Find White County Divorce Records
Divorce records in White County are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk in Monticello and are public documents under Indiana law. This page explains how to get copies of divorce case files, search cases online, and understand the divorce filing process in White County.
White County Quick Facts
White County Circuit Court Clerk
Clerk Lori Austin manages all divorce records for White County. The clerk's office in Monticello is where divorces are filed and where you can request certified copies of case documents. The office accepts in-person, phone, and mail requests.
Office Address: 110 N. Main St, 2nd Floor, Monticello, IN 47960
Phone: 574-583-7032
Clerk: Lori Austin
For in-person visits, bring a photo ID and any case details you have. Staff can search by name and approximate year if you don't have a case number. Copy fees run $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $3.00 to $5.00 per document.
Mail requests should include the full legal names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was filed, and payment by check or money order. Allow about one to two weeks for mail processing. The clerk will contact you if payment adjustment is needed before sending documents.
The Indiana Courts website has an official White County page with clerk contact information and links to local court resources.
This official state page lists current clerk hours, contact details, and local court procedures for White County.
Online Case Search
Indiana's MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov is the free online tool for searching White County divorce cases. Search by name or case number to see case status, filing dates, and hearing schedules. No account is needed to use the portal.
MyCase covers cases filed in the Odyssey system. Older paper-based records from before electronic filing may not appear online. For those, the clerk's office in Monticello can conduct a manual search of older indexes.
The portal shows the case record and docket entries but does not provide downloadable copies of filed documents. To get the actual divorce decree or other case 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 White County clerk and other local courts in north-central Indiana.
Filing for Divorce in White County
To file for divorce in White County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in White County for three months before filing. This requirement is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-6.
The petition is filed at 110 N. Main St., 2nd Floor, in Monticello. Filing fees run from $157 to $177 depending on the case type. The clerk's office can tell you the current fee before you file. Cases with children or contested property may have additional charges.
After filing, Indiana requires a 60-day waiting period before the court can finalize the divorce. This rule is in Indiana Code 31-15-2-10. The 60 days run from the filing date. The court cannot issue the final decree until that period is up, even if both spouses agree on all terms.
Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. You don't need to prove fault or wrongdoing. Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is the standard legal grounds. If both parties agree on property, debts, and custody, the case typically resolves at a brief final hearing after the waiting period ends. Contested issues may require mediation or a court hearing.
White County Divorce File Contents
A divorce case file in White County includes the original petition, the other spouse's response, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and the final decree. Cases with children also include parenting plans and any custody and support orders issued during the case.
The final divorce decree is the document most people need. 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 legal proof of divorce.
Some materials in a divorce file may be sealed by court order. Financial records and documents involving minor children are sometimes restricted from public access. Even if the main case file is open, sealed items require a court order to access.
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's office charges a fee for certified copies beyond the standard $1.00 per page copy rate.
Historical and Older Records
White County has maintained divorce records for many decades. Older case files are on paper or microfilm at the courthouse in Monticello. 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 Indiana county court records. If the local clerk cannot find a very old record, those state institutions are a good next step for genealogy research or historical inquiries.
For records from the mid-20th century onward, the White County clerk's office is the primary source. Most records from that period are indexed and searchable by name. Staff can estimate copy costs before you place a formal request.
Legal Help and Resources
The clerk's office processes filings and record requests but cannot give legal advice. For free guidance on Indiana divorce law, Indiana Legal Help at indianalegalhelp.org offers plain-language guides on divorce, custody, and property matters in Indiana courts.
The site explains what forms to file, how court hearings work, and how Indiana courts handle common disputes over property and children. It is written for people who are managing their own divorce case.
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 to expect.
Indiana Legal Services may provide free legal help to qualifying residents in White County. Local bar associations may also offer referrals to family law attorneys who practice in north-central Indiana.
Related Records
Divorce proceedings in White County can generate records in other offices. Property transferred through a divorce is recorded at the White County Recorder's office. Deed changes and mortgage releases connected to the divorce settlement appear in recorder records 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 White County divorce decree, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at 110 N. Main St. in Monticello.
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 particular case.