Howard County Divorce Records
Howard County divorce records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Kokomo, Indiana, and cover all dissolution of marriage cases in this north-central Indiana county. Search records free online through MyCase or contact the Howard County Clerk's office to request copies of specific case documents.
Howard County Quick Facts
Howard County Clerk of Courts
Debra C. Stewart serves as the Howard County Clerk. Her office in downtown Kokomo is the official keeper of all circuit court records in the county, including divorce and dissolution of marriage filings. The clerk's office handles record requests, certified copy issuance, and new case intake for all Howard County courts.
Contact the Howard County Clerk:
- Address: 104 N. Buckeye St, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901
- Phone: 765-456-2000
The Howard County Clerk is also reachable through the county's official website at in.gov/counties/howard/departments/clerk. That page may have additional contact details and information on office hours. When you call or visit, have the full names of both parties and an approximate filing year ready to speed up the search.
Howard County Divorce Records Online
Indiana's MyCase system includes Howard County court records. The tool is free to use and available at any time. Search by party name or case number to find dissolution cases, see their status, and review what documents are on the public docket. No registration is needed.
MyCase is the fastest way to confirm whether a Howard County divorce case exists and to get the case number you need for a copy request. It does not provide certified copies. For those, contact Debra Stewart's office at 765-456-2000 or visit the courthouse on Buckeye St.
If you are looking for an older case that may not be in the digital system, call ahead. The clerk can tell you whether the record exists in paper files and how to arrange access. Some older Howard County records may require additional time to retrieve from storage.
Filing for Divorce in Howard County
Indiana Code 31-15-2-6 requires that at least one spouse have lived in Indiana for six months and in Howard County for at least three months before filing a dissolution petition. If the county residency requirement is not met, the Howard County courts do not have jurisdiction over the case.
Filing fees run up to $177 for a standard dissolution. Sheriff service fees may apply in addition if the other spouse must be formally served. Low-income filers can ask about a fee waiver at the clerk's office. You will need to fill out a financial affidavit showing your income and expenses.
After you file, Indiana's mandatory 60-day waiting period begins under IC 31-15-2-10. No Howard County court can finalize a divorce before those 60 days pass. Use that time to complete financial disclosures and work out any remaining terms of your settlement.
What Howard County Divorce Records Contain
A Howard County divorce file begins with the petition for dissolution of marriage. The file builds as the case moves through court. It can include a respondent's answer, financial disclosure forms, temporary court orders, a parenting plan if children are involved, a property and debt settlement agreement, and the final divorce decree.
The final decree is the official court order ending the marriage. It contains the judge's orders on all terms -- property, debt, custody, child support, and spousal maintenance if any. Certified copies of the decree are what banks, government agencies, and other institutions typically require as proof of divorce.
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) makes most divorce records public. Sealed portions or records involving minors may be restricted. Ask the Howard County Clerk what parts of a specific file are open before making your request.
Copy Fees and How to Request Records
Plain copies at the Howard County Clerk's office cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $3 to $5 per certification on top of the per-page rate. Call 765-456-2000 before visiting to confirm current fees and make sure the record you need is available without delay.
In-person requests are taken at 104 N. Buckeye St, Room 202, Kokomo. Ask whether mail-in requests are accepted if you cannot visit the courthouse. Include the case name, case number if you have it, your contact details, and payment in any written request.
Indiana Divorce Law in Howard County
Divorces in Howard County are governed by Indiana Code Title 31, Article 15. Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. Either spouse can file for dissolution based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. You do not need to prove the other party was at fault.
Property is divided following the equal division presumption in IC 31-15-7-5. Courts start from a 50-50 split of all marital property and debts. Either party can argue for a different arrangement. Judges in Howard County have authority to deviate from the equal split when the facts support it.
Child custody decisions are based on the best interest of the child standard. Support amounts are calculated under the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines. Parenting time schedules often reference the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines as a baseline.
The full Indiana divorce statute is at iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2023/ic/titles/31.
Howard County Legal Help and Court Resources
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory lists all Howard County court contacts. The Indiana Courts public records guide at in.gov/courts/public-records covers the statewide records request process.
For free legal help, visit Indiana Legal Help. Legal aid organizations serve Howard County residents, and the site has self-help resources for people navigating divorce without an attorney.
The Howard County Clerk's official page on the county website is a useful contact point for records requests and office hours.
The Howard County Clerk's page at the county website has contact details, office hours, and guidance on how to request court records including divorce files from the Kokomo courthouse.
Cities in Howard County with Divorce Records Pages
Kokomo is the county seat and largest city in Howard County and has its own divorce records page.