Search Franklin County Family Court Records
Franklin County family court records are kept by the Franklin County Clerk at the courthouse in Brookville, Indiana. The clerk's office handles all dissolution, custody, child support, paternity, and protection order filings for the county. Indiana's free online system, MyCase, covers many Franklin County cases, and the clerk in Brookville can help you access records that are not available electronically.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Family Court Records at the Clerk's Office
The Franklin County Clerk maintains all official family court records for the county. That covers dissolution cases under IC 31-15, custody and parenting time cases under IC 31-17, and paternity actions under IC 31-14. The clerk's staff accept new filings, assign case numbers, collect court costs, and keep both physical and electronic files. Certified copies of decrees or court orders are available through this office.
Copies cost $1 per page. Certification adds $3 per document. Staff can search records by party name or case number. Bring a valid photo ID if you visit in person. The clerk does not give legal advice, but they can tell you which forms apply to your case and where to get them.
Franklin County operates a circuit court that handles all family law matters for the county. The courthouse is on Main Street in Brookville. If you are traveling from out of the area, call ahead at 765-647-5111 so staff can pull the file or confirm the record you need exists in the system before you arrive.
| Clerk's Office | Franklin County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Franklin County Courthouse 459 Main St Brookville, IN 47012 |
| Phone | 765-647-5111 |
| 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 |
The Indiana Courts Trial Courts Directory lists up-to-date contact information for the Franklin County circuit court and confirms which cases each division handles.
Note: Sealed files and pre-electronic records may not appear online. Contact the Franklin County Clerk at 765-647-5111 to confirm availability before visiting Brookville.
Searching Franklin County Family Court Records
The state's free public case portal, MyCase, is the easiest way to search Franklin County family court records. No account is needed. Search by party name, case number, or attorney. The system returns case type, filing date, and scheduled hearings. It runs 24 hours a day. Most recent and active Franklin County family cases appear in MyCase, though older filings and sealed records may require an in-person visit to Brookville.
The Indiana Courts Public Records Portal explains the process for requesting records not available in MyCase. Franklin County does not operate its own local case search portal. For older or paper-only records, call the clerk at 765-647-5111 before making the trip to Brookville. The How to Request Records page on the Indiana Courts website also explains the full process for requesting copies of family court documents from county clerks.
When you visit in person, give staff both party names and the approximate year of filing. The more detail you provide, the faster staff can pull the right file. For pre-electronic records, expect some extra time for retrieval from off-site storage.
Indiana's official How to Request Records guide walks through each step of getting a copy of a Franklin County family court file from the clerk in Brookville.
Franklin County Child Support and Paternity
Child support amounts in Franklin County follow the Income Shares Model under IC 31-16. Both parents' gross incomes go into the calculation. The result is meant to give the child the same level of financial support they would have had if the family had stayed intact. Support orders are on file with the Franklin County Clerk as part of the public family court record.
The Indiana Child Support Bureau handles Title IV-D services for families that need help with support cases. The bureau can locate a non-custodial parent, open a case, set or change an order, and enforce payments through wage withholding, tax intercept, and license suspension. Service is available to all families. Call the Child Support Hotline at 800-840-8757 to check case status or payment history. Automated service runs 24 hours a day; live agents answer weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Paternity in Franklin County is handled under IC 31-14. The court must establish paternity before entering a custody or support order for children born outside of marriage. Parents can sign a voluntary acknowledgment at the hospital or file a paternity action through the Franklin County circuit court clerk in Brookville.
Note: Child support enforcement and paternity establishment are separate from custody matters, which require their own court proceedings.
Legal Help in Franklin County
Residents who qualify based on income may receive free legal help through Indiana Legal Services. Their attorneys handle dissolution, custody, and protection order matters. Contact them to verify eligibility and find which office covers Franklin County.
The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center provides free forms and step-by-step guides for dissolution, custody changes, and child support petitions. It is a solid resource for people who plan to represent themselves in Franklin County court. The guides are organized by case type and use plain language.
The Parenting Time Helpline connects you with licensed attorneys who explain Indiana's parenting time guidelines at no cost. Call 844-836-0003, Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m.
If you need a private attorney, the Indiana State Bar Association provides lawyer referrals for the Franklin County area. Private counsel is worth seeking when your case involves contested custody, significant property, or safety concerns.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County is a smaller rural county in southeastern Indiana near the Ohio border. Brookville is the county seat. Other communities in the county include Batesville (which extends into Ripley County), Cedar Grove, and Metamora. None of the communities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All residents file family court cases through the Franklin County Courthouse in Brookville.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County is in southeastern Indiana, bordering Ohio. Your county of residence at the time of filing is the correct jurisdiction for most family court matters.