Warrick County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Warrick County?

Public records in Warrick County, Indiana, are documents, data, and other recorded information created or received by a public agency in the course of its official duties. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-2, a "public record" is defined as any writing, paper, report, study, map, photograph, book, tape, recording, or other material that is created, received, retained, maintained, or filed by or with a public agency. The Warrick County government maintains a broad range of records accessible to members of the public, organized across multiple offices and departments.

The following categories of records are currently available through Warrick County agencies:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Clerk of the Courts
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments maintained by the Warrick County Recorder's Office
Vital records — Birth and death certificates maintained by the Warrick County Health Department; marriage and divorce records maintained by the Clerk of the Courts
Business records — Assumed business name filings and related documents maintained by the Clerk of the Courts
Tax and assessment records — Property tax records and parcel assessments maintained by the Warrick County Assessor and Auditor
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results maintained by the Warrick County Clerk and Election Board
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Commission and board meeting records maintained by the Warrick County Auditor and individual boards
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records maintained by the Warrick County Auditor
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions, maintained by the Warrick County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and variance decisions maintained by the Warrick County Area Plan Commission

Is Warrick County an Open Records County?

Warrick County fully complies with Indiana's statewide open records framework, which governs public access to government documents across all counties. Under Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3, any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during regular business hours. This statute, commonly referred to as the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA), establishes a presumption of openness: all public records are accessible unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Key provisions of the Act include the requirement that public agencies respond to records requests within a reasonable time, and that any denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the applicable statutory exemption. The Warrick County Commission on Public Records, which convenes periodically, oversees compliance with records retention and access policies at the county level. Notices of these meetings are published through the Clerk of the Courts office. Indiana's Open Door Law, codified at Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5, further requires that meetings of public agencies be open to the public, reinforcing the county's commitment to governmental transparency.

How to Find Public Records in Warrick County

Members of the public may obtain Warrick County records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county office maintains the record. Court records are held by the Clerk of the Courts; property records by the Recorder's Office; vital records by the Health Department; and tax records by the Assessor or Auditor.
Search online portals. Many court records are searchable through MyCase, Indiana's official courts case search system. Property and recorder documents may be searched through the Recorder's online portal.
Submit a written request. For records not available online, members of the public may submit a written request in person, by mail, or by email to the appropriate office. Requests should identify the record with sufficient specificity to allow the agency to locate it.
Appear in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant office during posted public counter hours. No appointment is required for routine inspection at most offices.
Request certified copies. For vital records and court documents requiring official certification, requestors must submit a formal application with applicable fees and, in some cases, proof of eligibility. The Indiana Judicial Branch provides guidance on how to request court public records, including certified copies of marriage certificates and divorce decrees.
Contact the Warrick County local courts. For questions about specific case documents or court dates, the Indiana Judicial Branch Warrick County local courts page provides direct contact information for each court division.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Warrick County?

Current fees for public records in Warrick County vary by record type and the office providing the document. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-8 governs the fees that public agencies may charge for reproducing public records and establishes that fees must not exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Standard fees currently in effect include:

Paper copies: Agencies may charge up to $0.10 per page for standard black-and-white copies, consistent with state guidelines
Certified copies of court records: Fees are set by the Clerk of the Courts and vary by document type; a standard certification fee applies per document
Vital records (birth and death certificates): Certified copies are issued by the Warrick County Health Department; current fees are posted on the vital records page
Recorded documents: The Recorder's Office charges per-page fees for certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other instruments
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees reflect the actual cost of duplication

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Some offices accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances, such as for indigent requestors or when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the agency.

Does Warrick County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records free of charge during regular business hours at the custodial office, pursuant to Indiana Code § 5-14-3-3. Fees apply only when copies or certified reproductions are requested.

The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Clerk of the Courts, Recorder's Office, Assessor's Office, and other county offices during posted hours — no fee is charged for viewing records on-site
MyCase online portal — members of the public may search Indiana court case records at no cost through the Indiana Courts Case Search system
Warrick County Recorder's online portal — property records and recorded instruments may be searched online through the Warrick County Recorder website at no charge
County website resources — meeting agendas, minutes, budgets, and other administrative documents are posted publicly on the Warrick County official website

Who Can Request Public Records in Warrick County?

Any person may request public records in Warrick County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act does not restrict access based on the requestor's identity or reason for the request. Specifically:

Residency is not required. Non-residents of Warrick County and Indiana retain the same access rights as county residents.
Identification is generally not required for routine inspection of non-restricted records, though some offices may request identification for administrative purposes.
Purpose need not be stated for most public records requests. Requestors are not obligated to explain why they seek a particular document.
Restrictions apply to certain record types. Access to sealed court records, juvenile records, and other exempt categories is limited regardless of who is requesting. Individuals seeking their own records — such as personal court filings or vital records — may be required to provide proof of identity.
Authorized representatives may request records on behalf of another person, provided appropriate authorization is documented.

Members of the public seeking certified copies of vital records, such as birth or death certificates, must demonstrate eligibility under Indiana law, as these documents are restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives.

What Records Are Confidential in Warrick County?

Not all government records are subject to public disclosure. Indiana Code § 5-14-3-4 enumerates categories of records that are either confidential by law or discretionarily exempt from disclosure. The following records are currently withheld from public access in Warrick County:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Indiana law
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records related to active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would compromise the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released documents
Medical and health records — protected under both Indiana law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order or specific statutory procedures
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under Indiana child protection statutes
Personnel records — employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for salary and disciplinary information
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence and protected from disclosure
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

Where a record contains both disclosable and exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the severability provisions of Indiana's Access to Public Records Act.

Warrick County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Warrick County Recorder's Office is the primary custodian of real property records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other recorded instruments. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of these documents in person or through the office's online portal.

Warrick County Recorder's Office One County Square, Suite 200, Boonville, IN 47601 (812) 897-6160 Warrick County Recorder

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays.

Warrick County Clerk of the Courts One County Square, Suite 200, Boonville, IN 47601 (812) 897-6160 Clerk of the Courts

Warrick County Health Department — Vital Records 1 SE 9th Street, Boonville, IN 47601 (812) 897-6070 Warrick County Health Department

Vital records services, including the issuance of certified birth and death certificates, are available through the Health Department. Additional information regarding eligibility and fees is posted on the vital records page of the county website.