Daviess County Court Records
What Is Daviess County Court Records
Court records in Daviess County, Indiana, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts of hearings and trials, exhibits admitted into evidence, sentencing records, and warrant information. Each document type serves a distinct function within the judicial process and collectively forms the official record of a case from initiation through final disposition.
Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, for example, are held by the Daviess County Recorder's Office, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are administered by the Indiana Department of Health or the local health department. Court records, by contrast, are generated exclusively through judicial proceedings and are maintained by the clerk of the court in which the case was filed.
In Daviess County, the following courts maintain official court records:
- Daviess Circuit Court – handles felony criminal cases, civil matters, probate, and family law
- Daviess Superior Court – handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases, small claims, and traffic matters
- Daviess County Small Claims Court – a division of the Superior Court handling minor civil disputes
- Probate Court – administered through the Circuit Court, handling estates, guardianships, and trusts
- Family Court – handles dissolution of marriage, child custody, and support matters
Records maintained by these courts cover civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Under Indiana Code § 29-1-1-1, the Indiana General Assembly establishes the framework governing probate and related court proceedings, while Indiana Code § 33-23-1-2 defines the jurisdiction and record-keeping responsibilities of Indiana trial courts. Members of the public seeking information about the local court structure may consult the Daviess County – Indiana Judicial Branch page for current jurisdictional details.
Are Court Records Public In Daviess County
Court records in Daviess County are presumptively open to the public under Indiana law. The Indiana Access to Public Records Act, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, establishes that public agencies — including courts — must make records available for inspection and copying by any member of the public upon request. Additionally, Indiana Administrative Rule 9 governs access to court records specifically and affirms that most judicial records are accessible to the public unless a specific exemption applies.
The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection in Daviess County:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
- Hearing schedules and calendars
- Sentencing records in criminal matters
- Probate filings, including wills admitted to probate and estate inventories
It is important to distinguish between Indiana state court records and federal court records. Federal cases involving parties in Daviess County are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and are accessible through the federal PACER system, which operates independently of the Indiana state court system. The Indiana Supreme Court has adopted Administrative Rule 9 to provide a uniform statewide framework for public access to court records, and the Indiana Judicial Branch: Public Records page provides authoritative guidance on what records are accessible and how to submit access requests.
How To Find Court Records in Daviess County in 2026
Members of the public may obtain Daviess County court records through several official channels. The primary method is to contact or visit the Daviess County Clerk's Office, which serves as the official custodian of all trial court records in the county.
Steps to obtain records in person:
- Visit the Daviess County Clerk's Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Provide the case number, party name, or approximate filing date to assist staff in locating the record
- Complete any required request form provided by the clerk
- Pay applicable copying fees, if copies are requested (inspection is generally free)
- Receive copies or review records at the public counter
Steps to obtain records by mail:
- Prepare a written request identifying the case by name, number, or filing date
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for copying fees if applicable
- Mail the request to the Daviess County Clerk's Office
Daviess County Clerk's Office 200 E Walnut St, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8664 Daviess County Government Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
How To Look Up Court Records in Daviess County Online?
Several online portals currently provide access to Daviess County court records without requiring an in-person visit. The primary statewide resource is the Indiana Courts Portal, which aggregates case information from participating Indiana trial courts, including those in Daviess County.
Indiana Courts Portal (mycase.in.gov / portal.courts.in.gov)
The Indiana Courts Portal is the official statewide platform for accessing Indiana court case information. Members of the public may use this portal to:
- Search for civil and criminal case records by party name or case number
- View docket entries and case status
- Access court calendars and scheduled hearings
- Pay court fees online
- Receive case notifications (registration required for notification features)
Search steps using the Indiana Courts Portal:
- Navigate to the Indiana Courts Portal at portal.courts.in.gov
- Select "Case Search" from the main navigation menu
- Enter the party's name, case number, or attorney information in the search fields
- Filter results by county (select "Daviess") and case type as needed
- Select the relevant case from the results list to view docket entries and available documents
Indiana Judicial Branch – Local Court Information
The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains a dedicated page for Daviess County that provides links to local court rules, judge information, and contact details. Members of the public may access this resource through the Daviess County – Indiana Judicial Branch page.
How To Search Daviess County Court Records for Free?
Indiana law currently guarantees the right to inspect public court records at no charge. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, a public agency may charge fees only for the reproduction of records, not for the act of inspection itself. Accordingly, members of the public may review court records in person at the Daviess County Clerk's Office without incurring any fee.
The following resources are available at no cost:
- Indiana Courts Portal (portal.courts.in.gov) – Free case search and docket viewing for most case types; no registration required for basic searches
- Indiana Judicial Branch Public Records page – Provides free guidance on how to access records and links to county clerk offices; accessible through the Indiana Judicial Branch: Public Records portal
- In-person inspection at the Daviess County Clerk's Office – Free review of physical case files during public counter hours
Fees apply only when requesting paper copies of documents, and the clerk's office is authorized to charge a reasonable per-page fee for reproductions. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee as established by Indiana statute.
What's Included in a Daviess County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary depending on the type of case and the stage of proceedings. The following outlines what is typically included across major case categories:
Civil Case Records:
- Complaint and summons
- Defendant's answer and counterclaims
- Motions and supporting briefs
- Court orders and rulings
- Judgment entries
- Exhibits admitted into evidence
- Transcripts of hearings
Criminal Case Records:
- Charging documents (information or indictment)
- Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
- Plea agreements
- Pre-sentence investigation reports (access may be restricted)
- Sentencing orders
- Probation terms and conditions
- Appellate filings
Family Law Records:
- Petition for dissolution of marriage
- Child custody and parenting time orders
- Child support orders and modification filings
- Domestic violence protective orders
Probate Records:
- Petitions for probate of will
- Inventory of estate assets
- Accountings and final distributions
- Guardianship and conservatorship orders
Traffic and Infraction Records:
- Citation information
- Hearing notices
- Judgment of conviction or dismissal
- License suspension orders
How Long Does Daviess County Keep Court Records?
Daviess County courts retain records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and the Indiana Supreme Court. Retention periods vary by record type and case category.
Current retention periods for principal record types include:
- Felony criminal case files – Retained permanently
- Misdemeanor criminal case files – Retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Civil case files (general) – Retained for 10 years following final judgment
- Probate records – Retained permanently
- Juvenile records – Subject to restricted access; retained until the subject reaches age 23 or for a minimum of 5 years after the case closes, whichever is later
- Small claims records – Retained for 10 years following judgment
- Traffic infraction records – Retained for a minimum of 5 years
These schedules are established pursuant to Indiana Code § 5-15-6-3, which authorizes the Indiana Commission on Public Records to set mandatory retention schedules for all public agencies, including courts. The Daviess County Clerk's Office follows these schedules and may transfer older records to archival storage, though such records remain accessible upon request.
Types of Courts In Daviess County
Daviess County is served by two principal trial courts operating within the Indiana unified court system. Both courts are courts of record and exercise jurisdiction over matters arising within the county.
Daviess Circuit Court 200 E Walnut St, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8664 Daviess County – Indiana Judicial Branch Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Daviess Superior Court 200 E Walnut St, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8664 Daviess County – Indiana Judicial Branch Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Court Hierarchy in Indiana:
The Indiana court system follows a defined hierarchical structure:
- Daviess Circuit Court / Daviess Superior Court – Trial-level courts of general jurisdiction
- Indiana Court of Appeals – Intermediate appellate court reviewing decisions from trial courts
- Indiana Supreme Court – Court of last resort; issues final rulings on matters of Indiana law and adopts statewide court rules
What Types of Cases Do Daviess County Courts Hear?
Each court in Daviess County exercises jurisdiction over specific categories of cases as defined by Indiana statute.
Daviess Circuit Court hears:
- Felony criminal cases (Level 1 through Level 6 felonies)
- Major civil cases involving amounts exceeding the Superior Court's jurisdictional threshold
- Probate matters, including estate administration and guardianships
- Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage and child custody
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) cases
- Mental health commitment proceedings
Daviess Superior Court hears:
- Misdemeanor criminal cases
- Civil cases, including small claims matters (disputes up to $10,000)
- Traffic infractions and ordinance violations
- Protective order proceedings
- Initial hearings and preliminary matters in felony cases
How To Find a Court Docket In Daviess County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and orders in a given case. Members of the public may access Daviess County court dockets through the following methods:
Online Search via the Indiana Courts Portal:
- Visit the Indiana Courts Portal
- Select the case search function
- Enter the party name or case number and filter by Daviess County
- Select the case to view the full docket, including filing dates, hearing entries, and orders
In-Person Docket Review:
Members of the public may visit the Daviess County Clerk's Office to review docket sheets for any case on file. Staff can assist in locating cases by party name, case number, or filing date during regular business hours.
Daviess County Clerk's Office 200 E Walnut St, Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-8664 Daviess County Government Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Which Courts in Daviess County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court not of record is a judicial tribunal that does not maintain a verbatim transcript or official record of its proceedings in the same manner as a court of record. Decisions issued by courts not of record are generally subject to de novo review — meaning the case is reheard in full — rather than appellate review based on a written record.
Under Indiana Code § 33-29-1-1, city courts and town courts in Indiana may be established as courts not of record. At present, Daviess County does not operate an active city or town court that functions as a court not of record. The Daviess Circuit Court and Daviess Superior Court are both courts of record, meaning all proceedings are officially documented and subject to the full appellate review process.
In Indiana, initial hearings before certain administrative bodies or local boards may also lack formal record status, but such proceedings are distinct from the judicial court system. Any matter originating before a non-record tribunal and appealed to the Circuit or Superior Court is subject to a full de novo hearing at the trial court level.