Search Orange County Family Court Records
Orange County family court records are filed with and maintained by the Orange County Clerk at the courthouse in Paoli, Indiana. The clerk handles dissolution of marriage, child custody, parenting time, child support, and paternity cases, and Indiana's free online tools give the public access to many of these records without a visit to the courthouse.
Orange County Quick Facts
Orange County Family Court Records at the Clerk's Office
The Orange County Clerk is the official keeper of all family court records in the county. Every dissolution case, custody petition, child support order, and paternity filing goes through this office. Staff accept new cases, assign case numbers, collect required fees, and maintain the complete set of case files that form the public record. If you need to file a new family court matter or retrieve records from an old one, the clerk's office in Paoli is where you start.
Orange County operates both a circuit court and a superior court that handle family law matters. The county's official website at orangecounty.in.gov provides contact information for county offices and departments, including the clerk and both courts. This is a good first stop if you want to confirm current office information before you call or visit.
Record copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $3 fee per document. Staff search by party name or case number. Bring a valid photo ID when you come in person. Clerks can help you find the right forms and confirm what's in a file, but they cannot give legal advice. Dissolution cases in Indiana fall under IC 31-15, and custody and parenting time matters are governed by IC 31-17. All records from both courts are on file at the Orange County Courthouse in Paoli.
| Clerk's Office | Orange County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Orange County Courthouse 205 E Main St Paoli, IN 47454 |
| Phone | 812-723-2649 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Copy Fees | $1 per page; $3 certification per document |
| County Website | orangecounty.in.gov |
Note: Final dissolution decrees are not available for download from any online system. You must contact the Orange County Clerk directly to get a certified copy of a divorce decree.
The Orange County government website provides contact information for the clerk's office, both courts, and other county departments that handle family-related services.
The site lists contact details for the circuit court, superior court, clerk, probation, and other offices in Paoli.
Searching Family Court Records in Orange County
Indiana's free public case search tool, MyCase, is the best place to start searching Orange County family court records. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or attorney without creating an account. The system shows case type, filing date, party names, and upcoming hearings. MyCase runs around the clock and covers all Indiana counties including Orange. For most searches, it provides what you need in seconds.
The Indiana Courts Public Records Portal is the statewide access point and links to MyCase along with other tools and guidance on requesting records not in the online system. Not every document is available electronically. Older paper records, sealed filings, and exhibits may only exist at the courthouse in Paoli. For those records, contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person during business hours.
For in-person searches, go to the Orange County Courthouse during regular hours. Staff search by name or case number and can pull files while you wait for recent cases. For older paper records, calling 812-723-2649 before your visit allows staff to locate and retrieve the file ahead of time. This saves time and is especially helpful for records from before the county moved to electronic filing.
The Indiana Courts Trial Courts Directory lists contact information for every county court in Indiana. Use it to find specific court divisions in Orange County or to confirm direct contact numbers for court staff in Paoli.
The Indiana Courts Public Records Portal provides access to case search tools and instructions for requesting family court records from any Indiana county including Orange County.
The portal links to MyCase and explains how to request records that are not available in the online system.
Orange County Child Support Services
Child support in Orange County is calculated using Indiana's Income Shares Model under IC 31-16. The court uses both parents' incomes to set a support amount that reflects what the child would have received if the family had stayed together. Once the court enters the order, it becomes part of the family court record on file with the Orange County Clerk in Paoli.
The Indiana Child Support Bureau offers Title IV-D services to Orange County families. These services include establishing new orders, modifying existing ones when financial circumstances change, and enforcing payments that fall behind. Enforcement options include wage withholding, tax intercepts, and license suspension. All families can use these services, not just those receiving public assistance. Contact the Child Support Bureau to learn more or to start a case.
For quick questions about a support case, call the Indiana Child Support Hotline at 800-840-8757. The automated system runs all day and night. Live agents are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can check payment history, case status, and upcoming hearings through this line.
Paternity cases in Orange County are filed under IC 31-14. Legal paternity must be established before the court can enter custody or support orders for a child born outside of marriage. The Orange County Clerk handles these filings the same way it handles all other family court matters in Paoli.
Note: The Child Support Bureau handles financial support matters only. Custody, parenting time, and property questions are separate matters that need court action and, in most cases, legal assistance beyond what the bureau provides.
Legal Help in Orange County
For free civil legal help in Orange County, Indiana Legal Services assists income-qualifying residents statewide. Their attorneys handle dissolution, custody, and protection order cases. Contact the organization to find out which office covers Orange County and whether your income qualifies you for free representation.
The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center provides court-approved forms and plain-language instructions for common family court actions. Forms for dissolution, custody modifications, and support petitions are available at no cost. The center doesn't give legal advice, but the guides are detailed and clear enough for most people handling a straightforward case on their own.
The Parenting Time Helpline connects you with licensed Indiana attorneys who answer parenting time questions free of charge. Call 844-836-0003, Monday through Friday from noon to 5:00 p.m. This is a good resource if you have specific questions about visitation schedules or parenting plan issues and need quick guidance without hiring an attorney.
For private legal representation, the Indiana State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. A family law attorney familiar with Orange County courts can help with contested divorces, custody disputes that cannot be resolved informally, or support cases with complex or unusual facts. The bar can match you with someone who knows the local courts in Paoli.
Cities in Orange County
Orange County is a southern Indiana county with Paoli as the county seat. Other communities in the county include French Lick, West Baden Springs, Lick Creek, and Orleans. None of the cities and towns in Orange County reach the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All family court cases for Orange County residents are filed at the courthouse in Paoli, and the clerk's office there serves all residents across the county.
Nearby Counties
Orange County borders several counties in southern Indiana. Your county of residence at the time of filing is generally the right jurisdiction for most family court matters.