Records of divorce in Lake County, Indiana, are available through several channels. LakeCourt.us allows for quick access to public information regarding divorce cases in this county. Additionally, court records can be obtained directly from the court that issued the decision, at the county clerk's office, or through the Indiana State Department of Health, which functions as the office of vital records. State online tools, including the MyCase portal, also provide access to basic case information.
Lake Divorce Records Search
In Lake County, divorce records are maintained by two main institutions. The Clerk of the Lake Circuit/Superior Court is the official custodian of all court records, including divorce cases. This office accepts filings, issues copies of decisions, and maintains a complete case archive. The Indiana State Department of Health maintains a separate registry — divorce certificates, which record the fact of divorce without details of property settlement or custody.
The collection of records at the clerk's office includes:
- Divorce decrees
- Settlement agreements
- Custody orders
- Petitions, motions, and other procedural documents
The main office of the clerk is located in the courthouse in Crown Point.
For preliminary online case information, use the MyCase portal — a free public access system for Indiana court records. Note: MyCase displays basic case information, but official document copies are issued only by the court clerk.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Lake
In Indiana, divorce cases (dissolution of marriage) are handled by courts of general jurisdiction. In Lake County, this includes the Lake Circuit Court and several divisions of the Lake Superior Court. After a judge issues a decision, the document is filed with the court clerk's office, which maintains the complete case file.
Which office to choose depends on what you need:
- Complete court records (decisions, agreements, custody orders) — contact the Lake County court clerk.
- Divorce certificate (document confirming the fact of divorce without case details) — order from the Indiana State Department of Health, Vital Records Office.
Lake County Court Clerk
The clerk issues both regular and certified copies of court documents. Local court contact information can also be found on the Indiana Judicial Branch page for Lake County.
Indiana State Department of Health — Vital Records
This office maintains divorce certificates starting from 1958. Requests can be submitted by mail or in person. If the divorce occurred before 1958, the only source is the court clerk's archive in the county where the case was heard.
For online basic case information, use MyCase. Detailed instructions for searching in MyCase explain how to filter results by county and case type. Official documents, however, are issued only directly by the court.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Lake
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Regular copy of court document (Lake County court clerk) | $1.00 per page | During visit or 5–10 business days by mail |
| Certified copy of court document (Lake County court clerk) | $5.00 per document plus $1.00 per additional page | During visit or 5–10 business days by mail |
| Divorce certificate (Indiana Vital Records Office) | $4.00 | Approximately 4–6 weeks by mail |