Court records of St. Joseph County, Indiana, are available through several channels. StJosephCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, you can use the official state online portals, visit the court clerk's office in person or by mail, and use public terminals directly in the courthouse building.
St. Joseph Court System & Jurisdictions
There are three main courts in St. Joseph County, each handling specific categories of cases. Understanding the jurisdiction will help you immediately determine where to look for the necessary record.
Circuit Court — the oldest court in the county. It handles serious criminal cases (felonies), complex civil lawsuits, as well as custody and divorce cases. This is where jury trials in large civil disputes are usually held.
Superior Court consists of eight judges. Four of them share responsibility for civil cases with the Circuit Court, while the remaining four focus on criminal cases. Superior Court also handles:
- Misdemeanors (less serious offenses)
- Traffic violations
- Small claims cases
- Certain family cases
Probate Court — a specialized court dealing with inheritance cases, guardianship of incapacitated persons, and probate matters. If you need a record related to the distribution of a deceased person's estate, start your search here.
A general overview of the structure is available on the county court system page. For any questions regarding juries, hearing dates, or document copies, contact the local court directly.
St. Joseph Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The fastest way to check the hearing schedule is the online system MyCase. This platform, created by the Indiana judicial branch, contains data on scheduled hearings, including the date, time, and judge's name.
How to find the necessary hearing:
- Go to the MyCase portal.
- Enter the party's last name or case number.
- Select St. Joseph County in the search filters.
- In the results, open the case card — it will display the calendar of scheduled hearings.
The system shows both today's and upcoming hearings. Note: some data is entered with a delay, so to confirm a specific date, it's better to call the court clerk's office at 574-235-9635. More details about search capabilities in MyCase are described on the judicial branch's website.
How to Get a Copy of a St. Joseph Court Document
Copies of court documents come in two types — regular and certified. A regular copy is suitable for review, while a certified one has an official clerk's stamp and is accepted by other institutions as a legally valid document.
Online
Through MyCase, you can view case information and download individual documents if the court has made them available electronically. However, not all materials are published online — confidential records are excluded according to Rule 5 of the Indiana Rules for Access to Court Records.
In Person
Contact the St. Joseph County Clerk's Office. You will need the case number or the full name of the party and the approximate filing date.
By Mail
Send a written request to the clerk's office, specifying:
- The full name of the party in the case
- The case number (if known)
- The type of document needed
- Whether a certified copy is needed
- A return address and payment
To obtain a copy of a divorce decree or marriage certificate, refer to the instructions for marriage and divorce documents on the county's website.
Access Restrictions
Not all records are public. Juvenile cases, certain family cases, mental health records, and materials sealed by court order are closed to general access. The list of exceptions is defined by Rule 5 of the Indiana Rules for Access to Court Records.
St. Joseph Court Records Fees & Payment
The fees for copies and record searches are set according to Indiana law. Below is an approximate table of the main fees charged by the clerk's office.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular document copy (per page) | $1.00 |
| Certified copy (certification fee) | $5.00 per document |
| Registry search by name | Free through MyCase; a fee may be charged for requests at the clerk's office |
| Limited Criminal History | Free through the ISP online portal |
Payment at the clerk's office is usually accepted in cash, money order, or check payable to St. Joseph County Clerk. Confirm the possibility of card payment directly at the office.
To check criminal history at the state level, use the Limited Criminal History search portal of the Indiana State Police — it covers felonies and class A misdemeanors throughout the state and provides a PDF result valid for 14 days. To obtain a county-level check, visit the records department at St. Joseph County Jail at 401 W. Sample St, South Bend, from 8:00 to 16:00.