Rush County Divorce Records
Divorce records in Rush County are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk in Rushville and are public documents under Indiana law. This page explains how to get copies of divorce case files, search online, and understand what to expect when filing or requesting records in Rush County.
Rush County Quick Facts
Rush County Circuit Court Clerk
Clerk Jenny Sammons manages all divorce case records for Rush County. The clerk's office in Rushville is where you go to file a divorce petition or to request copies of existing divorce records. The office handles in-person, phone, and mail requests.
Office Address: 101 E. 2nd St, Room 209, Rushville, IN 46173
Phone: 765-932-2086
Clerk: Jenny Sammons
In-person visits go smoothly when you bring a photo ID. Have the case number ready if you know it. If not, staff can search by name and approximate year. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies add $3.00 to $5.00 per document.
Mail requests should include the names of both parties, the year the case was filed, and a check or money order for copy costs. Allow a week or two for mail requests. The clerk will follow up if additional payment is needed.
Indiana's MyCase portal provides online access to Rush County divorce case information, including case status and filing dates.
The portal covers most cases in the Odyssey system and is free to search without an account or registration.
Online Case Search
The MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov is Indiana's free online system for searching divorce and other court cases. You can look up Rush County cases by name or case number. The portal shows filing dates, case status, and hearing schedules.
MyCase works best for cases filed after the county moved to the Odyssey case management system. Older cases may be on paper or microfilm at the courthouse and won't appear in the online portal. For those, contact the clerk directly.
You can view the case record and docket in MyCase, but actual document copies are not available to download from the portal in most cases. To get the actual divorce decree or other filed documents, contact the clerk and pay the applicable copy fee.
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory has current contact information for the Rush County clerk's office and other local courts in the area.
Filing for Divorce in Rush County
Indiana law requires that at least one spouse has lived in Indiana for six months and in Rush County for three months before a divorce petition can be filed. This rule is stated in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
The divorce petition is filed with the Circuit Court Clerk at 101 E. 2nd St. Filing fees generally run between $157 and $177. The clerk's office can tell you the exact current fee before you file. Cases involving minor children may have additional fees.
After filing, Indiana requires a 60-day waiting period before a divorce can be finalized. This is set by Indiana Code 31-15-2-10. The 60 days run from the day the petition is filed. Even if both spouses agree on everything, the court cannot issue the final decree before those 60 days are up.
Indiana uses a no-fault divorce system, so you don't need to prove anyone did anything wrong. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the standard ground. Uncontested cases, where both spouses agree on property, debts, and custody, move faster and cost less than contested ones. If there are unresolved disputes, the court may order mediation or schedule a trial.
What Rush County Divorce Files Contain
A divorce file in Rush County includes the petition for dissolution, any response filed by the other spouse, financial disclosure forms, settlement agreements, and the final decree. Cases with children also include parenting plans and any temporary or permanent custody orders.
The final divorce decree is the document most people need when they request records. It is the court's official order ending the marriage and setting the terms for property division, custody, and support. A certified copy is accepted as legal proof of divorce by most agencies and institutions.
Some parts of a divorce file can be sealed. Financial exhibits and documents related to minor children are sometimes restricted from public access by court order. If a document is sealed, you'll need a court order to view or copy it, even if the main case file is public.
Divorce decrees sometimes include name change orders. If the decree grants a name change, a certified copy of that portion of the order can be used with the BMV, Social Security Administration, and similar agencies to update your records.
Older and Historical Divorce Records
Rush County has divorce records going back many decades. Older cases are stored on paper or microfilm at the courthouse in Rushville. If you need a record from many years ago, the clerk's office can manually search the index for you using names and an approximate year.
For very old records, the Indiana State Library and Indiana State Archives hold microfilm collections from many Indiana counties. If the local clerk cannot locate a record, these state institutions are a useful second step, especially for genealogy research.
The Rushville Public Library and local historical societies may also hold relevant materials for older records. Some historical societies have indexes or copies of older court records that were donated over the years.
Legal Help and Resources
The clerk's office can handle filings and record requests but cannot give legal advice. For free guidance on Indiana divorce law, Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org offers clear guides on the divorce process, custody, and property issues.
The site is aimed at people handling their own cases without a lawyer. It covers what forms to use, what to expect at court hearings, and how to deal with common problems that come up in divorce cases. It is updated to reflect current Indiana law.
For formal guidance on how to request court records, see the Indiana Courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request. It explains what to include in a request and what fees to expect.
Indiana Legal Services can help income-qualifying residents with divorce cases at no cost. Local bar associations may also offer referral services or reduced-fee consultations for people who need legal help in Rush County family law matters.
Related Records
Divorce proceedings in Rush County can generate related records in other offices. Real property transferred as part of a divorce is recorded at the Rush County Recorder's office. Lien releases, deed changes, and mortgage modifications tied to a divorce settlement show up there.
Child support orders from a divorce are tracked through the Indiana Child Support Bureau. Modifications to child support or custody filed after the original divorce are added to the case file in the clerk's office and remain public records.
The Indiana State Department of Health maintains a statewide divorce registry that can confirm a divorce took place but does not provide document copies. For certified copies of a Rush County divorce decree, contact the clerk's office in Rushville.
Nearby Counties
Divorce cases are filed in the county where a spouse lives at the time of filing. If you're not sure which county handled a case, check with the clerks in neighboring counties.