Search Jasper County Divorce Records
Jasper County divorce records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Rensselaer, Indiana, covering all dissolution of marriage cases filed in this northwest Indiana county. You can search records free online through Indiana's MyCase system or contact the Jasper County Clerk to request copies of court documents.
Jasper County Quick Facts
Jasper County Clerk of Courts
Kara Fishburn is the Jasper County Clerk and the official keeper of all court records in Jasper County. Her office in Rensselaer handles all divorce and dissolution of marriage files, including new filings, certified copy requests, and court payments. Every dissolution case filed in Jasper County is on record here.
Contact the Jasper County Clerk:
- Address: 115 W. Washington St, Suite 204, Rensselaer, IN 47978
- Phone: 219-866-4926
When you call or visit, have the full names of both parties and an approximate year for the case. This helps staff locate the record faster. Clerk staff can assist with records and requests but cannot give legal advice about your situation.
Online Access to Jasper County Divorce Records
Indiana's free statewide case portal, MyCase, includes Jasper County court records. You can search by name or case number to find dissolution of marriage filings, check their status, and see public docket entries. No account is required and the system is available around the clock.
MyCase is a useful first step for any search. It confirms whether a case exists and gives you the case number and filing details you need before contacting the clerk for copies. It does not, however, provide certified documents. For certified copies, contact Kara Fishburn's office at 219-866-4926.
For older cases that may only exist in paper form, call ahead before visiting. The clerk can tell you whether the record is accessible and what steps are needed to retrieve it. This is especially important for cases from before the electronic records era.
Filing for Divorce in Jasper County
Indiana Code 31-15-2-6 sets the residency requirements for filing divorce in Jasper County. At least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Jasper County for at least three months. Filing before meeting the county residency requirement means the court cannot take jurisdiction over the case.
Filing fees run up to $177 for a standard dissolution petition. If the other spouse needs sheriff service, that adds to the cost. Low-income filers can apply for a fee waiver. Ask the clerk's office for a financial affidavit form and the court will review your income and expenses to decide whether to waive the fee.
Indiana requires a 60-day waiting period after the petition is filed before the court can enter a final decree. This comes from IC 31-15-2-10. It applies to all Indiana divorces without exception. Even if both sides agree on everything from the start, the 60 days must pass before the divorce can be finalized.
What Jasper County Divorce Records Include
A Jasper County divorce file begins with the petition for dissolution. Over time, the file can grow to include a response from the respondent, financial disclosure forms, temporary court orders, a parenting plan, a property and debt settlement agreement, and the final divorce decree.
The final decree is the binding court order that ends the marriage. It contains the judge's orders on property division, debt allocation, spousal maintenance if applicable, and custody and child support if the couple has children. Certified copies of the decree are needed for legal and administrative purposes -- name changes, remarriage, account updates, and proving marital status.
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) makes most divorce records public. Parts involving minors or sealed by court order may not be accessible. The clerk can tell you what is open in a specific Jasper County case file.
Copy Fees and Record Requests
Plain copies from the Jasper County Clerk cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee of $3 to $5 per certification. Call 219-866-4926 before visiting to confirm current fees and verify that the record you need is available without a wait.
In-person requests are taken at 115 W. Washington St, Suite 204, Rensselaer. Ask about mail-in requests if making the trip is not practical. Include the case name and number, your contact details, and payment in any written request.
Indiana Divorce Law and Jasper County Cases
Jasper County divorces are governed by Indiana Code Title 31, Article 15. Indiana is a no-fault state. Either spouse can file based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. No proof of wrongdoing is required from either party.
Property division follows the equal division presumption in IC 31-15-7-5. Courts presume a 50-50 split of all marital assets and debts. Either party can argue for a different outcome and judges have authority to deviate when facts support it. Every case is judged on its own circumstances.
Child custody goes to the best interest of the child standard. Support is calculated using the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines. Parenting time schedules may reference the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines unless both parties agree to something else that the court approves.
The full text of the dissolution statute is at iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2023/ic/titles/31.
Jasper County Legal Aid and Court Resources
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory lists contact details for Jasper County courts. For the statewide records request process, see in.gov/courts/public-records.
For free legal help, visit Indiana Legal Help. Legal aid organizations serve Jasper County and the surrounding northwest Indiana region. The site has self-help guides for people filing for divorce without an attorney.
The Indiana Courts local page for Jasper County has additional court information.
This page provides information on the courts in Jasper County and can help you identify the right court or contact when searching for divorce records in Rensselaer.