Switzerland County Divorce Records
Divorce records in Switzerland County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Vevay and are open to the public under Indiana law. This page explains how to get copies of divorce case files, search cases online, and file for divorce in Switzerland County.
Switzerland County Quick Facts
Switzerland County Circuit Court Clerk
Clerk Karin Dutkiewicz manages divorce case records for Switzerland County. The clerk's office in Vevay handles all divorce filings and document copy requests. You can access records in person, by phone, or through a written mail request.
Office Address: 212 W. Main St, Vevay, IN 47043
Phone: 812-427-4415
Clerk: Karin Dutkiewicz
For in-person visits, bring a photo ID. If you know the case number, that speeds up the process. Staff can look up cases using names and an approximate year if you don't have a case number. Copy fees run $1.00 per page. Certified copies add $3.00 to $5.00 per document.
Mail requests should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was filed, and a check or money order for copy costs. The clerk will contact you if payment adjustment is needed. Allow one to two weeks for mail request processing.
Indiana's MyCase portal lets you search Switzerland County divorce cases online without visiting the courthouse.
The portal is free to use and covers most cases in Indiana's Odyssey case management system, including Switzerland County filings.
Online Case Search
The MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov is Indiana's free tool for searching divorce cases online. Search Switzerland County cases by party name or case number to see filing dates, case status, and scheduled hearings. No account is needed to use the portal.
MyCase works for cases filed in the Odyssey system. Older paper-based records may not appear online. For those, contact the clerk's office in Vevay directly for a manual search of older indexes.
The portal shows the case record and docket entries but does not provide downloadable copies of documents. To get the actual divorce decree or other filed papers, contact the clerk and pay the applicable copy fee.
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory lists current contact details for the Switzerland County clerk and other local courts in southeastern Indiana.
Filing for Divorce in Switzerland County
Before filing for divorce in Switzerland County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Switzerland County for three months. This requirement is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
The petition is filed at 212 W. Main St. in Vevay. Filing fees run from $157 to $177 depending on the case type. The clerk's office can give you the current fee schedule before you file. Cases with children or contested property may have additional charges.
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 up, even if both spouses agree on everything.
Indiana uses a no-fault divorce system. There is no requirement to show fault or wrongdoing. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the standard legal grounds. If both spouses agree on property, debts, and custody, the case is often resolved quickly after the waiting period. Disputes may require mediation or a hearing where the judge decides unresolved issues.
What's in a Switzerland County Divorce File
A divorce case file in Switzerland County typically includes the original petition, the other spouse's response, financial disclosure statements, settlement agreements, and the final decree. Cases involving children also include parenting plans and custody and support orders.
The final divorce decree is what most people need when requesting records. It is the court's official order ending the marriage. A certified copy is accepted by lenders, government agencies, and courts in other states as proof of divorce.
Some documents in a divorce file may be sealed by the court. Financial records and materials relating to minor children are sometimes restricted from public access. Sealed items require a court order to access even if the main case file is public.
If the divorce included a name change, it is noted in the decree. A certified copy can be used to update your driver's license, Social Security card, and passport. The clerk charges a fee for certified copies above the standard $1.00 per page copy fee.
Older and Historical Records
Switzerland County has divorce records going back many decades. Older case files are on paper or microfilm at the courthouse in Vevay. Staff can search older indexes manually if you provide names and an approximate date range. Very old handwritten records may take more time to locate.
The Indiana State Library and Indiana State Archives hold microfilm copies of older court records from many Indiana counties. If the local clerk cannot find a very old record, these institutions are a useful backup, especially for genealogy research or historical inquiries.
For records from the mid-20th century onward, the Switzerland County clerk's office is the best starting point. Most records from that period are indexed and can be searched by name. Staff can estimate costs before you place a formal request.
Legal Help and Resources
The clerk's office handles filings and record requests but cannot give legal advice. For free help with Indiana divorce law, Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org has guides written in plain language on divorce, custody, and property matters.
The site is a good resource for people navigating the divorce process on their own. It explains what forms to file, what happens at court hearings, and how judges handle common disputes over property and custody in Indiana.
The Indiana Courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request explains how to formally request court records in Indiana, including what to include and what fees to expect.
Indiana Legal Services may be able to provide free legal assistance to income-qualifying residents in Switzerland County. Local bar associations can also help with referrals to family law attorneys in southeastern Indiana.
Related Records
Divorce proceedings in Switzerland County can generate records in other offices. Property transferred through a divorce is recorded at the Switzerland County Recorder's office. Deed changes and mortgage releases related to the divorce appear in recorder records after the court order is processed.
Child support orders from a divorce are tracked through the Indiana Child Support Bureau. Modifications filed after the original divorce are added to the original 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 occurred in Indiana but does not provide certified document copies. For certified copies of a Switzerland County divorce decree, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in Vevay.
Nearby Counties
Divorce records are filed in the county where one of the parties lived at the time of filing. Check with neighboring clerks if you need to verify which county handled a particular case.