Lawrence County
Lawrence County was established in 1818 from a part of Orange County. It was originally known as Leatherwood Township and was initially populated by Native American tribes. Its county seat is Bedford City, its largest and most densely populated municipality. According to data recorded during the 2020 U.S. Census, Lawrence County has a population of over 45,000 residents and spans 449.17 square miles.
The county's court system consists of a Circuit Court and a Superior Court. The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over felonies, lesser-included offenses, and general civil cases that exceed the Superior Court's jurisdiction. Additionally, it hears most domestic relations matters such as divorce, child custody, and paternity. It also has the jurisdiction to issue domestic violence protection orders, and it shares jurisdiction over juvenile cases with the Superior Court. The Superior Court hears certain felonies, misdemeanors, and general civil claims. It is organized into specialized divisions, including Civil, Criminal, and Family Law, and operates a Small Claims Court for minor civil disputes.
Public court records in Lawrence County are official documents that detail the operations of the judiciary in the county. These documents often outline legal proceedings of cases heard in the county and include details such as case filings, as well as judicial rulings. They are typically open to public access and cover a wide range of matters, including criminal, civil, and disputes. The Lawrence County Clerk of Courts is the official responsible for the safekeeping, updating, and processing of these court records. Examples of the records include:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Property records
- Family law records
- Probate records
To obtain court records from the Clerk's Office, interested individuals may send a request via e-mail or visit the office located at:
916 15th Street
Room 31
Bedford, IN 47421
Phone: (812) 275-7543
Alternatively, requesters can access the records through the MyCase portal, which is Indiana's public court records online repository.
Obtaining physical copies of court records at the Clerk's Office costs $1 per page. However, requesters should note that certain records are designated as confidential and, as such, may not be accessible to the public.
