Franklin County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Franklin County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Franklin County, Indiana, may access publicly available case information through several official channels. FranklinINRecords.org provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by government agencies. Court records in Franklin County may include documentation from civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic proceedings heard within the county's judicial system. The information available through official sources may reflect case status, party names, hearing schedules, and filed documents, subject to applicable confidentiality rules and access restrictions under Indiana law.
Court records in Franklin County may be searched through the following methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Franklin County Clerk's office maintains official court records for cases filed in the county. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person during business hours to request access to non-confidential case files. Providing a case number, party name, or filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Franklin County Courthouse for on-site case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search non-confidential case information without charge during regular courthouse hours.
3. Online Court Search The Indiana Judicial Branch operates MyCase, a statewide online case search tool that provides access to non-confidential case information for courts using the Odyssey case management system. Search results may include docket entries, hearing dates, and case status for eligible cases.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Indiana Judicial Branch public records portal provides guidance on accessing court records statewide, including instructions for contacting individual clerk offices when records are not available online.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public may submit written requests to the Franklin County Clerk's office for copies of court records. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of document sought, and payment for applicable copy fees. Processing times vary based on request volume and record availability.
Franklin County Clerk's Office
1010 Franklin Ave
Brookville, IN 47012
Phone: (765) 647-5111
Clerks Department – Franklin County
Are Court Records Public In Franklin County
Court records in Franklin County are subject to Indiana's public access framework, which presumes that judicial records are open to inspection by members of the public. Under Indiana Administrative Rule 9, court records are accessible to the public unless a specific exception applies. The Indiana Supreme Court has stated that "access to court records is a fundamental right in a democratic society," reflecting the state's commitment to judicial transparency.
Records that are public under current law include:
- Docket entries and case summaries
- Party names and attorney information
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
- Filed motions, complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders, judgments, and final dispositions
- Sentencing entries and probation orders in criminal matters
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of services (CHINS) records
- Adoption proceedings and related filings
- Mental health commitment records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Expunged criminal records pursuant to Ind. Code § 35-38-9
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth, which are redacted under Indiana Administrative Rule 9(G)
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect many records in person at the clerk's office, not all case documents are available through online search tools. As the Indiana Judicial Branch notes, "official records of court proceedings may only be obtained directly from the court maintaining a particular record."
What Are Court Records in Franklin County?
Court records are the official documents and data generated by the judicial system in connection with cases filed, heard, and decided by a court of law. In Franklin County, court records encompass all materials created or received by the court and its clerk from the initial filing of a case through final disposition, post-judgment proceedings, and any appeal.
A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file includes the actual documents filed by parties and issued by the court. These are distinct components of the overall court record. Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records reflect proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of law. Filed pleadings are the initial documents submitted by parties to frame the issues in dispute, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of those issues.
Public filings are documents accessible to any member of the public under applicable access rules. Sealed or restricted filings are documents the court has ordered withheld from public inspection, either by statute or judicial order. Trial court records are maintained at the county level by the clerk of court, while appellate records are transmitted to and maintained by the Indiana Court of Appeals or Indiana Supreme Court upon the filing of an appeal.
In Franklin County, the Clerk of the Circuit Court serves as the official custodian of trial court records. The Indiana Judicial Branch's statewide Odyssey case management system supports electronic record-keeping for participating courts. Records are created at the time of filing, updated with each docket event, and retained according to applicable judicial retention schedules.
What's Included in a Franklin County Court Record?
A court record in Franklin County may contain a range of documents and data depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public-access rules. The following information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and their attorneys of record
- Case classification: Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, small claims) and current case status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all actions taken in the case, including filings, hearings, and orders
- Hearing information: Scheduled and past hearing dates, continuances, and courtroom assignments
- Filed documents: Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, responses, notices, briefs, and supporting exhibits where publicly accessible
- Court-issued documents: Orders, judgments, decrees, minute entries, and rulings
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody and support orders, probate decrees, and appellate decisions
- Financial and administrative data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where reflected in the public record
Records that are excluded or restricted from the public case file include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers subject to redaction under Indiana Administrative Rule 9, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The presence or absence of specific documents within a case file depends on the nature of the case and any applicable court orders restricting access.
Types of Courts in Franklin County
Franklin County is served by the Franklin County Circuit Court, which functions as the court of general jurisdiction for the county under the Indiana unified trial court system. The Franklin County Courts page maintained by the Indiana Judicial Branch identifies the courts currently operating within the county and provides contact information for each.
The Franklin County Circuit Court hears a broad range of matters, including felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes, family law matters such as dissolution of marriage and child custody, juvenile proceedings, probate and estate matters, and small claims cases. The clerk of the circuit court maintains the official record for all cases filed in these divisions.
What Types of Cases Do Franklin County Courts Hear
The Franklin Circuit Court exercises jurisdiction over the following case categories:
- Criminal: Felony and misdemeanor charges filed by the state
- Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury claims, and other civil actions
- Family: Dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, child custody, and support matters
- Probate: Estate administration, guardianship, and trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child in need of services (CHINS) cases
- Traffic: Infractions and ordinance violations
- Small Claims: Civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts
- Appeals: Post-judgment motions and appeals transmitted to the Indiana Court of Appeals
The Franklin County government website provides department-level contact information for offices serving the courthouse.
Franklin County Circuit Court
1010 Franklin Ave
Brookville, IN 47012
Phone: (765) 647-5111
Franklin County Courts – Indiana Judicial Branch
How to Search Franklin County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Franklin County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection of non-confidential case files at the Franklin County Clerk's office is available without charge during regular business hours. Courthouse public access terminals provide free on-site electronic case searches. The MyCase Indiana Courts Case Search portal is a free statewide tool that allows members of the public to search non-confidential case information online without creating an account or paying a fee.
Costs are associated with obtaining physical or certified copies of court documents. Under Indiana law, clerk fee schedules govern the charges for document reproduction. At present, standard copy fees apply per page for paper copies, and certified copies carry an additional certification fee. The Franklin County Clerk's office can confirm current per-page and certification fees upon request.
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person record inspection | Free |
| Courthouse public terminal search | Free |
| MyCase online case search | Free |
| Standard paper copies | Fee per page (confirm with clerk) |
| Certified copies | Additional certification fee applies |
| Mail request processing | Postage and copy fees apply |
Members of the public seeking fee waivers or reduced-cost access based on financial hardship may inquire with the clerk's office regarding applicable procedures under Indiana court rules.
How Long Does Franklin County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Franklin County is governed by the Indiana Commission on Public Records and judicial retention schedules established by the Indiana Supreme Court. Retention periods vary by case type and record category, reflecting the differing legal significance of various proceedings.
Under current judicial retention policy, certain records are retained permanently, including judgment docket books, order books, and records of final judgments in civil and criminal matters. Probate records, including wills admitted to probate and estate inventories, are retained for extended periods given their ongoing legal significance. Criminal conviction records are retained for substantial periods consistent with the nature of the offense and applicable post-conviction rights.
Records in family law matters, including dissolution decrees and custody orders, are retained for periods that account for the potential need to enforce or modify orders years after entry. Traffic and minor infraction records carry shorter retention schedules. Docket books and minute records may be retained permanently as the official chronological record of court activity.
Paper case files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record content is preserved in an accessible format. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives rather than in electronic systems. The distinction between destruction, archival retention, sealing, redaction, and expungement is significant: destruction removes the record entirely; archival retention preserves it in a non-active format; sealing restricts access without destroying the record; redaction removes specific identifying information; and expungement, available under Ind. Code § 35-38-9, limits the use and disclosure of certain criminal records following a court order.
How To Find a Court Docket in Franklin County
A court docket is the official chronological index of all actions taken in a specific case. It differs from the full case file in that it records events and filings without necessarily containing the full text of each document. The docket serves as the authoritative timeline of a case from initial filing through final disposition and any post-judgment proceedings.
In Franklin County, court dockets for non-confidential cases may be accessed through the following channels:
- MyCase online portal: The Indiana Courts Case Search tool allows members of the public to search docket entries for cases in courts using the Odyssey system. A search by party name or case number returns a list of docket events, hearing dates, and case status information.
- Clerk's office in person: Members of the public may request docket information directly from the Franklin County Clerk's office. Staff can provide docket printouts for non-confidential cases.
- Courthouse public terminals: On-site terminals at the Franklin County Courthouse provide access to docket information for cases in the electronic case management system.
A court docket entry reflects the date of each action, a description of the filing or event, and the judicial officer involved. Dockets include hearing dates, continuances, motion filings, orders entered, and status updates. A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits restricted from public access.
Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available separately through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. The Indiana Judicial Branch public records guidance provides direction on accessing docket information when records are not available through online tools. As noted by the Indiana Judicial Branch, "if the document you're looking for isn't available online, you'll need to contact the clerk's office in the county where the case is being heard."