many instances due to their ongoing legal significance. Traffic and infraction records are subject to shorter retention schedules.
Docket books and minute records maintained by the clerk are retained permanently as the official index of court activity. Individual case files may be subject to destruction after the applicable retention period has elapsed, provided that the records have been imaged or transferred to an archival medium. Paper files that have been digitized may be destroyed in accordance with the approved retention schedule without loss of the official record.
Older records that predate electronic filing systems may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives. The Indiana State Archives and the Indiana State Library hold historical judicial records for some counties. Destruction of a record differs from sealing or expungement: a destroyed record no longer exists, while a sealed or expunged record may still be retained but is restricted from public access under Indiana Code § 35-38-9.
How To Find a Court Docket in Adams County
A court docket is the official chronological index of all actions, filings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from the full case file in that it lists entries and dates rather than containing the actual documents. The docket serves as the primary navigational tool for tracking a case's progress from filing through final disposition.
Dockets for Adams County cases may be accessed through the following channels:
Online via MyCase: The Indiana Judiciary's MyCase case search system allows members of the public to search for docket entries by party name or case number. The portal displays docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and party information for cases in participating courts. As noted by the Indiana Judicial Branch, "official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record," meaning that MyCase docket entries serve as informational summaries rather than certified official records.
In Person at the Clerk's Office: Members of the public may request docket sheets directly from the Adams County Clerk's Office. Staff can provide printed docket sheets for a specific case upon request, subject to applicable copy fees.
Courthouse Public Terminals: On-site terminals at the Adams County courthouse provide access to docket information during regular business hours without charge.
A court docket entry records the date of an action, a brief description of the filing or proceeding, and the parties involved. Dockets include hearing dates, continuances, motion filings, orders entered, and status updates. Dockets do not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or physical exhibits. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available separately through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse.
The Indiana Judicial Branch's guidance on public records access notes that the Access to Public Records Act and Indiana Supreme Court rules together determine what court information is available to the public, whether online or in person.