Hendricks County Divorce Records
Hendricks County divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Courts in Danville, covering dissolution of marriage cases that go back to the county's earliest court records in 1826. Search online through MyCase or contact the Hendricks County Clerk for record requests, certified copies, and historical divorce files.
Hendricks County Quick Facts
Hendricks County Clerk of Courts
Marjorie Pike serves as Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Courts for Hendricks County. Her office in Danville is the official keeper of all court records in the county, which includes divorce, civil, criminal, estate (probate), guardianship, juvenile, and paternity cases. The clerk also issues marriage licenses, oversees elections, and handles child support and probation payments.
Contact the Hendricks County Clerk:
- Address: 51 W. Main St, Suite 104, Danville, IN 46122
- Phone: 317-745-9231
- Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Marriage License Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Note that the courthouse can only be entered through the West Security Entrance. Also, no cell phones are allowed in Superior Court 5. Plan accordingly when you visit.
Search Hendricks County Divorce Records Online
Indiana's free statewide court portal, MyCase, includes Hendricks County cases. Search by name or case number to locate divorce filings, see their status, and review public docket entries. The system is available around the clock and does not require an account.
MyCase works well for cases filed after the county moved to electronic records. For cases from before the digital era, you have additional options in Hendricks County that many other counties do not offer. The Microfilm Department at the Hendricks County Courthouse can search divorce records going back to 1826. Call 317-745-9800 if you need help with older historical records. That department is on the second floor of the courthouse.
Historical indexes available in Hendricks County include Circuit Court Order Books (1826-1989), a newspaper index covering divorce cases from 1891 to 1961, an index to divorce cases filed from 1912 to 1992, and an index to divorce records from 1993 forward. These resources make Hendricks County particularly strong for genealogical research.
Hendricks County Historical Divorce Records
Hendricks County maintains one of Indiana's more thorough sets of historical divorce indexes. The Microfilm Department holds records going back to 1826. This is useful for family history researchers and anyone who needs to locate a divorce from before the era of computerized court records.
The index to divorce cases found in Hendricks County newspapers (1891-1961) is especially useful for researchers who know approximately when a divorce occurred but do not have an exact case number. The index to divorce cases filed (1912-1992) is another resource for that era. For cases from 1993 forward, the standard index to divorce records applies.
The Hendricks County genealogy site at hendcogen.org/divorce_records.php has more detail on these historical indexes and how to use them. That site is a valuable tool for anyone researching divorce records in Hendricks County beyond the MyCase time frame.
Filing for Divorce in Hendricks County
Indiana Code 31-15-2-6 sets residency rules for filing divorce. At least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Hendricks County for at least three months. Filing before meeting that requirement means the court cannot take the case.
Filing fees run up to $177 for a standard dissolution petition. Low-income filers can apply for a fee waiver at the clerk's office. You will need to complete a financial affidavit. The court reviews it and decides whether to waive or reduce the fee. Ask the clerk's staff for the form when you arrive.
After filing, the mandatory 60-day waiting period under IC 31-15-2-10 begins. The court cannot finalize the divorce before those 60 days pass. This applies to all Indiana divorces, contested or uncontested.
What Hendricks County Divorce Records Include
A Hendricks County divorce file starts with the petition for dissolution. It can grow to include a respondent's answer, financial disclosures, interim court orders, a parenting plan, a property and debt settlement agreement, and finally the final decree of dissolution signed by the judge.
The final decree ends the marriage legally. It sets out all the court's orders on property, debt, spousal support, custody, and child support. Certified copies are needed for many purposes -- name changes, remarriage, updating financial accounts, and proving marital status to government agencies.
Most Hendricks County divorce records are public under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3). Sealed records and portions involving minor children may not be accessible. The clerk can tell you what is open in any particular case.
Copy Fees and Record Requests
Plain copies from the Hendricks County Clerk cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $3 to $5 more per certification. Call 317-745-9231 before you visit or submit a mail request to confirm current fees. For older records in the Microfilm Department, contact that office separately at 317-745-9800.
In-person requests are handled at 51 W. Main St, Suite 104, Danville. Remember to use the West Security Entrance when you arrive. Ask the clerk whether mail requests are available if you cannot visit in person.
Indiana Divorce Law and Hendricks County Cases
Hendricks County divorces are governed by Indiana Code Title 31, Article 15. Indiana is a no-fault state. Either spouse can file on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. No proof of fault is needed.
Property division follows the equal division presumption in IC 31-15-7-5. Courts start from a 50-50 split of marital property and debt. Either party can present evidence for a different result. Judges can deviate from the equal split when facts support it.
Child custody follows the best interest of the child standard. Support is calculated under Indiana's Child Support Rules and Guidelines. Parenting time may reference the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines unless the parties set up something else that the court approves.
See the statute at iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2023/ic/titles/31.
Hendricks County Court and Legal Resources
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory has full contact information for all Hendricks County courts. The Indiana Courts public records guide at in.gov/courts/public-records explains the statewide request process.
For free legal help, visit Indiana Legal Help. Legal aid organizations serve Hendricks County residents. The site also has self-help guides for people navigating divorce without an attorney.
The Hendricks County Clerk's website has local information on court procedures and access to historical records.
The Hendricks County Clerk's page covers court record services, office hours, payment options, and the microfilm department that holds historical divorce records dating back to 1826.
Cities in Hendricks County with Divorce Records Pages
Plainfield is the largest city in Hendricks County and has its own divorce records page.