Madison County, Indiana State Court Records
According to Rule 3 of the Indiana court Rules, Maddison County court records are administrative and judicial documents that consist of case documents produced by court transcribers, court clerks, court reporters, and other court officials in the course of recording information about a particular court case. The purpose of creating these records is to capture important information and permanently preserve data about a court case, ensuring that no information is lost. Court documents are also important for following court proceedings, and certified documents serve as proof that a judgment has been issued.
Maddison County court records are categorized into criminal, civil, and administrative court records. Criminal court records are court records obtained from the criminal courts in Madison County. They include criminal case sheets, criminal case summaries, and law enforcement records, such as arrest records, used in criminal court proceedings. Civil court records are documents from the probate, family, and civil courts in Madison County. Civil court records include vital records and files from civil lawsuits or disputes.
Are Madison County Court Records Public?
Yes, Madison County court records are public records under Rule 4 of Indiana’s general rules governing access to court records. The law provides that all court documents produced by the courts in Madison County, Indiana, are public records unless they are later made confidential by a state legislative statute or a court order. However, Rule 5 of Indiana’s rules on access to court records provides certain exemptions that exclude specific types of court documents from access. Some examples of court records that are excluded from public access in Madison County include:
- Investigatory court records from criminal cases.
- Medical records
- Mental health records
- Court records from drug abuse cases
- Court documents that contain a victim’s nudity
- Juvenile court records
- Court records that reveal Personal Information of Litigants, Witnesses, and Children
- Court Administrative Record
What Information is Available in Madison County Court Records?
The content of court documents in Madison County varies depending on the type of case and the court department that produced the record. However, there are common elements found in every case record produced in Madison County.
- Names of parties involved in the case
- Date and time of case filing
- Cate title
- Type of case
- Case number
- Case status
- Names of attorneys involved in the case
- Name of the court in charge of the case
- Description of charges against the defendant
- Scheduled court hearing dates
- Chronological Case Summaries
- List of financial transactions processed by the court clerk in connection with the case.
Madison County Court Records Search
Anyone who wants to perform a Madison County court records search for certified copies of the county’s court records can do so using three common request processes approved by court authorities in Madison County. These request methods include online searches, in-person requests by visiting the court clerk’s office, and mailing requests to the court. Madison County Court. Below is a description of how to effectively use different channels to perform a Madison County court record search
- Online Access - Madison County court records can be searched online through the Indiana Judicial Branch portal. The portal can be used to search for non-confidential court documents from any county court in Madison County. Record seekers can use the portal to search for specific Madison County court records by selecting "Madison County" on the portal’s drop-down menu. The searcher can then initiate a search on the portal by providing either the full name of a person/business involved in the case, the court case number, or the name of an attorney listed in the case files. Online access to Indiana court records is free; however, the court will charge a fee to certify the document.
- In-Person Access - Individuals can also visit the court clerk’s office in Madison County during work hours to request court records. Visitors do not need to make appointments before visits; however, it is advisable to call ahead to ensure the required documents are publicly available. At the office, requesters will be provided with a custom records request form depending on the type of court document they are requesting. The requester will be expected to complete the request form with key information about the documents they want to access.
- Mail and Phone Requests - individuals can request Madison County court records by writing a Request letter to the Madison County Clerk’s Office. The letter should include the requester’s name, address, and phone number; the type of court records; the number of copies needed; the names of the parties involved in the case; and the court case number. The letter should be sent in a self-stamped envelope to the following address:
Maddison County Clerk of the Circuit Court
PO Box 1277
Anderson, IN 46016
Fees for Court Records in Madison County
The fees for requesting court records in Madison County are set by the county court clerks, in accordance with the Indiana Supreme Court’s fee schedule. The specific cost of court documents depends on the type and number of documents requested, as well as the method of request. Some of the fees for court records in Madison County are as follows.
- Certification of court documents - $15
- Civil records search - $10
- Vital records search - $10
- Name search per name - $5
- Extra copies of court documents -$0.25
Madison County Courthouse Locations
The Madison County court system consists of three (3) main types of courts, each with its own judicial responsibility. These courts are the circuit court, city court, and town court. All civil and criminal cases fall under the original jurisdiction of the Madison County Circuit Courts, which also handle matters outside the jurisdiction of other courts. Municipal or town ordinance violations, infractions, and certain minor criminal offenses may be heard by the Madison County municipal Court or Town Courts. There are six (6) locations of the Madison County circuit courts, two (2) town courts, and two city courts. Below are the addresses of all Madison County court offices.
Madison county Circuit court
Madison County Circuit Court ( No. 1 )
Madison County Government Center
16 E 9th St, #213, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: 765-641-9443
Fax: 765-640-4203
Madison County Circuit Court ( No. 2 )
Madison County Government Center
16 E 9th St, #213, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: 765-641-9443
Fax: 765-640-4203
Madison County Circuit Court ( No. 3 )
Madison County Government Center
16 E 9th St, #213, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: 765-641-9443
Fax: 765-640-4203
Madison County Circuit Court ( No. 4 )
Madison County Government Center
16 E 9th St, #213, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: 765-641-9443
Fax: 765-640-4203
Madison County Circuit Court ( No. 5 )
Madison County Government Center
16 E 9th St, #213, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: 765-641-9443
Fax: 765-640-4203
City and Town Courts in Madison County
Anderson City Court
Anderson City Building
120 E 8th St, Anderson, IN 46016
Phone: 765-648-6075
Fax: 765-648-5940
Edgewood Town Court
3405 Nichol Ave, Anderson, IN 46011
Phone: 765-649-5533
Fax: 765-298-6072
Elwood City Court
1505 S B St, Elwood, IN 46036
Phone: 765-552-2655
Fax: 765-552-8381
Pendleton Town Court
Town Hall
100 W State St, PO Box 396,
Pendleton, IN 46064
Phone: 765-778-0772
Criminal Records Access in Madison County
Individuals who want to access criminal records at the county level in Madison County can obtain them from the criminal division of the circuit court or from law enforcement offices in the County. For example, individuals can request criminal records from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office by visiting the office or by sending a mail request to the following address.
Sheriff Records/Jail
720 Central Ave
Anderson, IN 46016
Similarly, people can find criminal records in criminal court case files by searching the Indiana My Case portal. However, the criminal records obtained from local offices in Madison County, such as the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson County Police Department, and the Madison County Circuit Court, are limited in the information they provide. Criminal records obtained from these offices include only information specific to the cases handled by those offices.
Access to comprehensive criminal records in Madison County is only available by performing a statewide search through the Indiana State Police. Searches can be conducted online via the state police portal. Users can search the portal by providing the full name of a person of interest. Record seekers will need to pay a $15 fee per record to access criminal records via the state police portal.
Madison County Probate Records
Madison County probate records are court documents issued by the probate division of the Madison County circuit court. The probate court in Madison County handles matters relating to estate administration, the execution of wills, guardianship, and conservatorship in accordance with the Indiana probate code. Some examples of probate documents maintained at the probate courts’ records management division include
- Original wills,
- Records of inventory,
- Records of creditors and claims against the estate,
- Records of property appraisals, sales, and mortgage history
- Accounting records
- Letters of appointment for personal representatives
Madison County Probate Court documents are generally regarded as public records in Indiana. However, some probate documents are made confidential under Rule 5 of Indiana’s rules on court records access. These private probate records are restricted from public access because they include, among other things, Social Security numbers, bank account and credit card details, and personal information about witnesses or victims in certain procedures.
Persons who wish to request Madison County probate records can do so online via the Indiana Judicial Branch portal. Users can search for probate records on the portal by the deceased person’s name or the probate case number. Individuals can also visit the Madison County Clerk’s Office during office hours to request records. Visitors can use the public access terminals within the courthouse to search for probate records themselves or submit a probate record request form to the court clerk’s office.
Madison County Family Court Records
The Madison County Family Court is a specialized court within the county circuit court that handles family-related legal matters, including domestic violence, paternity of a minor child, child custody, establishing or modifying child support, and enforcing existing child support orders. According to Rule 81.1 of Indiana’s court rules, family case records are confidential and available only to family members named in the case. Persons who are eligible to request these records can do so by visiting the family section of the Madison County Circuit Court in person. Visitors must provide a valid ID to verify their eligibility before accessing records.
Federal Court Records in Madison County
Federal cases that originate in Madison County, Indiana, fall under the jurisdiction of the Southern District court of Indiana. The District court manages federal case files through an extensive federal court record database accessible online via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. The portal can be used to perform state-wide searches for federal records in Madison County for $3 per search and $0.10 per page to access case information. Alternatively, record seekers can visit the court in person and use the public self-help computers at the courthouse to search for case files.