Find Divorce Records in Lake County
Lake County divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit and Superior Court in Crown Point, Indiana. The clerk's office handles all family law filings for Indiana's most populous county, including divorce petitions, final decrees, custody orders, and related case documents. You can search cases online for free or request copies directly from the clerk.
Lake County Quick Facts
Where Lake County Divorce Records Are Kept
Clerk Michael A. Brown serves as the official custodian of records for the Lake Circuit and Superior Courts. The main clerk's office is at the Lake County Government Complex, 2293 North Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307. Phone: 219-755-3460. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk is a ministerial officer responsible for maintaining the court's records and seal, accepting filings, entering judgments, receiving payments, and making certified copies of records. This office manages a very high volume of cases each year.
Lake County also maintains branch court locations. The East Chicago location for the Superior Court Civil Division is at 3711 E. Main Street in East Chicago, Room 2. Gary Superior Courts operate in Gary. If your case was filed in one of those courts, documents may be physically located at those branch offices, though the clerk's system connects all locations. Call the main number in Crown Point to confirm where your case file is held before you make a trip.
The Lake County Clerk's Office website at lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk has current information on services, hours, and how to access records. You can also view the fee schedule and branch location details there.
The official Lake County clerk page covers all services available at the Crown Point location and branch offices for divorce record access.
The Lake County Clerk's Office in Crown Point handles dissolution of marriage filings for all courts in Indiana's Judicial District 1.
How to Search Lake County Divorce Records
Indiana's free public case portal, MyCase Indiana, covers Lake County divorce cases. Search by name or case number. Results include party names, filing dates, case type, and a list of filings. Some document images are viewable online at no cost. Others require an in-person visit or a formal copy request. MyCase is run by the Indiana Supreme Court and requires no account or fee to use.
For in-person access, go to the clerk's office at 2293 North Main Street in Crown Point during the 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM window. If you are paying at the counter, note that the office accepts major credit cards in person. A valid ID matching the card name is required, and there is a 3% convenience fee for credit card transactions. American Express is not accepted. Cash and money orders are also accepted. E-filed cases can be processed with electronic payments.
For new in-person filings, the office stops processing at 4:15 PM due to the complexity involved. Protective orders and marriage licenses are processed until 4:00 PM only. Mail requests should be sent to 2293 North Main Street, Crown Point, IN 46307, with full party names, approximate filing year, and prepaid payment for copies. The Indiana Courts public records guide covers the formal request process. Indiana Legal Help can help if you need guidance after reviewing what you find.
Lake County Divorce Filing Requirements
To file for divorce in Lake County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Lake County for at least three months immediately before the petition is filed. This residency rule is set by Indiana Code 31-15-2-6. If you do not meet the county residency requirement, you must file in whatever Indiana county you have lived in for the past three months.
A 60-day waiting period applies statewide under IC 31-15-2-10. No final decree can be entered until 60 days have passed from the date the petition was filed. This applies even if both parties fully agree on all terms. Lake County processes a large number of divorce cases given its population, so uncontested cases where both sides agree tend to move forward as soon as the waiting period ends.
Lake County is part of Indiana's Judicial District 1. Divorce cases with no children (DN) carry a filing fee of $177, with an optional $28 sheriff fee for service. Cases with children (DC) are also $177 with the same optional sheriff fee. All cases filed in the clerk's office must be paid in cash or money order. E-filed cases can use electronic payments. The filing initiates the case and gets you a case number and court assignment.
Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. You file on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. No fault needs to be proven. The court handles property division, custody and support if children are involved, and issues a final decree after proceedings close.
Fees for Lake County Divorce Records
Filing a dissolution of marriage petition in Lake County costs $177. This is the standard filing fee for both cases with and without children. An optional sheriff fee of $28 applies if you need the sheriff to serve the other party. All new filings at the clerk's office must be paid in cash or money order. E-filed cases use electronic payment.
Copies of case documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional charge of $3 to $5 per document. Credit card payments at the counter are accepted for other transactions, with a 3% convenience fee and a valid ID required. American Express is not accepted. Call 219-755-3460 to verify current fees and payment methods before you send a mail request. The Lake County fee schedule is also posted at lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk-circuit-superior.
Public Access to Lake County Divorce Records
Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, divorce records in Lake County are public documents. You do not need to be a party to the case, and you do not need to explain why you want access. The records are open by law to any member of the public.
Some limits apply. Family law cases that involve minor children may have restricted sections related to custody evaluations, protected financial information, or sealed child welfare matters. The clerk handles these restrictions on a case-by-case basis. If part of a file is restricted, the clerk can tell you what is available and what is not.
Search Lake County cases at MyCase Indiana for free. For physical copies, contact the clerk at 2293 North Main Street, Crown Point, or by phone at 219-755-3460. The Indiana Courts directory has additional verified contact details for Lake County courts.
Cities in Lake County
Lake County includes several cities above the population threshold that have their own pages on this site.