Montgomery County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Montgomery County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Montgomery County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. MontgomeryCountyRecords.us aggregates publicly available data that may relate to court proceedings, property filings, and other county-level records. Depending on the case type and its current status, records that may be located through official sources include:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal case dockets and dispositions
- Family law matters, including divorce decrees and custody orders
- Probate filings and estate records
- Small claims case information
- Traffic and infraction records
Court records in Montgomery County may be searched through five primary methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Montgomery County Clerk's Office maintains official records for all cases filed in the county courts. Members of the public may visit the Clerk's Office in person during regular business hours to request case files, docket sheets, or certified copies. Requesters should provide the full name of a party, a case number, or the approximate filing date to assist staff in locating the record.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Montgomery County Courthouse. These terminals allow members of the public to search case information without charge during courthouse business hours. Terminal access is subject to the same confidentiality restrictions that apply to the underlying records.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Judicial Branch provides MyCase: Indiana Courts Case Search, a statewide online portal through which members of the public may search for case information by party name, case number, or attorney. As noted by the Indiana Supreme Court, "official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record."
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch public records portal provides guidance on locating court records statewide. If a document is not available online, the portal directs requesters to contact the clerk's office in the county where the case was heard.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public may submit written requests to the Montgomery County Clerk's Office by mail. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return address. Fees for copies apply and must be submitted with the request or upon receipt of an invoice from the Clerk.
Are Court Records Public In Montgomery County
Court records in Montgomery County are public under Indiana law. Indiana Code § 5-14-3, the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), establishes the right of members of the public to inspect and copy public records maintained by government agencies, including court-related offices. In addition, the Indiana Rules on Access to Court Records govern what judicial records are open to inspection and under what conditions access may be restricted.
Records that are public under current law include:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names and case numbers
- Filed pleadings, motions, and orders
- Final judgments and sentencing entries
- Probate inventories and estate orders
- Civil judgments and collection records
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) records
- Adoption proceedings
- Mental health commitment records
- Records sealed by court order
- Expunged criminal records under Indiana Code § 35-38-9
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect a broader range of records in person at the courthouse, not all records available for in-person review are accessible through online portals. The Indiana Supreme Court has noted that online access is subject to additional administrative rules that may limit what appears in statewide search tools.
What Are Court Records in Montgomery County?
Court records are the official documents and data generated by the judicial system in connection with a case from the moment of filing through final disposition and any subsequent appeal. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything the clerk of court receives, files, and maintains as part of a case file, including pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, and docket entries.
A docket entry is a chronological log of events in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents filed by the parties and issued by the court. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of law. Filed pleadings are the documents submitted by parties to initiate or respond to litigation, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
Public filings are those available for inspection by any member of the public, while sealed or restricted filings have been removed from public access by court order or by operation of law. Trial court records are maintained at the county level by the clerk of court, while appellate records are maintained by the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court, depending on the level of review.
In Montgomery County, the Clerk's Office is the primary custodian of trial court records. The Montgomery County Courts page on the Indiana Judicial Branch website provides contact information and links to case search tools. Records are created when a case is filed, updated as proceedings occur, and closed upon final disposition, though they remain subject to retention schedules and access rules thereafter.
What's Included in a Montgomery County Court Record?
A court record in Montgomery County may contain a range of documents and data 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: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and attorneys of record
- Case classification: Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, traffic) and current status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, rulings, and administrative actions
- Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and trial settings
- Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, briefs, notices, stipulations, and similar pleadings
- Court orders and judgments: Interlocutory orders, final judgments, sentencing entries, custody decrees, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and post-judgment entries
- Financial information: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
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 that have been placed under seal by court order or withheld pursuant to Indiana Administrative Rule 9, which governs access to court records statewide.
Types of Courts in Montgomery County
Montgomery County is served by a court structure established under the Indiana state judiciary system. The county currently operates the following courts:
- Montgomery Circuit Court — A court of general jurisdiction that hears felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law cases, probate proceedings, and juvenile matters.
- Montgomery Superior Court I — Handles civil cases, domestic relations matters, and related proceedings.
- Montgomery Superior Court II — Handles criminal cases and all types of civil cases, including domestic relations, torts, plenary actions, collection matters, and small claims.
The Montgomery County Clerk's Office serves as the official record-keeper for all three courts. The Indiana Court of Appeals and the Indiana Supreme Court handle appellate matters arising from Montgomery County trial courts.
What Types of Cases Do Montgomery County Courts Hear
Montgomery County courts exercise jurisdiction over a broad range of case types:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions
- Civil: Contract disputes, torts, collections, and plenary civil actions
- Family law: Divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and paternity
- Probate: Wills, estates, guardianships, and trusts
- Juvenile: Delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) proceedings
- Small claims: Disputes involving amounts within the statutory limit for small claims jurisdiction
- Traffic: Moving violations and related infractions
Superior Court II, as a court of general jurisdiction, handles both limited and general jurisdiction matters, including small claims proceedings that would otherwise fall within a limited-jurisdiction court in other Indiana counties.
How to Search Montgomery County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Montgomery County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection at the courthouse is free of charge; members of the public may review case files and docket entries without paying a fee. The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal is available online at no cost and allows searches by party name, case number, or attorney name.
Public access terminals located at the Montgomery County Courthouse also provide free case lookup during regular business hours. The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page provides additional guidance on accessing records without charge.
Fees apply in the following circumstances:
| Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard paper copies | $1.00 per page (Indiana statutory rate) |
| Certified copies | Additional certification fee per document |
| Electronic copies (where available) | Varies by court |
| Research by clerk staff | May be assessed for extensive requests |
Fees for copies are governed by Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8, which sets the permissible charges for reproduction of public records. Certified copies carry an additional fee established by the clerk's fee schedule.
Montgomery County Clerk's Office
100 E Main St
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
Phone: (765) 364-6430
Clerk's Office - Montgomery County, Indiana
How Long Does Montgomery County Keep Court Records?
Retention periods for court records in Montgomery County are governed by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and the judicial records retention schedules adopted under Indiana law. Retention varies by case type and record category:
- Felony criminal case files are retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the underlying proceedings.
- Misdemeanor and infraction records are subject to shorter retention schedules, though docket books and judgment records may be retained for longer periods.
- Civil case files are retained according to schedules that vary based on the nature of the judgment and whether an appeal was filed.
- Probate records involving wills and estate settlements are retained permanently in many jurisdictions given their ongoing legal significance.
- Juvenile records are subject to separate retention rules and may be sealed or destroyed upon the subject reaching adulthood, depending on the case type.
- Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official chronological record of court proceedings.
Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the destruction is authorized under the applicable retention schedule. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement: a sealed record still exists but is restricted from public access, while an expunged record is ordered removed from public view under Indiana Code § 35-38-9. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Indiana State Archives, depending on the age of the case and the county's archival practices.
How To Find a Court Docket in Montgomery County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all events, filings, and actions in a case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed by the parties. A docket entry may note that a motion was filed, but the docket itself does not reproduce the text of the motion.
Members of the public may locate a Montgomery County court docket through the following methods:
Online via MyCase: The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal allows members of the public to search for a case by party name or case number and view the docket entries associated with that case. The portal displays hearing dates, filing events, and status updates for cases within its database. Not all case types or older cases may appear in the online system.
In person at the Clerk's Office: Members of the public may request a printed docket sheet from the Montgomery County Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Staff can locate a docket using a case number, party name, or approximate filing date.
Courthouse public terminals: Terminals located at the courthouse allow members of the public to search docket information without charge.
A court docket typically contains:
- Case number and party names
- Filing date and case type
- Chronological list of all filings and court actions
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
- Minute entries reflecting what occurred at each hearing
- Status updates through final disposition
A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits placed under seal. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be separately available through the Montgomery County Courts page on the Indiana Judicial Branch website, which provides contact information for each court division.