Search Schererville Dissolution of Marriage

Schererville dissolution of marriage cases are filed at the Lake County Clerk's Office in Crown Point, the county seat roughly 15 miles south of Schererville. Schererville is a sizable suburban community in the southern tip of Lake County, and like all other Lake County cities, its residents file dissolution petitions at the Lake County courthouse in Crown Point rather than at any local office. The clerk there keeps all dissolution case files and maintains the county's public case index. This page explains how to find Schererville dissolution records, what tools are available online, what Indiana law requires, and where to get legal help in Lake County.

Lake County Clerk of Courts

The Lake County Clerk's Office in Crown Point is where Schererville residents file dissolution of marriage petitions. Crown Point is the Lake County seat, and all family law filings for Lake County go there regardless of which city the petitioner lives in. Schererville is in the southern part of the county, about 15 miles north of Crown Point.

The clerk's office handles all aspects of the public case record, including accepting filings, maintaining case files, and issuing certified copies of decrees and orders. Staff can look up a case by name or case number. They cannot give legal advice. For help understanding the process, see the resources section below.

Parking is available at the Crown Point courthouse. Bring a photo ID for in-person visits. Having the case number or both parties' names and the approximate year filed will make record lookups go faster.

Filing from Schererville

Schererville sits in the far southern part of Lake County, near the Illinois state line. Residents commuting to Chicago often feel more connected to that direction than to Crown Point. But for dissolution filings, Crown Point is where you go.

The drive from Schererville to the Crown Point courthouse is roughly 15 to 20 minutes south on US-41 or nearby routes. It's a short enough trip that it doesn't create a major burden for most residents. All court hearings on the case also take place in Crown Point after filing.

Lake County handles a high volume of dissolution cases given its large population. Processing times can vary. If you're working with a tight timeline, calling the clerk's office at (219) 755-3453 before your visit to confirm current wait times and procedures is a smart step.

Online Case Search for Lake County

Indiana's MyCase public court search system covers Lake County dissolution of marriage filings. You can search at no cost at public.courts.in.gov. No account setup is needed. Search by party name or case number to see the case type, filing date, status, and upcoming hearings.

MyCase doesn't show the full text of filed documents or any attachments, but it confirms a case is on file and tells you where it stands. Most Lake County dissolution cases from the past 10 to 15 years appear in the system. Earlier cases may need to be looked up directly with the clerk.

The image below shows the Schererville town website, which connects residents to local government information and links to area services including guidance for county-level government resources.

The Schererville site provides residents with access to local government contacts and links to county-level services that include court and public records information.

Doxpop at doxpop.com is a paid service with advanced search features, primarily used by legal professionals. For most individual lookups, MyCase is free and sufficient. You can also call the Lake County Clerk at (219) 755-3453 to ask about a case by name or number over the phone.

Indiana Dissolution Requirements

Indiana uses the term "dissolution of marriage" in its statutes rather than the word divorce. The controlling law is Indiana Code Title 31. The same rules apply everywhere in the state, including Schererville and Lake County.

To file in Lake County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Lake County for at least three months before filing. If you recently moved to Schererville from Illinois or another Indiana county, verify that you meet the three-month Lake County residency requirement first.

Indiana is a no-fault state. The ground for dissolution is "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage." You don't have to prove your spouse did something wrong. Under IC 31-15-2-3, there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed and the other spouse is served. No final decree can be entered before those 60 days are up. Uncontested cases with full agreement sometimes resolve shortly after the waiting period ends. Cases with disputes over property, debt, or custody take longer, often several months.

Indiana starts from an assumption of equal division of marital assets and debts. Either party can ask the court for a different split and put on evidence to support it. Judges consider income differences, marriage length, and each spouse's contributions to the home when deciding whether to vary from 50/50.

Getting Certified Copies of Decrees

Certified copies of dissolution decrees are the official documents recognized by government agencies, employers, financial institutions, and courts when you need to show proof of marital status. The Lake County Clerk issues these copies for all Lake County dissolution cases, including those filed by Schererville residents.

Indiana charges $1 per page for copies. A small additional certification fee may apply. You can request copies in person at 2293 N. Main St. in Crown Point or by mail. Mailed requests should include both parties' names, the approximate filing year, and the case number. Make checks payable to the Lake County Clerk. In-person requests are usually handled same day. Mail requests generally take one to two weeks.

For a broader overview of how to request Indiana court records, see in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request/. For very old cases, call ahead to ask whether the file has been archived and how long retrieval takes.

Legal Help in Lake County

Indiana Legal Services offers free civil legal help to income-qualifying individuals, including help with dissolution of marriage cases. They serve Lake County and can be reached through indianalegalservices.org. Income limits apply, but the program serves many residents who cannot afford a private attorney.

Residents dealing with domestic violence alongside a dissolution can call the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 800-332-7385 or go to icadvinc.org. Local advocates in Lake County can help with safety planning, emergency shelter referrals, and connections to legal assistance in your area.

The Lake County courthouse in Crown Point has public forms and basic informational resources available. Clerk staff can tell you which forms to file and describe the process in general terms, but they cannot advise you on your case. If your dissolution involves children, significant property, or any contested issue, speaking to a licensed Indiana family law attorney is strongly advised.

Nearby Indiana Cities

Schererville is in southern Lake County, close to several other Lake County communities. All nearby Lake County cities file their dissolution cases at the same Crown Point courthouse.