Bartholomew County, Indiana Court Records
Bartholomew County court records are official records of proceedings heard in the Circuit and Superior Courts. These are the trial courts for the area, and the records they generate encompass criminal, civil, probate, family, juvenile, and small claims matters.
The Bartholomew County Clerk (who is also the Clerk of the Circuit Court) is the official court recordkeeper. Access to materials in the Clerk's office varies according to the type of matter before the court and the actions taken during the proceedings.
In some situations, records may be more open, while in others, access is limited based on court rules and case status. Some common documents maintained by the Clerk are petitions, motions, affidavits, evidentiary exhibits, orders, decrees, judgments, docket entries, and registers of actions.
Exhibits, in particular, may include materials obtained from other public sources that are included in a case. Examples are arrest reports or coroner reports in criminal cases, as well as tax or property records in civil claims.
Are Bartholomew County Court Records Public?
Yes. Indiana's general access rule (Ind. Access to Ct. Recs. R. 4) promotes unconditional public access to most court records. This principle applies whether the record is filed by an attorney or issued by a judge, stored in manual systems or electronic databases, obtained from a party or an external source, or maintained in paper, image, audio, or video formats.
However, an individual who visits the Clerk's office and requests access to a mental health case file may leave disappointed. This is because certain types of court records are legally excluded from general access rules, often for privacy reasons. These exceptions are outlined in Ind. Access to Ct. Recs. R. 5 and include
- Records made confidential under federal or state statute
- Records made confidential by a rule of court or court order
- Medical and mental health records
- Records sealed under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA)
- Bank numbers and personal identity numbers
- Case files that include active search warrants or investigative data
What Information is Available in Bartholomew County Court Records?
Interested persons may view the following in Bartholomew County court records. Note that the specific documents available in a case file often depend on the case type and complexity.
- Petitions and complaints
- Answers and other responsive pleadings
- Motions filed by the parties
- Affidavits and sworn statements
- Court orders and rulings
- Judgments and decrees
- Court dockets and registers of actions
Bartholomew County Court Records Search
Record seekers can search for Bartholomew court records through these official channels:
Online Access
The Clerk offers electronic case summaries through the statewide MyCase Search, which has three query modes. The "Case" mode allows users to enter a case or citation number. The "Name" mode enables searches by a person's or business name and a date of birth. Finally, the "Attorney" mode lets people look up cases associated with a specific lawyer by searching for their name or bar number.
To complete the search setup, users should select "Bartholomew County" as the county. One can also choose to search by case status, case type, or filing date.
Information available through the MyCase Search system includes
- Case number, court, type of case, filing date, and case status
- List of parties and their roles
- List of charges and bonds (in criminal cases)
- Chronological register of actions
- PDFs of petitions, motions, or orders, as applicable
- Paid or payable court fees, fines, or costs
It is worth noting that Indiana runs a unique system regarding what the public can download through MyCase. In general, petitions, motions, and orders in most civil cases are available, but only PDFs of sentencing orders are attached to criminal case summaries. Conversely, records in domestic relations, probate, and juvenile cases are blocked entirely.
The Indiana Judiciary offers additional resources for online searches of related records. For example, the Marriage License Public Lookup, which is searchable by applicant name, allows the public to view marriage license information recorded since 1993. Bartholomew County Archives offers a similar service for historical deeds, estates, Circuit Court, and probate books. Searchers can select a category, then enter a name or keyword to bring up records from 1821 to the early 1900s.
People purely looking for trial court schedules can consult the statewide Court Calendar. It provides past schedules of up to a week and future court commitments of up to a month.
In-Person Access
County residents and other parties who cannot find what they need online or wish to obtain records in person can contact the County Clerk. The Clerk's office operates in the main courthouse at 234 Washington Street, Columbus, IN 47201, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
Individuals who visit in person are expected to provide a case number and party names upfront. They can search MyCase online or through the courthouse terminals for relevant details before engaging with records staff.
Many local probate, criminal, and civil documents have become historical records and are now preserved at the Indiana State Archives. Interested parties may call (317) 591-5220 or make a trip to 6440 East 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219. The Clerk's office can usually indicate if this step is necessary.
Mail and Email Requests
The County Clerk can email electronic records to people who complete the online Information Request Form and provide a cause (i.e., case) number. Processing typically takes no more than seven business days.
Mail requests must include a return envelope with appropriate postage and payment, in cashier's check or money order, for the desired records. The mail must be addressed to:
Bartholomew County Clerk
234 Washington Street
P.O Box 924
Columbus, IN 47201
Fees for Court Records in Bartholomew County
Clerks in Indiana follow the provisions of Ind. Code § 33-37-5 when setting fees for court records, and the Bartholomew County Clerk is no exception. Note that certification and reproduction fees are charged in addition to standard per-page copy fees.
- Plain Copy: $1 per legal-size or letter-size page
- Certification: $3 per document
- Exemplification: $9 per document
Bartholomew County Courthouse Locations
Bartholomew County has a Circuit Court, Superior Court 1, and Superior Court 2. These courts all use the central courthouse in Columbus, which is the sole trial court location in the county. Additionally, Columbus and other municipalities do not run municipal courts. Rather, they route city-specific matters through Superior Court dockets.
Bartholomew County Courthouse
234 Washington Street
Columbus, IN 47201
Circuit Court Phone: (812) 379-1605
Superior Court 1 Phone: (812) 379-1623
Superior Court 2 Phone: (812) 379-1610
Criminal Records Access in Bartholomew County
Criminal records are a category of public records created and maintained by various government agencies and public bodies. Collectively, they document alleged or proven criminal activity, as well as the legal processes, actions, and outcomes associated with those matters.
State law (specifically Ind. Code § 10-13-2) designates the Indiana State Police as the central repository for all state-level criminal history records. The agency, in turn, provides Limited Criminal History (LCH) as a public service to people who require a criminal history check.
Anyone interested can run an online name and date of birth check of Indiana-only felony and serious misdemeanor records. Platform subscribers pay $15 per search, while credit card users pay $15.70. People can also obtain LCH by mail. This involves completing the Request Form and sending it along with a self-addressed envelope and money order for $7 to
Indiana State Police
Criminal History Limited Check
P.O. Box 6188
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6188
People who simply wish to obtain a copy of a judgment in a criminal proceeding can download the document on MyCase, which also offers extensive case summaries. Other criminal documents typically require an in-person or mail request.
Bartholomew County Probate Records
Probate matters in Bartholomew County are typically shared between Circuit Court and Superior Court 1. However, record seekers need only concern themselves with how to access the records these courts generate.
The County Clerk manages all Bartholomew County probate records, which comprise filings and orders in estate administration, trusts, and guardianships. People can make copy requests for a deceased person's last will and testament, a guardian's letters of appointment, inventories filed by a personal representative, or accountings submitted by trustees.
The public can view and download judicial orders in probate matters, excluding guardianships, through MyCase. Offline access to guardianship filings and other probate documents is available at the Clerk's office. However, personal financial or social information is typically redacted.
Bartholomew County Family Court Records
Family law matters heard in Bartholomew County courts include divorce, paternity, child custody, termination of parental rights, domestic violence, and adoption.
While people can view case summaries through MyCase in most domestic relations matters, filings and judicial orders can only be accessed in person or by mail. For adoption, termination of parental rights, and paternity cases filed before July 1, 2014, access is completely sealed from the general public.
Federal Court Records in Bartholomew County
Interested parties may search PACER, the nationwide federal court database, for records of federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, civil rights, or constitutional cases related to Bartholomew County. Also known as Public Access to Court Electronic Records, this system provides the public with printable or downloadable access to case dockets, filings, court orders, and bankruptcy records in open court cases.
To fully use PACER, a person must open an account. Although registration is free, searching for a record, viewing a page, or downloading a document costs 10 cents per page. However, the payment invoice is generated quarterly, and the bill is waived if it is less than $30. Individuals can search PACER by case number, party name, attorney name, court, and filing date.
Since Bartholomew County is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, people can visit the District Court Clerk at the Indianapolis Division courthouse to request physical copies of court documents:
Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse
46 East Ohio Street
Room 105
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 229-3700
The Clerk's standard charges are 50 cents per page for a copy (10 cents if self-printed at the courthouse terminal), $12 for document certification, and $24 for exemplification.
