Find Family Court Records in Clinton County

Clinton County family court records are kept at the Clinton County Courthouse in Frankfort, Indiana. This central Indiana county processes all family law matters through the circuit court, covering cases involving dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, and paternity. The county clerk's office maintains these records and can assist the public with searches and copy requests.

Clinton County Family Court Records at the Clerk's Office

The Clinton County Circuit Court Clerk maintains all family court records filed in Frankfort. This includes divorce petitions, custody orders, child support decrees, and paternity judgments. The clerk's office is the right place to go when you need copies of court documents or want to look up a case by name or number. Staff can run searches on their internal system and direct you to the records you need.

All family law cases in Clinton County are governed by Indiana law. Dissolution of marriage cases follow IC 31-15, which sets out the rules for filing, waiting periods, and what the court must consider when dividing property or handling custody. Every document filed in a dissolution case goes into the clerk's permanent records. Most of these documents are public and available to anyone, not just parties to the case.

Copy fees in Clinton County follow the standard Indiana rate of $1 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $3 per page for the certification stamp. Payments must be cash, money order, or cashier's check. The clerk's office does not accept personal checks. If you are making a large records request, call ahead so staff can prepare the documents before your visit.

Search Clinton County Family Court Records Online

The fastest way to look up a Clinton County family court case is through MyCase, Indiana's free public court search portal. You can search by party name, attorney name, or case number. The system returns case summaries, filing dates, and hearing schedules for active and closed cases. This covers divorce cases filed as DR, child support matters filed as CS, and paternity cases filed as JP in Clinton County.

MyCase does not include every document in a case file. It shows case-level information but not the full text of orders or decrees. If you need a copy of a specific document, such as a final dissolution decree or a child support order, contact the Clinton County Clerk's office to request it. The clerk can mail copies or have them ready for pickup. The Indiana Courts Public Records portal explains the full process for requesting court records across the state.

For in-person searches, the courthouse in Frankfort is open Monday through Friday. Bring the full name of at least one party, or a case number if you have it. Staff will search the index and pull up the case. If the case is older and not in the electronic system, it may take extra time to locate the physical file. Call ahead for records from before the mid-1990s.

Note: Records involving juvenile proceedings or cases sealed by court order are not searchable through MyCase. For those records, contact the clerk directly to learn what access, if any, is permitted.

Clinton County Family Court Records Through the Public Records Portal

Indiana's Courts Public Records portal provides statewide guidance on how to access court records, including those from Clinton County's circuit court.

Through this portal you can learn how to make a formal records request, understand what types of records are public, and find links to county-level clerk offices across Indiana. Clinton County family court records are subject to the same statewide public access rules that apply to all Indiana circuit courts.

Clinton County Child Support Cases and Enforcement

Child support in Clinton County is calculated under IC 31-16 using Indiana's Income Shares Model. This model combines both parents' gross incomes and factors in the number of children, parenting time, and certain expenses to arrive at a support obligation. The circuit court enters the support order, and the clerk files it as part of the case record.

Once a support order is in place, the Clinton County Prosecutor's Title IV-D office handles enforcement. This is a free service for custodial parents. The Title IV-D program can assist with income withholding, license suspension for non-payment, and other enforcement tools available under state law. For help opening an enforcement case or checking on payments, call the state Child Support Hotline at 800-840-8757. The hotline operates 24 hours a day with automated options. Live staff are available Monday through Friday, 7 am to 6 pm. Full information is on the Indiana Child Support Bureau website.

If you need to modify a support order in Clinton County, you must file a petition in the circuit court. Both parties must show a significant change in circumstances since the last order. Income changes, new children, or changes in parenting time may qualify. The court will not modify support retroactively beyond the date the petition is filed, so it is important to act promptly if a change is needed.

Legal Help for Family Court in Clinton County

If you need legal assistance with a family court case in Clinton County, several options are available. Indiana Legal Services offers free civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents, including representation in divorce, custody, and support matters. Contact their office to find out if you are eligible based on income guidelines.

The Indiana State Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service for people who need to find an attorney. Many family law attorneys offer free or reduced-cost initial consultations. Getting a consultation early in a case can help you understand your rights and options under Indiana law before you file anything with the court.

Indiana's Parenting Time Helpline is a free resource staffed by licensed attorneys. Call 844-836-0003 noon to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. The helpline answers questions about IC 31-17 custody and parenting time rules, including how to respond if the other parent is not following a court order. The Parenting Time Helpline page has more details. The Indiana Self-Service Legal Center also has forms and guides for handling your own family court case in Clinton County.

Note: The self-service center and helpline provide information and forms, not legal advice specific to your case. If your situation is complex, an attorney is worth the cost.

Cities in Clinton County

Clinton County includes Frankfort and several smaller towns and communities. No city in Clinton County currently meets the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. All family court cases for residents throughout the county are filed at the Clinton County Courthouse in Frankfort, regardless of which town you live in.

Frankfort is the county seat and the location of all circuit court functions, including family law filings and the clerk's records office.

Nearby Counties

Clinton County shares borders with several surrounding Indiana counties. If you need family court records from a neighboring county, the links below lead to those county pages.