Wells County Divorce Records
Wells County divorce records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Bluffton and are available to the public under Indiana open records law. This page explains how to request copies, search cases online, and understand the divorce filing process in Wells County.
Wells County Quick Facts
Wells County Circuit Court Clerk
Clerk Beth Davis manages all divorce records for Wells County. The clerk's office in Bluffton is where divorces are filed and where you can request certified copies of case documents. The office accepts in-person, phone, and written mail requests.
Office Address: 102 W. Market St, Suite 201, Bluffton, IN 46714
Phone: 260-824-6479
Clerk: Beth Davis
For in-person visits, bring a photo ID. If you have the case number, the search goes faster. Staff can look up cases by name and 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 payment by check or money order. Allow one to two weeks for mail processing. The clerk's office will contact you if the fee needs adjustment before sending documents.
The Indiana Courts website has an official Wells County page with clerk contact information and links to local court resources.
This official state page is updated with current clerk hours, contact details, and local court procedures for Wells County.
Online Case Search
Indiana's MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov is a free tool for searching Wells County divorce cases online. Search by party name or case number to see case status, filing dates, and scheduled hearings. No account is required to use the portal.
MyCase covers cases filed in the Odyssey case management system. Older paper records from before the county adopted electronic filing may not appear online. For those, contact the clerk's office in Bluffton for a manual search.
The portal shows the case record and docket entries but does not provide downloadable document copies. To get the actual divorce decree or other filed papers, contact the clerk's office and request copies with the applicable fee payment.
The Indiana Courts directory at in.gov/courts/directory lists current contact information for the Wells County clerk and other local courts in northeastern Indiana.
Divorce Filing Requirements
To file for divorce in Wells County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Wells County for three months before filing. This requirement is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
The divorce petition is filed at Suite 201, 102 W. Market St. in Bluffton. Filing fees run from $157 to $177 depending on the case type. The clerk's office can provide the current schedule before you file. Cases with children or contested issues may have additional charges.
After filing, Indiana law sets a 60-day waiting period before the divorce can be finalized. This rule is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-10. The 60 days start from the filing date. The court cannot issue the final decree until that period ends, even if both spouses agree on all terms.
Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. You don't need to show that one spouse caused the marriage to break down. Irretrievable breakdown is the standard grounds. If both parties agree on property, debts, and custody, the case typically moves to a short final hearing after the waiting period. Disputed issues may require mediation or a hearing before the judge.
What's in a Wells County Divorce File
A divorce case file in Wells County includes the original petition, the other spouse's response, financial disclosure forms, any settlement agreements, and the final divorce decree. Cases with children also include parenting plans and custody and support orders entered during the case.
The final divorce decree is the primary document most people need. 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 legal proof that the marriage ended.
Some documents in a divorce file may be sealed by court order. Financial records and materials involving minor children are sometimes restricted from public access. Sealed items require a judicial 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 decree can be used to update identification at the Indiana BMV, Social Security Administration, and other agencies. The clerk charges a fee for certified copies above the standard $1.00 per page copy rate.
Historical and Older Records
Wells County has maintained divorce records for many decades. Older case files are on paper or microfilm at the courthouse in Bluffton. If you need a record from years past, the clerk's office can manually search older indexes using names and an approximate year or date range.
The Indiana State Library and Indiana State Archives hold microfilm collections of older county court records from Indiana. If the local clerk cannot find a very old record, those institutions are a useful backup for genealogy research or historical inquiries.
For records from the mid-20th century onward, the Wells County clerk's office is the best first stop. Most records from that period are indexed and searchable by name. Staff can estimate copy costs before you commit to a formal request.
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 in Indiana.
The site is designed for people navigating the divorce process without a full-time attorney. It covers what forms to file, how court hearings work, and how Indiana courts resolve 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 in Indiana, including what to include in your request and what fees apply.
Indiana Legal Services may provide free legal help to qualifying residents in Wells County. Local bar associations may also offer referrals to family law attorneys who practice in northeastern Indiana.
Related Records
Divorce proceedings in Wells County can generate records in other offices. Property transferred through a divorce is recorded at the Wells County Recorder's office. Deed changes and mortgage releases tied to the divorce settlement appear in recorder records after the court order is issued.
Child support and custody orders from a divorce are tracked through the Indiana Child Support Bureau. Post-divorce modifications are filed in the clerk's office under the original case number and remain part of the public record.
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 Wells County divorce decree, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at 102 W. Market St. in Bluffton.
Nearby Counties
Divorce records are filed in the county where one of the parties lived at the time of filing. Contact neighboring county clerks if you need to verify which county handled a particular case.