Knox County Divorce Records Search
Knox County divorce records are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Vincennes, Indiana, covering all dissolution of marriage cases in this southwest Indiana county along the Wabash River. Search records online through MyCase or contact the Knox County Clerk to request copies of court documents.
Knox County Quick Facts
Knox County Clerk of Courts
David Shelton serves as the Knox County Clerk. His office in Vincennes is the official keeper of all court records in Knox County, including all divorce and dissolution of marriage filings. The clerk's office handles new case intake, certified copy requests, and court payments for all courts in Knox County.
Contact the Knox County Clerk:
- Address: 111 N. 7th St., Vincennes, IN 47591
- Phone: 812-885-2527
When you call or visit, have the full names of both parties and an approximate filing year ready. This helps staff locate the file. Clerk staff can guide you to the right record and explain the copy request process, but they cannot give legal advice about your case or what documents mean.
Knox County Divorce Records Online Search
Indiana's free statewide case portal, MyCase, includes Knox County court records. Search by name or case number to find dissolution filings, see their status, and view public docket entries. The system is free and available at all hours without requiring registration.
MyCase is the fastest way to confirm whether a Knox County divorce case exists and find a case number before contacting the clerk for copies. It does not, however, provide certified copies. For those, contact David Shelton's office directly at 812-885-2527.
For older cases that may not be in the electronic system, call ahead before visiting. The clerk can tell you whether the paper record exists and how to access it. Some older Knox County divorce records may be stored separately and require additional time to retrieve.
Filing for Divorce in Knox County
Indiana Code 31-15-2-6 requires at least one spouse to have lived in Indiana for six months and in Knox County for at least three months before filing a dissolution petition. Courts cannot accept a case that does not meet the residency requirement. If you have recently moved to Knox County, you may need to wait before filing.
Filing fees run up to $177 for a standard dissolution case. Sheriff service fees may apply if the other party needs formal service. Low-income filers can ask the clerk's office about a fee waiver. You file a financial affidavit showing income and expenses, and the court decides whether to waive the fee.
After filing, Indiana's 60-day waiting period under IC 31-15-2-10 begins. No Knox County court can finalize a divorce before those 60 days are up. This applies to all Indiana dissolution cases. Use that period to complete financial disclosures and finalize settlement terms.
What Knox County Divorce Records Include
A Knox County divorce file starts with the petition for dissolution of marriage. As the case progresses, the file can include the respondent's answer, financial disclosure statements, 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 most important document in any divorce case. It ends the marriage and sets all terms the court ordered -- property, debt, spousal support, custody, and child support. Certified copies of the decree are what banks, courts, and government agencies typically require as proof of divorce.
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) makes most court records public. Sealed files or records involving minors may not be accessible. Ask the Knox County Clerk what portions of a specific file are open to public review before making your request.
Copy Fees and Record Requests
Plain copies from the Knox County Clerk cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $3 to $5 more per certification. Call 812-885-2527 before visiting to confirm current fees and check that the record you need is readily available.
In-person requests are taken at 111 N. 7th St., Vincennes. Ask whether mail-in requests are accepted if visiting is not feasible. Include the case name, an approximate filing year, your contact information, and payment in any written request.
Indiana Divorce Law in Knox County
Knox County divorces are governed by Indiana Code Title 31, Article 15. Indiana is a no-fault state. Either spouse can file for dissolution based on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. No proof of fault is required from either party.
Property division follows 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 and Knox County judges have authority to deviate from equal division when the facts support it.
Child custody follows the best interest of the child standard. Support is calculated using Indiana's Child Support Rules and Guidelines. Parenting time often references the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines unless the parties agree to something different that the court approves.
Read the full statute at iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2023/ic/titles/31.
Knox County Legal Help and Court Resources
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory has contact details for Knox County courts. The 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 Knox County and the southwest Indiana region. The site has self-help guides for those navigating divorce without an attorney.
The Indiana Courts local page for Knox County has court contact information and additional local details.
This page lists the courts serving Knox County and can help you identify the right contact or court for your specific divorce records request in Vincennes.