St. Joseph County Divorce Records
Divorce records in St. Joseph County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in South Bend and are public records under Indiana law. This page explains how to find, request, and understand divorce case files in St. Joseph County, which serves both South Bend and Mishawaka.
St. Joseph County Quick Facts
St. Joseph County Circuit Court Clerk
Clerk Amy Rolfes manages divorce records for St. Joseph County. The primary clerk's office is in downtown South Bend. There is also a Mishawaka Division for matters on the eastern side of the county. Both locations serve residents across the county for divorce-related filings and record requests.
Main Office: 101 S. Main St, South Bend, IN 46601
Phone: 574-235-9635
Mishawaka Division: 219 Lincolnway West, Mishawaka
Clerk: Amy Rolfes
The Records Division, located at 401 W. Sample St in South Bend, holds archival divorce records dating from 1832 to 1984. For these older files, contact the Records Division directly. More recent cases are handled at the main courthouse on S. Main St.
For in-person requests at either location, bring a photo ID and case details if you have them. Staff can search by name and year if you don't have a case number. Copy fees run $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $3.00 to $5.00 per document.
Mail requests should include the full legal names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was filed, and a check or money order for copy costs. Allow one to two weeks for mail request processing.
For more information on the clerk's office and marriage and divorce record services, visit the official pages at sjcindiana.gov/180/Clerk and sjcindiana.gov/2396/Marriage-Divorce-Information.
Indiana's MyCase portal provides online access to St. Joseph County divorce cases filed in the Odyssey system, covering cases in South Bend, Mishawaka, and the rest of the county.
The portal is free to use and is available at any time without creating an account.
Online Case Search
Indiana's MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov is the easiest way to search St. Joseph County divorce cases. You can search by name or case number to see filing dates, case status, and scheduled court hearings. The system is free and always available.
MyCase covers cases filed after the county moved to the Odyssey case management system. Older paper records, including those in the Records Division archives, may not appear in the portal. For older cases, contact the Records Division at 401 W. Sample St.
The portal shows the case record and docket. It does not provide downloadable copies of the actual documents. To get the divorce decree or other case papers, you need to contact the clerk's office and pay the applicable copy fee.
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory lists contact information for both the main St. Joseph County clerk's office and the Mishawaka Division.
Filing for Divorce in St. Joseph County
To file for divorce in St. Joseph County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in St. Joseph County for three months. This requirement is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
The petition is filed at the main clerk's office at 101 S. Main St. in South Bend. Filing fees run from $157 to $177 depending on the case type. Cases involving children or contested property may have additional fees. Confirm the current schedule with the clerk's office before filing.
Indiana law requires a 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before the divorce can be finalized. This rule is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-10. The court cannot issue the final decree until those 60 days are complete, regardless of whether both spouses agree on all terms.
Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. You don't need to prove that one spouse did something wrong. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the grounds used in most cases. Uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree on property, debts, and custody, are typically resolved at a brief final hearing after the waiting period. Contested cases may require mediation or a full court hearing.
St. Joseph County Divorce File Contents
A divorce case file in St. Joseph County typically includes the petition for dissolution, the response from the other spouse, financial disclosure statements, settlement agreements, and the final divorce decree. Cases with children also include parenting plans, custody orders, and support determinations.
The final divorce decree is the most important document for most requesters. It is the court's official order ending the marriage. Certified copies are accepted by banks, government agencies, and courts in other states as legal proof of divorce.
Some documents in a divorce file may be sealed by the judge. Financial exhibits and materials related to minor children are sometimes restricted from public access by court order. Even if the main case is public, sealed records require a judicial order to access.
Name changes granted as part of a divorce appear in the final decree. A certified copy of the relevant part of the order is accepted by the Indiana BMV, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Passport Agency when updating identification documents.
Archival and Historical Records
St. Joseph County has divorce records going back to 1832. The Records Division at 401 W. Sample St. in South Bend holds archival materials from 1832 through 1984. These older records are particularly useful for genealogists and researchers tracing family history.
For cases from 1984 forward, the main clerk's office at 101 S. Main St. handles requests. More recent cases are also searchable through the MyCase portal online. Staff at either location can help determine which office holds the records you need.
The Indiana State Library and Indiana State Archives also hold microfilm collections of older Indiana court records. If a specific older record cannot be found in the local office, the state institutions are a useful backup source.
Legal Help and Resources
The clerk's office handles filings and record requests but cannot provide legal advice. For free guidance on Indiana divorce law, Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org offers plain-language guides covering divorce, custody, and property division.
The site is designed for people who may be handling their case without an attorney. It covers what forms to file, what to expect at hearings, and how courts handle disputes. Indiana Legal Services may also be able to assist income-qualifying residents in St. Joseph County.
The Indiana Courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request explains the formal process for requesting court records across Indiana, including what to include in your request and what fees apply.
Related Records
Divorce cases in St. Joseph County can generate related records elsewhere. Real property transferred through a divorce is recorded at the St. Joseph County Recorder's office. Child support orders are tracked through the Indiana Child Support Bureau. Post-divorce modifications to custody or support are filed under the original case number in the clerk's office.
The Indiana State Department of Health maintains a statewide divorce registry that can confirm a divorce occurred in Indiana but does not issue certified copies. For certified copies, contact the St. Joseph County Circuit Court Clerk.
Cities in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County includes two cities large enough to have their own pages with local divorce-related information.
Nearby Counties
Divorce records are held by the clerk in the county where the case was filed. Check with neighboring county clerks if you're not sure where a particular case was filed.