St. Joseph County, Indiana Court Records
St. Joseph County Court records are official court documents that preserve the facts and filings in a court case. These records document everything, from the point of initial filing of an aggrieved party’s complaint or petition to the final judgment or sentence order. In most Indiana jurisdictions, including St. Joseph County, civil and criminal cases are first filed and heard in either the Circuit Court or the St. Joseph Superior Court.
The official custodian of court records in St. Joseph County is the Clerk of the Circuit Court, acting on behalf of the Circuit Court, the trial-level court in the county. The Clerk’s Office is responsible for receiving, indexing, maintaining, and providing access to court filings and dockets in compliance with applicable statutes and court rules.
Are St. Joseph County Court Records Public?
In St. Joseph County, most court records are public records and may be accessed by the general public pursuant to the Indiana Access to Public Records Code (§5-14) and the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records. This statutory framework promotes transparency by allowing the public to review past case histories, docket activity, and judicial outcomes, thereby supporting accountability within the court system. The Law strictly restricts the exposure of sensitive records, such as:
- Details of any child involved in sexual offences;
- Information on juvenile witnesses;
- Images, videos, tapes, or recordings of any victim or offender of sexual offences;
- Medical records of patients;
- Records involving any juvenile cases;
- Any financial records of any person or business;
- Details of any government agencies;
- Information on the mental health of any patient;
- Information on paternity records;
In addition, courts may redact confidential information from otherwise public filings.
Judges retain discretion to block access to certain records or seal entire case files to protect individual privacy. As a result, while most adult civil and criminal court records are publicly available, access may vary depending on the nature of the case and the information involved.
What Information is Available in St. Joseph County Court Records?
St. Joseph County Court records typically contain detailed information on how cases are filed, heard, and resolved across the county’s trial-level courts, including the Superior Court, Circuit Court, and Probate Court. Each of these courts has a specific legal focus, ensuring that criminal, civil, and family matters are all handled in the most appropriate courts. However, a typical court record includes:
- The names, addresses, and phone numbers of the parties;
- Case number and case classification
- Motion and any Report from the police
- Court summons or subpoena;
- The date and time the petition was filed and heard in court;
- Details of the dispute;
- The amount of damages requested by the plaintiff.
- Evidence presented by both parties.
- Witness statement made by any person in the case;
- The Sentencing and Conviction (only on criminal cases).
St. Joseph County Court Records Search
St. Joseph County Court records may be accessed through several official public channels, depending on whether the request involves electronic case information or physical court documents. The county provides several ways to ensure lawful and orderly public access.
Online Access
Indiana offers electronic access to many non-confidential court records through MyCase, the state’s official case search system. This portal allows users to search by party name or case number and view public docket information and selected documents. Access to administrative or non-case records may be requested through the St. Joseph County Public Records Portal, which handles public records requests submitted to the county offices.
In-Person Access
For more comprehensive or older records, members of the public may visit the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office, where public access computers are available for searching court files. The clerk’s office is located at
101, S. Main Street,
South Bend, Indiana.
Clerk staff may assist with locating records, but cannot provide legal advice or interpret case information.
Mail and Phone Number
Court records may be requested by mail or by phone. Individuals are encouraged to contact the clerk’s office at (574) -235-9635 to confirm record availability before sending a request. The mail submission must include the case number, the names of the parties involved in the case, the date of the case, and be accompanied by a stamped envelope containing a registered house or business address, directed to the county clerk’s office.
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Fees for Court Records in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County charges standardized fees for copies of court and vital records, as authorized by Indiana law and local policies.
Black and white copies of court records generally cost up to $1.00 per page. Obtaining a certified document with the court stamp incurs an additional cost of up to $3.00 per document, in addition to standard copying fees.
Separate fees apply to vital records maintained by other county offices. A marriage license record costs up to $25.00, with an additional fee of up to $4.00 for each certified copy, and must be obtained at the marriage registry office. Birth and Death certificates are issued by the St. Joseph County Health Department and typically cost a higher fee of up to $20.00 per certified copy. Fees are subject to change, and requesters are encouraged to confirm current rates before submitting requests.
St. Joseph County Courthouse Locations
St. Joseph County operates multiple court facilities, including Circuit, Superior, and Probate Courts. Each division handles specific case types and maintains records related to its jurisdiction.
Superior Court Locations
St. Joseph County Superior Court- Civil Division Courthouse 1
101 South Main Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact; 574-235-9648
Fax: 574-235-1863
Criminal Division Courthouse 3
129 South Main Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-5484
Fax: 574-235-1816
Civil Mishawaka Division
219 Lincoln Way West
Mashawaka, IN 46544
Contact: 574-256-6202
Traffic & Misdemeanor Division
112 South Lafayette Boulevard, 2nd floor
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-9100
Fax: 574-245-6603
Probate Court and Juvenile Court Locations
Probate Court - Juvenile Justice Center
1000 South Michigan Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-5378
Fax: 574-235-5382
Child Support Division
227 West Jefferson Boulevard, 6th Floor
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-9786
Fax: 574-235-9097
Probate Court Clerk- Juvenile Justice Center
1000 South Michigan Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-5371
Fax: 574-235-5501
Circuit Court and Related Divisions
St. Joseph County Circuit Court
101 South Main Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-9551
Fax: 574-245-6618
Civil Protective Order Court
101 South Main Street
Room 151
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-9661
Fax: 574-235-9656
South Bend Magistrate
101 South Main Street
Room 140
South Bend, IN 46601
Contact: 574-235-9551
Fax: 574-235-9656
Criminal Records Access in St. Joseph County
In St. Joseph County, criminal records are among the most frequently requested public records because they are often required for employment screening, housing applications, licensing, and certain legal purposes. These records document an individual’s interaction with the criminal justice system and should not be viewed as proof of guilt unless a conviction is recorded.
Local courts and law enforcement agencies report criminal history information to the Indiana State Police, which maintains the statewide Limited Criminal History System. Official criminal history reports may be requested online through the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Portal, using a name-based search or fingerprint submission when applicable. Requests may also be made in person through local law enforcement records divisions, including the St. Joseph County Police Department and the South Bend Police Department. In-person requests generally require valid identification, basic personal information, and a fee that typically ranges from $7.00-up to $8.00, with office hours varying by department. Court records are separate.
St. Joseph County Probate Records
St. Joseph County probate records document court proceedings involving the administration of estates and the legal management of personal or financial affairs when an individual is deceased or legally incapacitated. These records are maintained by the county’s probate division and form part of the official estate records, wills, and probate filings preserved by the court.
Probate records commonly arise after a person’s death and may include last wills and testaments, petitions to open an estate, letters of administration, asset inventories, creditor claims, and court orders distributing property, as well as guardianships and conservatorships for minors or incapacitated adults. Many recent probate filings are available online at the docket level through Indiana’s court records system, while older or more detailed files typically require an in-person request. Access to certain probate records is restricted by law, particularly in cases involving minors, protected individuals, or sensitive financial and medical information.
St. Joseph County Family Court Records
St. Joseph County Family Court records document legal matters involving family relationships, including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and adoption. These records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and reflect case filings, court proceedings, and judicial decisions. Public access is permitted under Indiana law, but is limited due to the sensitive nature of family law cases. Basic case information and docket summaries for non-confidential matters may be available through Indiana’s MyCase online portal. Records involving minors, adoption, or protected personal information are often restricted or redacted. Certified copies of family court documents may be obtained through the clerk’s office upon request and payment of the required fees.
Federal Court Records in St. Joseph County
Federal court records connected to St. Joseph County involve cases governed by federal law rather than Indiana state law. These matters include bankruptcy filings, federal criminal prosecutions, civil rights lawsuits, and other disputes arising under federal statutes. Jurisdiction over such cases rests with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, not the county courts. Federal court records are maintained independently from state and county systems. The public may review these records by visiting the federal clerk’s office or by using PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), the official electronic access system for federal courts. PACER allows registered users to view case dockets, filings, and court orders, subject to applicable fees and confidentiality restrictions.
