Tippecanoe County Divorce Records
Divorce records in Tippecanoe County are maintained by the County Clerk in Lafayette and are public documents under Indiana law. This page covers how to search, request, and use divorce records in Tippecanoe County, which serves both Lafayette and West Lafayette.
Tippecanoe County Quick Facts
Tippecanoe County Clerk
Clerk Julie Roush manages divorce records for Tippecanoe County. The office is located in downtown Lafayette and has extended hours on Tuesdays until 6:30 PM, which is useful for residents who cannot visit during standard business hours. The office handles filings, record requests, and certified copies.
Physical Address: 301 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lafayette, IN 47901
Mailing Address: PO Box 1665, Lafayette, IN 47902
Phone: 765-423-9326
Fax: 765-423-9194
Email: jroush@tippecanoe.in.gov
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; Tuesday: 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Divorce records in Tippecanoe County go back to 1850. If you need a record from that far back, the clerk's office can search the historical indexes. Most recent cases are also available through the online records portal at tippecanoe.in.gov/854/Tippecanoe-Court-Records.
You can request records by submitting an internet service request through the clerk's website, emailing the office, visiting in person, or mailing a request to the PO Box. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $4.00 to $5.00 per document. Payments made through the PAYGOV.US portal may include a convenience fee.
For general information on the clerk's services and how to request records, visit tippecanoe.in.gov/202/Clerk and tippecanoecountycourt.org/marriage-and-divorce-records.
The Tippecanoe County Records Portal provides online access to court documents for cases in the county's Odyssey case management system.
The portal allows searching of official court documents and case information from the courts that use the Odyssey system, including family law and dissolution cases.
Online Search Options
Indiana's MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov is free and available around the clock. You can search Tippecanoe County divorce cases by name or case number and see filing dates, case status, and hearing schedules. No account is required.
Tippecanoe County also has its own local records portal linked from the clerk's website. This portal allows access to official court documents from courts using the Odyssey system in the county. For divorce certifications specifically, the clerk's office handles verification through the internet service request system or in person.
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory lists current contact information for the Tippecanoe County clerk and other local courts. For the most up-to-date hours, particularly the Tuesday extended hours, confirm directly with the clerk's office.
Filing for Divorce in Tippecanoe County
To file for divorce in Tippecanoe County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Tippecanoe County for three months before filing. This requirement is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
File the petition at 301 Main St, 2nd Floor, in Lafayette. Filing fees run from $157 to $177 depending on the case. Additional motions or cases involving children may have extra fees. The clerk's office can give you the current schedule before you file.
Indiana law requires a 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed. This rule is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-10. The court cannot finalize the divorce until those 60 days are done, even if both spouses fully agree. Both parties can use this time to reach a complete settlement.
Indiana is a no-fault state for divorce. You don't need to prove wrongdoing. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the standard grounds. Uncontested cases where both spouses agree on all issues typically resolve quickly after the waiting period. Contested matters may require mediation or a hearing before the court.
What's in a Tippecanoe County Divorce File
A typical divorce case file in Tippecanoe County includes the petition for dissolution, the other spouse's response, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and the final divorce decree. Cases with children also include parenting plans and custody and support orders.
The final divorce decree is the document most people need. It is the court's official order ending the marriage and setting all terms. Certified copies of the decree are accepted by banks, government agencies, and courts in other states as legal proof of divorce.
Some records in a divorce file may be sealed by the court. Financial exhibits and documents involving minor children are sometimes restricted. Even if the main case file is open, sealed items require a court order to access.
Name changes granted in the decree can be used to update identification at the Indiana BMV, Social Security Administration, and other agencies. A certified copy of the relevant portion of the decree is typically what these agencies need. Copy fees at the clerk's office are $1.00 per page, with $4.00 to $5.00 extra for certification.
Historical Records
Tippecanoe County has kept divorce records since 1850. Older cases are on paper or microfilm at the courthouse. The clerk's office can manually search the historical indexes for older records if you provide names and a date range. Some very old records may take longer to locate given the age and format of the original documents.
The Indiana State Library and Indiana State Archives also hold collections of older county court records. For genealogy research or for cases from the 19th or early 20th century, those institutions are useful supplements to the local clerk's office.
For more recent cases, the local online portal and MyCase are the fastest search tools. Records from the past several decades are generally indexed and searchable by name.
Legal Help and Resources
The clerk's office processes filings and requests but cannot give legal advice. For free guidance on Indiana divorce law, Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org has plain-language guides on divorce, custody, and property matters in Indiana.
The site is designed for people navigating the divorce process on their own. It explains what forms to file, what to expect at hearings, and how courts handle common disputes over property and children.
The Indiana Courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request explains the formal process for requesting court records, including what to include and what fees apply statewide.
Indiana Legal Services provides free legal assistance to qualifying residents. The Tippecanoe County Bar Association may also offer referral services for family law matters in the Lafayette and West Lafayette area.
Related Records
Divorce cases in Tippecanoe County can generate records in other offices. Property transfers from a divorce are recorded at the Tippecanoe County Recorder's office. Deed changes and mortgage modifications tied to the divorce show up in recorder records after the court order is issued.
Child support orders are tracked through the Indiana Child Support Bureau. Post-divorce modifications to support or custody are filed in the clerk's office under the original case number and remain public records.
The Indiana State Department of Health keeps a statewide divorce registry that confirms divorces occurred in Indiana but does not provide certified copies. For certified copies, contact the Tippecanoe County Clerk at 301 Main St in Lafayette.
Cities in Tippecanoe County
Tippecanoe County includes two cities with divorce-related resource pages.
Nearby Counties
Divorce records are held in the county where one of the parties lived at the time of filing. Contact neighboring clerks if you need to check whether a case was filed elsewhere.