Clinton County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Clinton County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Clinton County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. ClintonINRecords.us provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by government agencies in Clinton County. Depending on the case type and the stage of proceedings, records may include civil filings, criminal case histories, family court matters, probate proceedings, traffic citations, and small claims judgments. Access to specific documents may vary based on case type, court rules, and applicable confidentiality provisions under Indiana law.
Court records in Clinton County may be searched through the following methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Clinton County Clerk of Courts maintains the official record for cases filed in the county's trial courts. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person to request case files, docket sheets, or certified copies of court documents. Providing the full case number, party name, or approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.
Clinton County Clerk of Courts
265 Courthouse Square
Frankfort, IN 46041
Phone: (765) 659-6335
Clinton County Government
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access terminals are available at the Clinton County Courthouse for in-person case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search case dockets and view basic case information without charge during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Judicial Branch operates mycase.in.gov, a statewide online portal through which members of the public may search for case information and view certain documents filed in Indiana trial courts, including those in Clinton County. Search results may include docket entries, hearing dates, party names, and case status.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch provides statewide access to court information through its official website. The portal supports searches by case number, party name, or attorney of record across multiple court levels.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Clinton County Clerk of Courts. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or prepayment for copy fees where applicable.
Are Court Records Public in Clinton County
Court records in Clinton County are subject to the public access provisions established under Indiana Code § 5-14-3, the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, as well as the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records promulgated by the Indiana Supreme Court. Under current law, the majority of court records are presumed open to public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption or court order restricts access.
Records that are accessible to the public include:
- Case dockets and docket entries
- Party names and case numbers
- Hearing dates and court calendars
- Filed motions, complaints, and petitions
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation orders
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) records
- Adoption proceedings
- Mental health commitment records
- Expunged criminal records under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
- Records sealed by court order
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
As the Indiana Supreme Court has stated in its administrative rules, "the public has a right of access to court records," while also recognizing that "certain information in court records must be excluded from public access to protect privacy, safety, and other important interests." There is a distinction between courthouse inspection rights and online availability: some records accessible in person at the clerk's office may not be reproduced in the statewide online portal due to administrative rules governing remote access.
What Are Court Records in Clinton County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court or its clerk in connection with judicial proceedings. In Clinton County, court records are generated from the moment a case is initiated through filing and continue to be updated through each stage of litigation, including hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition. Upon appeal, the trial court record is transmitted to the appellate court, where it becomes part of the appellate record.
The distinction between record types is significant for access purposes:
- Docket entries are the chronological log of events in a case, including filings, hearings, and orders. A full case file includes the actual documents underlying those entries.
- Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties, government entities, or both, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a criminal offense.
- Filed pleadings are the initial documents submitted by parties, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
- Public filings are accessible to any member of the public, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public view by court order or statute.
- Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the trial court, while appellate records are maintained by the Indiana Court of Appeals or Indiana Supreme Court.
The Clinton County Clerk of Courts serves as the official custodian of trial court records for cases filed in the county. The Indiana Judicial Branch maintains statewide access tools and provides guidance on locating records across court levels.
What's Included in a Clinton County Court Record?
A court record in Clinton County may contain a range of documents and data entries depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public access rules. The following categories of information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification information: case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type
- Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, attorneys of record, and guardians ad litem
- Case status: open, closed, pending appeal, or transferred
- Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings, hearings, rulings, and administrative actions
- Hearing information: scheduled and past hearing dates, continuances, and courtroom assignments
- Filed documents: motions, complaints, petitions, answers, responses, notices, affidavits, and supporting exhibits where not restricted
- Court orders and judgments: interlocutory orders, summary judgment rulings, final judgments, decrees, and sentencing entries
- Outcome information: dismissals, verdicts, guilty pleas, convictions, acquittals, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative data: filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly displayed
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The Indiana Supreme Court's Administrative Rules govern which categories of information must be excluded from public access even when the underlying case is otherwise open.
Types of Courts in Clinton County
Clinton County is served by a court structure established under the Indiana unified trial court system. The Indiana Judicial Branch's Clinton County page identifies the courts currently operating in the county and provides contact information for the clerk's office and judicial officers.
The courts serving Clinton County include:
- Clinton Circuit Court: A court of general jurisdiction that hears felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law proceedings, probate matters, and juvenile cases.
- Clinton Superior Court: Also a court of general jurisdiction, handling civil, criminal, family, and other matters as assigned under the county's local court rules.
- Small Claims Division: Handles disputes involving limited monetary amounts, currently set at $10,000 or less under Indiana law.
The Clinton County Clerk of Courts maintains the official record for all cases filed in these courts. Appellate matters are heard by the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court, which maintain their own records systems.
What Types of Cases Do Clinton County Courts Hear
Clinton County courts hear a broad range of case types across their jurisdictions:
- Criminal cases: Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions prosecuted by the State of Indiana
- Civil cases: Contract disputes, personal injury claims, property matters, and other civil litigation
- Family law: Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, custody, and support matters
- Probate: Estate administration, guardianship, and trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of services (CHINS) cases
- Traffic: Moving violations and related infractions
- Small claims: Monetary disputes within the jurisdictional limit
- Appeals: Limited appellate review of certain administrative and lower court decisions
How to Search Clinton County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may access certain court records in Clinton County at no cost through the following methods:
| Method | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-person inspection at clerk's office | Free | No charge to view records on-site |
| Public access terminals at courthouse | Free | Available during business hours |
| mycase.in.gov online search | Free | Basic case information and some documents |
| Certified copies of documents | Fee applies | Typically $1.00 per page plus certification fee |
| Non-certified copies | Fee applies | Set by clerk fee schedule |
| Research by clerk staff | Fee may apply | Varies by request complexity |
In-person inspection of court records at the Clinton County Clerk of Courts is available without charge during regular business hours. The statewide mycase.in.gov portal provides free access to basic case information, docket entries, and certain documents for cases filed in Indiana trial courts.
Fees for copies of court records are governed by Indiana Code § 33-37-5-1, which establishes the clerk's authority to collect fees for copies and certified documents. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee beyond the per-page copy charge. Members of the public seeking large volumes of records or research assistance from clerk staff may be subject to additional fees as established by local court rules.
How Long Does Clinton County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Clinton County is governed by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and the retention schedules applicable to judicial records under Indiana administrative rules. Retention periods vary by case type and record category:
- Criminal felony records: Retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the offense
- Criminal misdemeanor records: Retained for a minimum period following case closure, subject to applicable schedules
- Civil judgment records: Retained for the duration of the judgment's enforceability and beyond
- Probate records: Many probate records are retained permanently due to their significance to property and estate matters
- Traffic and infraction records: Subject to shorter retention schedules
- Docket books and minute records: Retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives rather than in electronic systems. Paper files may be destroyed following imaging or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention schedule permits destruction and the record has been properly preserved in an alternative format. The distinction between destruction, archival retention, sealing, and expungement is significant: destruction removes the physical record, archival retention preserves it in a non-active repository, sealing restricts access while preserving the record, and expungement under Indiana Code § 35-38-9 limits public access to certain criminal records upon court order.
How To Find a Court Docket in Clinton County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all actions taken in a case, distinct from the full case file. While the full case file contains the actual documents filed by parties and issued by the court, the docket is the index or log of those events, including filing dates, hearing dates, continuances, motions filed, orders entered, and case status updates. The docket does not include the full text of filed documents unless those documents are separately attached or available through the court's electronic filing system.
Members of the public may locate a court docket in Clinton County through the following methods:
- mycase.in.gov: The Indiana Judicial Branch's statewide portal allows users to search for cases by party name, case number, or attorney. Once a case is located, the docket sheet is displayed with entries listed in chronological order. Some document images are available directly through the portal, while others require an in-person request.
- Courthouse public access terminals: Terminals located at the Clinton County Courthouse provide docket access during business hours without charge.
- Clerk of Courts in person: Staff at the Clinton County Clerk of Courts can provide docket sheets upon request. Providing the case number or full party name expedites the search.
- Hearing calendars: The Clinton County courts may publish daily or weekly hearing calendars, which list scheduled proceedings by courtroom and date. These calendars are separate from individual case dockets and reflect upcoming court activity rather than historical case entries.
A docket entry reflects the official record of what occurred in a proceeding but may not include sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits restricted from public access. As the Indiana Judicial Branch notes regarding public records, "if the document you're looking for isn't available online, you'll need to contact the clerk's office in the county where the case is being heard." Members of the public who cannot locate a docket entry through online tools may submit a written request to the Clinton County Clerk of Courts at 265 Courthouse Square, Frankfort, IN 46041.