Find Family Court Records in Daviess County
Daviess County family court records are kept by the Daviess County Clerk at the courthouse in Washington, Indiana. The clerk's office handles all filings for dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, paternity, and protection orders in the county. Many records are available through Indiana's free MyCase portal, and the clerk's office is open weekdays for in-person requests and certified copy services.
Daviess County Quick Facts
Daviess County Family Court Records at the Clerk's Office
The Daviess County Clerk is the official keeper of all family court records in the county. Every dissolution, custody case, child support filing, and protection order petition gets assigned a case number and entered into the record at this office. Staff collect court costs, maintain case files in both electronic and paper form, and can produce copies or certified copies of any document in the public record. If you need to locate a family court case filed in Daviess County, the clerk's office in Washington is the right place to start.
Certified copies of court documents cost $1 per page. Certification adds $3 per document. Bring a photo ID. Staff can search files by party name or case number. The clerk does not give legal advice, but staff can tell you what is on file, confirm a hearing date, and direct you to forms needed for common filings. If you are looking for a record from a specific time period, providing both a party name and approximate year of filing will help the search go faster.
Daviess County uses a circuit court and a superior court to handle family law cases. Dissolution matters are governed by IC 31-15 and custody and parenting time cases by IC 31-17. Both courts file all records through the Daviess County Clerk's office at the courthouse on E Walnut Street in Washington.
| Clerk's Office | Daviess County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Daviess County Courthouse 200 E Walnut St Washington, IN 47501 |
| Phone | 812-254-8690 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Copy Fees | $1 per page; $3 certification per document |
| Payment | Cash, money order, or cashier's check |
Note: Certified copies of final dissolution decrees and custody orders are not available online. Call 812-254-8690 to request copies by mail or to schedule an in-person visit to the clerk's office.
Searching Daviess County Family Court Records
Indiana's free public case search tool, MyCase, covers Daviess County circuit and superior court cases. No account is needed. Search by party name, case number, or attorney name to pull up basic case details like the filing date, case type, and any scheduled hearings. MyCase works around the clock and covers all Indiana counties in the same system. It is the fastest starting point for any family court records search in Daviess County.
Records not available online include older paper-only files, sealed documents, and physical exhibits. For those, call ahead at 812-254-8690 so staff can locate the file before you arrive. The Indiana Courts Public Records Portal explains what is available electronically and provides guidance on submitting written requests for records that are not posted online. The How to Request Records page walks through that process clearly.
The Indiana Courts Family Legal Resources page links to help organizations, forms, and court guidance statewide, including resources for Daviess County residents navigating family court matters.
The page is part of the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center and covers common family law situations from start to finish.
Daviess County Child Support and Custody Cases
Child support in Daviess County is calculated by the court using Indiana's Income Shares Model under IC 31-16. Both parents' gross incomes go into the calculation. The resulting support amount is meant to match what the child would have received had the family stayed together. Once entered, the order becomes part of the official case record filed with the Daviess County Clerk. Changing the amount requires going back to court and showing a substantial change in circumstances.
The Indiana Child Support Bureau offers Title IV-D services to Daviess County families at no cost. The Bureau can locate a non-custodial parent, establish paternity, set up wage withholding, and pursue enforcement actions including tax intercepts and license suspension. You do not have to receive public benefits to use these services. The Bureau works with the local circuit and superior courts to process cases in Daviess County.
Paternity cases in Daviess County are handled under IC 31-14. Paternity must be legally established before the court can enter a custody or support order for a child born outside of marriage. Parents who agree can sign a Paternity Affidavit at the hospital at birth or later through the health department without going to court. If paternity is disputed, the Daviess County circuit court resolves the matter through a formal hearing.
Call the Child Support Hotline at 800-840-8757 to get case status, payment history, and hearing information. The automated system runs 24 hours. Live agents work weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Legal Help for Daviess County Family Court Cases
Indiana Legal Services provides free civil legal help to residents who qualify based on income. Their attorneys handle dissolution, custody, and protection order cases throughout Indiana, including Daviess County. Contact Indiana Legal Services to check eligibility and find the regional office that covers southwestern Indiana.
The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center has forms and plain-language guides for common family court actions. You can download dissolution packets, custody modification forms, and child support petition guides. The center does not provide legal advice, but the resources are detailed and practical. Parents with questions about visitation can also call the Parenting Time Helpline at 844-836-0003 on weekdays from noon to 5:00 p.m. Licensed attorneys answer calls for free.
For private representation, the Indiana State Bar Association offers a referral service to connect you with a family law attorney in the Washington or Daviess County area. If your case is contested or involves significant assets, a private attorney is usually the better path forward. The bar's referral service is a good starting point if you don't already know a local attorney.
Cities in Daviess County
Daviess County is a southwestern Indiana county with Washington as its county seat and the location of the county courthouse. Other towns in the county include Odon, Montgomery, and Elnora. None of these communities reach the population threshold for a separate city records page. All residents of Daviess County, regardless of which town they call home, file their family court cases at the courthouse in Washington.
Nearby Counties
Daviess County is situated in southwestern Indiana and shares borders with Knox, Martin, Greene, and Sullivan counties. Your county of residence at the time of filing typically determines which court handles your family law case.