Search Sullivan County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Sullivan County dissolution of marriage cases are filed with and held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Sullivan, Indiana, and the vast majority of finalized records are open to anyone under Indiana's public records rules. Sullivan County is a small rural county in southwest Indiana, west of Terre Haute along the Illinois state line. The clerk's office handles all family law filings in the county, and you can look up cases through the free statewide MyCase portal, stop by in person at the courthouse, or mail a request for certified copies. For questions about a specific case or how to request documents, call or email the clerk's office directly before making the trip to Sullivan.

Sullivan County Circuit Court Clerk

Tonya Bedwell is the Sullivan County Circuit Court Clerk. Her office is in Room 304 on the third floor of the courthouse at 100 Courthouse Square in Sullivan. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage records filed in the county, from the opening petition through every order and the final decree. It also tracks hearings, maintains financial disclosures submitted by parties, and stores any sealed or restricted portions of a case file separately. If you need to verify a case exists, obtain a certified copy, or find out what documents are part of a public record, the clerk's office is the right place to start.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Sullivan County is on Eastern Time, not Central, even though it sits near the Illinois border. The courthouse is on the main square in the city of Sullivan, and parking is straightforward. If you are calling about a case, have the names of both parties and an approximate filing year ready. The staff can typically locate a case with that information even without a case number.

You can reach the office by phone at (812) 268-4657 or by email at tbedwell@sullivancounty.in.gov. Email is a good option if you have a detailed question about a specific case or want to submit a records request without coming in person.

The county website at sullivancounty.in.gov has contact info for the clerk and links to other county offices. For court-specific details, the Indiana Courts local directory for Sullivan County is at in.gov/courts/local/sullivan-county/.

How to Search Sullivan County Dissolution Cases

Indiana runs a free statewide case search tool called MyCase, available at public.courts.in.gov. It is operated by the Indiana Office of Court Services and covers all 92 counties including Sullivan. No account or login is needed. You can search by party name or case number. Dissolution cases show up with basic information: the filing date, case number, parties, and current status. Results for recently filed Sullivan County cases typically appear within a few days of the initial filing.

The Sullivan County website is the official local source for clerk contact information and county service links.

This county page provides direct access to the clerk's office details and links to other county services that may be relevant to your records request.

Doxpop is a paid service that offers more detailed search options than MyCase. It covers Indiana court records statewide including Sullivan County and lets you filter by date range, case type, and party name. Attorneys and researchers use it often, but it is open to the public. See options at doxpop.com. It is most useful when a basic name search is not returning what you need, or when you want to search across multiple counties at once.

The Indiana Courts directory page for Sullivan County lists current court contacts, judges, and case information resources.

Use this state-maintained page to confirm the courthouse phone number and address before you visit or mail anything to Sullivan.

For cases filed before electronic records were in place, only the paper file at the courthouse will have the information you need. The clerk's office can tell you what years are available in MyCase and Doxpop versus what requires an in-person or mail request for a physical copy.

Indiana Dissolution Law Basics

Indiana uses "dissolution of marriage" as the legal term. It means the same thing as divorce. The governing statutes are in Indiana Code Title 31. You can read the full text at iga.in.gov. The rules for filing a petition for dissolution are in IC 31-15-2-3.

Residency is a threshold requirement. One spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months before filing, and that spouse must also have lived in Sullivan County for at least three months before the petition is filed. Both requirements apply. If you are new to the county and have not hit the three-month mark, you will need to wait or look at filing in a county where you do meet the local residency rule.

Indiana is a no-fault state for dissolution purposes. The law provides a single ground: that the marriage is irretrievably broken. No one has to prove fault or accuse the other spouse of wrongdoing. This means the court focuses on practical matters rather than blame. Property, debts, support, and if children are involved, custody and parenting time are the core issues the court addresses.

There is a mandatory 60-day waiting period. It begins when the petition is filed and cannot be waived. No final decree can be entered before those 60 days pass, even if both parties agree on everything. For uncontested cases, the process can move quickly once the waiting period ends. Contested cases almost always take longer. Property division rules are in IC 31-15-7. Spousal maintenance, which is not automatic, is covered by IC 31-15-4.

Certified Copies and Record Requests

Certified copies of dissolution records are issued by the Sullivan County Circuit Court Clerk. You might need a certified copy to update a legal name with Social Security or the BMV, to change property ownership documents, or to satisfy a financial institution's proof-of-dissolution requirement. The clerk charges a per-page fee and a certification fee. Call or email the office before your visit to confirm the current rates and what payment is accepted. Some small county offices only take cash or check.

Mail requests are accepted. Send your written request to P.O. Box 370, Sullivan, IN 47882. Include both party names, the year the case was filed, and the case number if you have it. Enclose the appropriate fees and a return envelope with postage. Turnaround time depends on the office workload at the time you submit. If you are not sure of the exact fee, call ahead so you can send the right amount.

Indiana's process for requesting public court records is described at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request/. This page explains what types of records courts are required to provide, how to make a formal request, and what limitations may apply. Most dissolution of marriage files in Sullivan County are fully public.

Legal Aid and Help for Sullivan County Residents

Indiana Legal Services offers free civil legal help to residents who qualify based on income. They handle family law matters including dissolution of marriage throughout Indiana, and Sullivan County is in their service area. Start at indianalegalservices.org to apply or check whether you meet the eligibility criteria. Most rural county residents receive help remotely by phone or video, which removes the need to travel to a city office.

If domestic violence is part of your situation, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence operates a statewide hotline at 800-332-7385. Resources and local program information are at icadvinc.org. Local advocates can help you navigate a dissolution case alongside safety planning. You do not have to have filed for dissolution yet to call.

Sullivan County is a small, rural county with limited local attorney options for family law. Many residents in this area turn to practitioners based in Terre Haute in neighboring Vigo County, which is only a short drive east. The Indiana State Bar Association's referral service can help you find licensed attorneys who practice family law in this part of southwest Indiana. Some accept flat fees for simple, agreed dissolutions. If you plan to go through the process without an attorney, ask the Sullivan County Clerk whether any self-help materials are available at the courthouse for people filing on their own.

Nearby Indiana Counties

Sullivan County is bordered by four southwest Indiana counties. Each handles its own dissolution of marriage filings through a separate circuit court clerk.