DeKalb County
DeKalb County is located in northeastern Indiana. It was founded in 1837 and is named after Johann de Kalb, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. As of 2022, DeKalb County has a population of approximately 43,312 residents, occupying a land area of 362.8 square miles. Auburn, the county's largest city known for historic sites and strong ties to the automobile industry, serves as the county seat.
DeKalb County's court system is part of the Indiana Judicial Branch comprising the Circuit, Superior, and City and Town Courts. DeKalb County Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over general civil claims and criminal cases, including all types of felonies and lesser-included offenses. It also oversees mental health cases and probate matters such as wills and estates. It has a Family and Juvenile Division that handles cases including divorce, child custody, and protection orders, as well as most juvenile matters, such as delinquency and parental rights termination. On the other hand, the Superior Court handles misdemeanors and infractions. It also has jurisdiction over small claims, civil cases within monetary limits, traffic violations, and ordinance violations. The City and Town Court are responsible for handling city or town ordinance violations, some misdemeanor criminal cases, and certain civil cases within limits of the amount of money in disputes.
Court records in DeKalb County include:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Family records
- Juvenile records
These documents are crucial for maintaining transparency in the judicial process. Formats include paper files, digital files, and audio/video recordings. The DeKalb County Clerk of Courts oversees the maintenance and accessibility of court records. Following Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, court records in DeKalb County are available for public inspection and copying, with exceptions for confidential cases such as juvenile or mental health records.
Records can be accessed via the Indiana Supreme Court's Odyssey Case Management System or the Dekalb County's Online Court Records service. Alternatively, requesters can obtain court records by visiting the Clerk's Office at:
DeKalb County Courthouse
100 South Main Street
Auburn, IN 46706
Phone: (260) 925-0912
Per Indiana Code (IC 33-37-5-1 and 33-37-5-3), requesters are required to pay $1 per page of a non-certified record copy, while an additional fee of $3 is required for a certified copy.
