Wayne County Divorce Records
Divorce records in Wayne County are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Richmond and are public documents under Indiana law. This page covers how to search for cases online, request certified copies, and understand the divorce filing process at the Wayne County Courthouse.
Wayne County Quick Facts
Wayne County Circuit Court Clerk
Clerk Tara Pegg manages all divorce case records for Wayne County. The clerk's office is on the northwest corner of the Wayne County Courthouse on the second floor. The office handles all divorce filings, certified copy requests, and record inquiries. Multiple methods are available to request records, including in person, by email, by phone, or by mail.
Office Address: 301 E. Main St, 2nd Floor, Richmond, IN 47374
Phone (general): 765-973-9220
Phone (divorce records): 765-973-9541
Phone (divorce approvals after 2 PM): 765-973-9225
Fax: 765-973-9490
Email: clerkrecordrequest@waynecounty.in.gov
Hours: Monday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; Tuesday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
The most convenient way to request records from Wayne County is to use the electronic request form available on the clerk's website. Download the form, complete it fully, and then either use the email button at the bottom of the form to auto-fill the email address, or manually attach the completed form and email it to clerkrecordrequest@waynecounty.in.gov.
Marriage and divorce records in Wayne County are handled specifically at 301 East Main St. in Richmond. If you need to check whether a divorce has been approved, you can call 765-973-9225 after 2:00 PM on weekdays. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $4.00 per document.
For more information, visit the clerk's website at co.wayne.in.us/clerk/index.html and the records access page at co.wayne.in.us/clerk/accessrecords.html.
Indiana's MyCase portal and Doxpop both provide online access to Wayne County divorce case records without visiting the Richmond courthouse.
Both portals are available around the clock. MyCase is free. Doxpop may have fees for some searches and document access options.
Online Case Search Options
Wayne County divorce cases can be searched through two online systems. Indiana's free MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov lets you search by name or case number and see case status, filing dates, and hearing schedules. Doxpop is a separate search system that may offer additional document access options for Wayne County cases.
MyCase covers cases in the Odyssey system. Older paper records may not appear online. For those, the clerk's office handles requests by email, phone, or in person. The email request form is the recommended method for most records requests.
The portal shows case records and docket information. Actual document copies are not available for download through MyCase for most cases. To get the divorce decree or other documents, submit the electronic request form or contact the clerk's office directly.
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory has current contact information for the Wayne County clerk and other local courts serving Richmond and eastern Indiana.
Filing for Divorce in Wayne County
To file for divorce in Wayne County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Wayne County for three months. This requirement is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
File the petition at the clerk's office at 301 E. Main St. on the second floor. Filing fees run from $157 to $177. The clerk's office can confirm the current fee schedule before you file. Cases with children or contested issues may have additional fees.
Indiana law sets a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed. This rule is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-10. The court cannot issue the final divorce decree until those 60 days are complete, even if both spouses fully agree on all terms. You can call 765-973-9225 after 2 PM to check if a divorce approval has been entered.
Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. You don't need to prove that one spouse caused the marriage to fail. Irretrievable breakdown is the standard legal grounds. Uncontested cases where both parties agree on property, debts, and custody typically move quickly after the waiting period. Contested matters may require mediation or a full court hearing.
Wayne County Divorce File Contents
A divorce case file in Wayne County includes the petition for dissolution, the other spouse's response, financial disclosure forms, settlement agreements, and the final decree. Cases with children also include parenting plans and any custody and support orders entered during the case.
The final divorce decree is the most commonly needed document. It is the court's official order ending the marriage. Certified copies cost $4.00 per document and are accepted by banks, government agencies, and courts in other states as legal proof of divorce.
Some materials in a divorce file may be sealed by the judge. Financial records and documents involving minor children are sometimes restricted from public access. Sealed items require a court order to access even if the rest of the case file is open to the public.
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 order is what those agencies typically accept.
The Wayne County Courthouse
The Wayne County Courthouse in Richmond is a notable Romanesque Revival structure. It was designed by Cincinnati architect James W. McLaughlin and required 600 car loads of Indiana limestone and 3 million bricks during construction. The clerk's office is located on the second floor at the northwest corner of the building.
While the courthouse itself is an impressive structure, the clerk's office functions like those throughout Indiana, maintaining case files and processing requests using both paper records and the Odyssey electronic case management system. Older records at the courthouse go back many decades.
For genealogy researchers or those seeking older divorce records, the clerk's office is the first stop. Very old records may also be available through the Indiana State Library and Indiana State Archives, which hold microfilm collections from many Indiana counties.
Legal Help and Resources
The clerk's office handles filings and record 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.
The site explains what forms to file, how court hearings work, and how Indiana courts handle common disputes over property and children. It is useful for people who are managing their own divorce case without a full-time attorney.
The Indiana Courts public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request explains the formal process for requesting court records in Indiana, including what to include and what fees to expect. For Wayne County specifically, using the electronic request form is the clerk's recommended method.
Indiana Legal Services may provide free legal help to qualifying residents in Wayne County. Local bar associations in Richmond may also offer referrals to family law attorneys who handle divorce cases in the county.
Related Records
Divorce proceedings in Wayne County can generate records in other offices. Property transferred through a divorce is recorded at the Wayne County Recorder's office. Deed changes and mortgage releases connected to the divorce settlement appear there after the court order is issued.
Child support and custody 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 maintains a statewide divorce registry that can confirm a divorce occurred in Indiana but does not issue certified document copies. For certified copies of a Wayne County divorce decree, contact the clerk's office at 301 E. Main St. in Richmond.
Cities in Wayne County
Richmond is the county seat and largest city in Wayne County with its own divorce records resource page.
Nearby Counties
Divorce records are filed in the county where one of the parties lived at the time of filing. Check with neighboring county clerks if you need to verify which county handled a specific case.