Find Union County Divorce Records
Union County divorce records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk in Liberty and are public documents under Indiana law. This page explains how to search for cases online, request certified copies, and understand the divorce filing process in Union County.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Circuit Court Clerk
Clerk Susan Ray manages all divorce case records for Union County. The clerk's office in Liberty is where divorces are filed and where you can request copies of existing case documents. The office handles in-person, phone, and mail requests.
Office Address: 26 W. Union St, Liberty, IN 47353
Phone: 765-458-6121
Clerk: Susan Ray
For in-person visits, bring a photo ID. Having the case number helps, but staff can search by name and approximate year if you don't have one. 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 reach out if the fee needs adjustment before mailing documents. Allow about one to two weeks for mail requests.
The Indiana Courts website has an official Union County page with clerk contact details and local court information.
This is the official state resource for current Union County court contacts and clerk hours.
Online Case Search
Indiana's MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov is a free tool for searching Union County divorce cases online. Search by name or case number to see filing dates, case status, and hearing schedules. No account is needed to search the portal.
MyCase covers cases filed in the Odyssey case management system. Older paper-based cases may not appear online. For those, the clerk's office in Liberty can search older indexes manually.
The portal displays the case record and docket but does not provide downloadable document copies. To get the actual divorce decree or other case papers, contact the clerk's office and request copies with the applicable fee.
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory lists current contact information for the Union County clerk and other local courts in eastern Indiana.
Filing for Divorce in Union County
To file for divorce in Union County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Union County for three months before filing the petition. This requirement is stated in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
The divorce petition is filed at 26 W. Union St. in Liberty. Filing fees run from $157 to $177 depending on the case type. The clerk's office can tell you the exact current fee. Cases involving children or contested property may have extra charges.
Indiana law sets a 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed. The court cannot finalize the divorce until those 60 days are complete. This rule is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-10. The waiting period applies even when both spouses fully agree on all terms.
Indiana uses a no-fault divorce system. You don't need to prove that one spouse caused the marriage to fail. Irretrievable breakdown is the standard grounds. If both parties agree on all issues, the case often resolves quickly after the waiting period. Disputes may require mediation or a judge's ruling on contested matters.
What Union County Divorce Files Contain
A divorce case file in Union County typically includes the petition for dissolution, the other spouse's response, financial disclosures, any 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 key document. It is the court's official order ending the marriage. A certified copy is accepted by banks, government agencies, and courts in other states as proof that the marriage ended and under what terms.
Some documents in a divorce file may be sealed by the court. Financial records and documents involving minor children are sometimes restricted from public access by court order. Sealed documents require a court order to access even if the main case file is open to the public.
If the divorce included a name change, a certified copy of the relevant portion of the decree can be used to update your driver's license, Social Security card, and other identification. The clerk's office provides certified copies for a fee above the standard copy charge.
Historical and Older Records
Union County has maintained divorce records for many decades. Older case files are on paper or microfilm at the courthouse in Liberty. Staff can search older indexes manually if you provide names and an approximate year range. Some very old records are in handwritten ledger form and may require extra time to locate.
The Indiana State Library and Indiana State Archives hold microfilm collections of older Indiana county court records. If the clerk cannot find a very old record, those institutions are a good next step, especially for genealogy research.
For records from the mid-20th century onward, the Union County clerk's office in Liberty is the primary source. Most records from that period are indexed and can be searched by name. Staff can give you a cost estimate before you commit to a formal request.
Legal Help and Resources
The clerk's office can process filings and requests but cannot give legal advice. For free help with Indiana divorce law, Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org offers plain-language guides on divorce, custody, and related family law topics.
The site is aimed at people who may be handling their own divorce. It covers what forms to file, what happens at hearings, and how Indiana courts handle common disputes. It is updated to reflect current law and procedure.
The Indiana Courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request explains how to request court records formally, including what to include and what fees apply statewide.
Indiana Legal Services may provide free legal help to qualifying residents in Union County. Local bar associations may also offer referrals to family law attorneys who practice in eastern Indiana.
Related Records
Divorce proceedings in Union County can generate related records in other offices. Property transferred through a divorce is recorded at the Union County Recorder's office. Deed changes and lien releases connected to the divorce settlement appear in recorder records after the court order is processed.
Child support orders from a divorce are tracked through the Indiana Child Support Bureau. Post-divorce modifications to custody or support are added to the original case file in the clerk's office and are public records.
The Indiana State Department of Health keeps a statewide divorce registry that can confirm a divorce occurred in Indiana but does not issue certified document copies. For certified copies of a Union County divorce decree, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at 26 W. Union St. in Liberty.
Nearby Counties
Divorce cases are filed in the county where one of the spouses lived at the time of filing. Check with neighboring county clerks if you need to verify which county handled a particular case.