Search Vanderburgh County Dissolution of Marriage

Vanderburgh County dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Evansville, Indiana, and most finalized cases are accessible to the public under Indiana's open records laws. Vanderburgh County is in the southwest corner of the state, bordering Kentucky along the Ohio River. Evansville is the county seat and Indiana's third largest city, which means the clerk's office handles one of the higher volumes of family law cases in the state. You can search records at no cost through Indiana's MyCase portal, visit the clerk in person at the Sycamore Street courthouse, or request certified copies by mail. Having party names, a case number, or an approximate filing year ready before you start will speed up the process.

Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Clerk

Dottie Thomas serves as the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Clerk. The office is located at 825 Sycamore St. in Evansville, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 3356, Evansville, IN 47708. As clerk, she is the official keeper of all dissolution of marriage filings in the county. That covers every step in the case: the initial petition, temporary orders, financial disclosures, contested hearing records, settlement agreements, and final decrees. The office also handles fee collection, document certification, and access requests from the public.

Vanderburgh County runs on Central time, which sets it apart from most Indiana counties that use Eastern. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Central. The earlier start time is useful if you need to visit before work. The phone number is (812) 435-5160. Fax is (812) 435-7023. You can also reach the clerk by email at dthomas@vanderburghgov.org.

With a county population of around 181,000, this office handles a high volume of cases. When you call or email about a specific case, have both party names and the approximate filing year ready. That will help staff find your record faster.

The county website at vanderburghgov.org provides clerk contact details and court links. The Indiana Courts local directory for Vanderburgh County at in.gov/courts/local/vanderburgh-county/ lists court divisions, judges, and clerk information.

Vanderburgh County Clerk Resources Online

The county government website is a good place to start for local clerk office details, court division contacts, and public service information in Vanderburgh County.

From the county site you can navigate to clerk services, court contacts, and related department information for the Evansville area.

The Indiana Courts local directory page for Vanderburgh County provides court division details, judge listings, and clerk contact information that is kept current by the state.

This is the best place to confirm which court division handles family law and dissolution of marriage cases in Vanderburgh County.

Indiana's MyCase portal at public.courts.in.gov provides free public access to court records statewide, including Vanderburgh County. Search by name or case number. No account needed. Results show case type, filing date, party names, and current status. Most finalized dissolution cases appear in the system.

Doxpop at doxpop.com is a paid alternative used by attorneys and researchers who need to search across multiple counties or pull detailed case history. It covers Vanderburgh County records and may include older cases not fully indexed in MyCase.

Filing Requirements Under Indiana Law

Indiana calls the legal end of a marriage a "dissolution of marriage." The process is governed by Indiana Code Title 31, available at iga.in.gov. Specific filing rules are in IC 31-15-2-3.

To file in Vanderburgh County, at least one spouse must have lived in Indiana for six months and in Vanderburgh County for at least three months immediately before filing the petition. Both requirements must be met. If you recently moved to the area, you may need to wait before your case can be filed here.

Indiana is a no-fault state. The only ground recognized by law is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not have to prove that either spouse did something wrong. The court then works through dividing marital property and debts, setting spousal support if appropriate, and determining child custody and parenting time if children are involved. Property division rules are found in IC 31-15-7. Maintenance rules are at IC 31-15-4.

Indiana requires a 60-day waiting period. The court cannot enter a final decree until at least 60 days have passed from the date the petition was filed. For agreed cases where both parties have resolved all issues, proceedings can close relatively quickly after that window. Contested cases involving property disputes or child custody take longer, often significantly so.

Certified Copies and Records Access

Certified copies of dissolution decrees and related documents are available from the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Clerk's office in Evansville. You may need a certified copy to update a legal name, modify a deed or title, or provide proof of dissolution to a financial institution or employer. The clerk charges a per-page fee and a separate certification seal fee. Contact the office at (812) 435-5160 or by email to confirm current costs and accepted payment methods before you visit.

Mail requests are an option. Address them to P.O. Box 3356, Evansville, IN 47708. Include both party names, the filing year, and the case number if known. Enclose a check or money order for the fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk's office will process and return your request by mail. Allow several business days for turnaround.

Indiana's public records process is explained at in.gov/courts/public-records/how-to-request/. Most dissolution case files in Vanderburgh County are publicly available. Certain documents involving minor children, sealed exhibits, or protected financial records may have restricted access under Indiana court rules.

Legal Aid and Family Law Help

Indiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible Indiana residents, including those in Vanderburgh County. They handle family law matters including dissolution of marriage. Apply or check eligibility at indianalegalservices.org. For residents who cannot afford a private attorney, this is the primary statewide resource.

Evansville has a well-established legal community with multiple private law firms focused on family law and dissolution matters. The size of the city means there are more options here than in most Indiana counties. The Indiana State Bar Association's referral service can connect you with licensed attorneys who practice in Vanderburgh County. Many offer free or reduced-cost initial consultations.

For residents facing domestic violence alongside a dissolution filing, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence provides support at icadvinc.org and through their statewide hotline at 800-332-7385. Local organizations in Evansville also provide shelter, safety planning, and legal advocacy. You do not need to have filed for dissolution to reach out for help.

Cities in Vanderburgh County

Evansville is the major city in Vanderburgh County and has its own dissolution of marriage resources page.

Nearby Indiana Counties

Vanderburgh County is in southwest Indiana and is bordered by several other counties, each with its own clerk office and dissolution of marriage records.