Find Dubois County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dubois County dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk at the courthouse in Jasper, Indiana, which is the official keeper of all court records in Dubois County, including every dissolution case from petition to final decree. This page covers how to search for cases, what to bring when you need certified copies, and what Indiana law requires before you can file in Dubois County.

Dubois County Clerk Office for Dissolution of Marriage

The Dubois County Clerk keeps all official court records for the county, including every dissolution of marriage case filed in Dubois County. Clerk Amy Kippenbrock and her staff manage case filings, maintain the record index, and issue certified copies of court documents. The office is at One Courthouse Square in Jasper, which is a central location in the county seat. It is the only place in Dubois County where you can get certified copies of dissolution of marriage records.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern time. Note that Dubois County operates on Eastern time, which matters if you are calling from the Central time zone areas just to the west. Mail requests for copies are accepted. Include the case number, your mailing address, and a check or money order for the copy fee when submitting by mail. Standard copy fees are $1 per page, and certification adds $1 to $3 per document. If you call the office at (812) 481-7035 before visiting, staff can often confirm whether your specific file is available and tell you the exact fee before you make the trip to Jasper.

Amy Kippenbrock can be reached by email at alkippenbrock@duboiscountyin.org for specific questions about dissolution of marriage records in Dubois County. Fax requests can be sent to (812) 481-7038. The Dubois County government website at duboiscountyin.org has current clerk contact details and may include information about any temporary schedule changes.

Note: Dissolution records in Dubois County are public unless a judge has issued a specific sealing order, which is not common in standard dissolution cases.

Search Dubois County Dissolution of Marriage Records Online

The primary free tool for searching dissolution of marriage cases in Dubois County online is Indiana's MyCase public portal. Select Dubois County from the county list and enter one party's name or the case number to find the case. MyCase returns the filing date, case type, parties, and current status. No account or payment is required. For active cases or recently closed ones in Dubois County, MyCase is typically the fastest option when you want basic information without traveling to Jasper.

The Indiana MyCase search portal covers Dubois County dissolution cases and is available at any time, free of charge.

The Dubois County government website provides clerk contact details and county office information relevant to dissolution of marriage records and filings.

Checking the Dubois County government site gives you direct access to clerk contact information and helps you confirm current office details before visiting the Jasper courthouse.

For cases that do not appear in MyCase, which may include older filings that predate the statewide electronic system, the Dubois County Clerk can search the index manually. Doxpop also indexes Indiana court records and may have additional historical coverage of Dubois County dissolution cases. The Indiana Courts public records how-to guide explains how to request court records statewide and what documents are available to the public.

Note: If you search for a case where a name change was granted as part of the dissolution, the case will appear under the name used at the time of filing, not the new name.

Filing for Dissolution of Marriage in Dubois County

A dissolution of marriage in Dubois County starts when one spouse files a petition at the Circuit Court clerk office at One Courthouse Square in Jasper. To file, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Dubois County for three months immediately before the petition is filed. These residency requirements are set by Indiana Title 31 and apply in every Indiana county, including Dubois. The clerk verifies the case meets those requirements, assigns a case number, and accepts the filing fee on the day the petition is submitted.

Service of process on the other spouse follows filing. Service is usually completed through the Dubois County Sheriff, a licensed process server, or certified mail in permitted cases. Once service is confirmed and proof of service is filed, Indiana law imposes a mandatory 60-day waiting period before the court can enter a final dissolution decree. The waiting period is a firm rule under Indiana Code 31-15-2-13 and cannot be waived by the judge, by agreement of the parties, or by any other means. No Indiana judge can shorten it, regardless of the circumstances or the level of agreement between the spouses.

Both parties can use the 60-day period productively. Working out a written settlement agreement covering property, debts, custody, and support during this time often leads to a faster close once the waiting period ends. If full agreement is reached, the Dubois County court can sometimes approve the decree at a short final hearing or even on paper without both parties appearing. Contested matters may require additional steps, including mediation or a hearing in Jasper. Temporary orders for support and parenting time under Indiana Code 31-15-4 can be entered during the waiting period and become part of the official record.

The Indiana Courts directory page for Dubois County provides judge and court information for dissolution matters handled in Jasper.

Checking the Indiana Courts Dubois County page before you file helps you identify the right court and judge division for your dissolution case in Jasper.

Dubois County Dissolution of Marriage Records: Contents and Access

The dissolution of marriage file in Dubois County includes all documents filed from the opening petition to the final order. The petition is the first document in the file. The other spouse's answer comes next. Any temporary orders, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and hearing transcripts are added as the case moves forward. The final decree, signed by the Dubois County judge, closes the case and is the document most commonly needed after the dissolution is complete.

The final decree states how the court resolved all issues in the case. Property division follows the standards in Indiana Code 31-15-7, which starts with a presumption that marital property is split equally but allows the court to adjust based on the facts. The decree also covers child custody, parenting time, child support, and whether either spouse receives maintenance. Certified copies of the final decree are available from the Dubois County Clerk and are needed for many practical tasks that follow a dissolution: transferring real estate, dividing a retirement account, updating a vehicle title, changing a name on a Social Security card, or providing proof of dissolved marital status before remarrying.

Indiana vital records keeps a brief summary record of each dissolution filed in the state. If you only need confirmation that the dissolution happened on a specific date rather than the full case file, order that summary through the Indiana vital records office. For older Dubois County dissolution records predating the current electronic court system, the Indiana State Library Genealogy Division holds historical court materials that may include older Dubois County filings.

Legal Help for Dissolution of Marriage in Dubois County

Dubois County residents who need legal help with a dissolution of marriage and qualify based on income can apply with Indiana Legal Services. They offer free or reduced-cost family law assistance to qualifying individuals across Indiana, including people in the Jasper area. Visit Indiana Legal Services to apply or call their intake line. Private attorneys in the Jasper area also handle dissolution cases if you prefer paid representation or do not qualify for legal aid.

When domestic violence is part of a dissolution situation, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence provides help statewide, including Dubois County. Call ICADV at 800-332-7385 for confidential assistance, local shelter referrals, and legal advocacy. Protective orders can be filed at the Dubois County courthouse in Jasper as part of or alongside a dissolution case when safety is a concern. The Indiana Courts directory lists court and clerk contacts for all Indiana counties, including Dubois, and is helpful if you need to confirm which court handles your case or find a judge's direct contact information.

Nearby Indiana Counties

Dubois County is in southwestern Indiana and borders several other counties, each with its own courts and clerk's office for dissolution of marriage filings. If you are unsure which county has jurisdiction over your case, check where you or your spouse lived at the time of filing.